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Waitrose has partnered with AI firm Satalia to strengthen its delivery operations, by using advanced AI to optimise routes.
The retailer said the technology will sharpen delivery schedules, cut travel times and minimise fuel consumption across its fleet, leading to more precise delivery windows and a lower carbon footprint for the network.
Satalia’s AI-driven solution optimises routes in real time, considering factors like traffic, vehicle capacity and delivery time slots.
The system is now live across Waitrose’s extensive network of 170 stores, two customer
fulfilment centres and a fleet of 1,400 vans, underpinning 160,000 home deliveries each week – equivalent to 8.3 million deliveries annually.
The company said that since introducing the programme, its delivery mileage has decreased by 8% when compared with the year before. Despite managing a higher delivery volume, it added that its drops per route and customer delivery slot availability has jumped by 12% and 4% respectively.
James Lee, Waitrose head of fulfilment, said: “Delivering the best possible experience for our customers has always been at the heart of what we do. Working with Satalia allows us to offer even greater convenience, while taking another important step toward our goal of reducing emissions and operating more sustainably.”
Pav Kalia, head of change delivery and technology, added: “By harnessing AI-powered technology, we can now offer customers more precise and convenient delivery times while significantly reducing our environmental impact. This is a brilliant example of how technology can help us deliver on our promises of both exceptional service and sustainability.”
Satalia CEO Daniel Hulme said: “We’re proud to support Waitrose in achieving both operational efficiency and sustainability goals. By leveraging AI, we can make complex decisions at scale that benefit customers, businesses, and the planet.”
