Alza accelerates high-volume fulfillment with AutoStore: 75% faster picking across a massive SKU range.
Alza was established in 1994. We are the largest online retailer in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The width of the products is from electronics to toys and cosmetics. What makes us unique is the market leading service where you can order by midnight and you will get it next day morning. Our network includes 46 physical stores and over 4500 Alza boxes. Behind me you can see the AutoStore system which contains 300 000 bins and 580 robots operating right now. We chose AutoStore because it offers the best combination of speed, accuracy and density. In addition, the integration was easier compared to other automation technologies. We evaluated several alternatives, mostly the shuttle-based solution and AGVs. After careful comparison, AutoStore proved to be the best fit for our operational needs. Element Logic is one of the biggest integrators of AutoStore products in Europe. Alza is by far our biggest customer from the point of view of size of the installation, number of robots, and also throughput of the system. In the AutoStore, there is more than 120 000 or sometimes even more than 150 000 unique SKUs. There is carton erectors and carton closers, about 5 kilometers of conveyors, robotic sorting system, intralox sorting system. Also the robotic arms which are in the tunnel. We have a daily capacity around 120 000 - 130 000 orders per day and during the peak season it could be doubled. The uniqueness of this system here is about the constant improvement of the processes. We have already made three main extensions of the system to increase the capacity and throughput. AutoStore has significantly accelerated and simplified the process of goods in and picking. The pickers are staying in front of the picking stations simply putting the item from one tote to another. In terms of numbers, there is an increase of the pick rate, by 75% after the AutoStore installation started to operate. The AutoStore system allowed us to reduce the complexity of the processes and also we were able to deliver the goods to our customers faster. Now we are focusing more about the processes, about setting the system, fine tuning, compared to the focus on manpower, how to train them and how to manage them. The learning curve for AutoStore is very easy. Speed is really the heartbeat of any efficient warehouse. The ability to keep great inventory visibility, well orchestrated staff, fully working systems and efficient processes moving quickly is the most critical consideration for winning and keeping your clients trust. While speed is central to the idea of high throughput, it is also one of the most challenging things to sustain. That's where AutoStore truly excels. With our router technology we can optimize the movements of our robots in real time, boosting speed and throughput without the need for additional hardware. Multiple robots are co-working in parallel to constantly deliver bins directly to operators, eliminating wasted travel and ensuring quick access to goods. So no matter where the bin is coming from, we guarantee that the pickers never have to wait for a bin. AutoStore is a highly relevant technology for e-commerce because it addresses the industry's biggest challenge, which is handling a large volume of orders both quickly and accurately. Customers today expect fast delivery and reliability, so you need to be able to trust your inventory and your operations in order to comply with the customers' wishes and deliver on your promises. AutoStore enables the retailers to make good on such promises while allowing them to focus less on operational challenges and more on growing their business. Without AutoStore it would not be possible to keep the promise which is given to customers that if you order today you will get the goods tomorrow morning at an AlzaBox. The second site is under construction in Slovakia. It's going to contain 400 000 bins and 650 R5 Pro robots. AutoStore consistently delivers at the speed, accuracy and efficiency needed to handle large order volumes with full confidence. In terms of numbers we are speaking about increasing the performance by almost four times. With the volume we handle today it would be almost impossible to handle it manually. AutoStore together with Element Logic services has brought real competitive advantage to Alza.
Alza is the largest online retailer in the Czech Republic, serving millions of customers with an exceptionally broad product assortment; 180,000 SKUs across electronics, home appliances, toys, beauty, sports equipment, and more. With such SKU diversity, maintaining high throughput while delivering fast, reliable service became increasingly challenging with conventional warehousing methods.
To sustain its growth and maintain leading delivery times, Alza implemented the AutoStore storage and retrieval system, empowered by Element Logic, at its new logistics center in Prague. The system is engineered specifically for high-speed fulfillment, large SKU breadth, and rapid order processing, enabling Alza to comfortably handle massive order volumes every day.
“We chose AutoStore because it offers the best combination of speed, accuracy, and density. After careful comparison, AutoStore proved to be the best fit for our operational needs.”
Jan Linhart
Head of Warehouse Innovation, Alza
The system is engineered specifically for high-speed fulfillment, large SKU breadth, and rapid order processing, enabling Alza to comfortably handle massive order volumes every day.
The Challenge: Maintaining High Throughput With Hundreds of Thousands of SKUs
As order volumes surged, Alza’s manual logistics operations faced significant pressure. The combination of high SKU diversity and the constant push for faster delivery introduced several constraints:
Core Challenges
- Throughput pressure: Alza needed a system that could maintain high picking speed, even with a constantly expanding SKU catalog.
- Seasonal volatility: Peak seasons regularly doubled order volume, making speed and system responsiveness mission-critical.
- Space limitations: The existing building footprint could not support the storage required for 180k SKUs.
- Labor shortages: Hiring enough skilled warehouse staff to sustain manual processes was increasingly difficult.
“We have a daily capacity of around 120,000 to 130,000 orders per day, and in peak season it could be double.”
Ondřej Daneš
Head of Logistics, Alza
Alza needed a solution explicitly designed for high-velocity order fulfillment, SKU-dense storage, and scalable throughput.
The Solution: AutoStore Enables High-Speed, High-SKU Order Processing
AutoStore was selected for its ability to drive high picking speeds while storing hundreds of thousands of SKUs in a compact footprint. With a fully automated goods-to-person process, the system ensures continuous movement, fast replenishment, and high order throughput.
Key System Components
- High-density storage: 300,000 Bins stored inside an 8,000 m² (86,111 ft²) Grid, leveraging 10 meters of warehouse height for compressed, SKU-dense storage.
- Robotic speed and accuracy: A fleet of 580 Robots retrieves Bins rapidly, ensuring pickers have near-instant access to any SKU.
- Seamless integration: The Grid interfaces with sorters, conveyors, and packing systems to create a synchronized high-throughput workflow.
The result is a fast, predictable flow of goods from replenishment to dispatch, even during peak demand.
“Before, it was more about people management. Now, it’s about IT and system settings – and peak times are handled more easily.”
Ondřej Daneš
Head of Logistics, Alza
AutoStore was selected for its ability to drive high picking speeds while storing hundreds of thousands of SKUs in a compact footprint.
Key Benefits: Designed for Speed, Throughput, and SKU Complexity
1. Massive Improvement in Picking Speed
AutoStore increased Alza’s picking speed by 75%, enabling the team to process over 125,000 order lines per day, and up to 260,000 during peak periods.
2. Optimized for a Huge SKU Range
With 180,000 SKUs, fast and accurate item access is essential. AutoStore’s high-density Bin system reduces travel time and ensures SKU availability at speed.
3. Strong ROI
AutoStore provided a projected payback period of 4–5 years, outperforming alternative warehouse automation technologies.
4. Simplified, Scalable Operations
Automation reduces operational complexity, minimizes manual handling, and supports rapid scaling, ideal for businesses managing massive SKU catalogs and fluctuating demand.
AutoStore has provided a projected payback period of 4–5 years, outperforming alternative warehouse automation technologies.
Project Specifications: Czech Republic Site
- Implementation type: Greenfield
- Robots: 430 R5 Robots and 150 R5 Pro Robots
- Ports: 45 ConveyorPorts (goods-in), 39 CarouselPorts (picking)
- Bins: 300,000
- Integrated systems: Packing machines, sorter, conveyor systems
- Integration partner: Element Logic
Expansion: Next-Generation High-Speed Automation in Slovakia
Following the success in Prague, Alza is expanding its automation footprint. A new logistics center in Slovakia will include:
- 650 R5 Pro Robots
- 400,000 Bins
- Even higher throughput capacity
The investment reflects Alza’s long-term commitment to high-speed, SKU-dense automation across Central Europe.