09.22.22
Zebra Technologies announced its work with French grocery retailer Auchan to combat food waste. Thanks to the implementation of its Food Waste Management System (FWMS), a unique AI solution using Zebra mobile devices and Smartway software, Auchan’s food retail stores will save 35 million products from going to waste within 12 months.
Already invested in the fight against food waste, Auchan wanted to accelerate its mission by digitizing the management of its unsold food products. The goal: to gain speed, increase efficiency and simplify time-consuming essential tasks such as detecting soon-to-expire products on shelves, choosing the correct pricing options, applying the right discount rates, and printing discounted labels among other activities.
To achieve this goal, Auchan turned to Zebra and Smartway, a Zebra software partner who has been supporting retailers in the fight against food waste for 10 years. Together, Auchan, Zebra and Smartway deployed a bespoke solution including Zebra TC57 handheld mobile computers and ZD410 mobile printers combined with the SmartWay AI software platform—creating the FWMS.
"The fight against food waste is one of our corporate priorities," said Bénédicte Vantorre, operations and CI performance director, Auchan Retail France. "To increase efficiency, we have deployed the digital solution offered by Zebra and Smartway in all our hypermarkets and supermarkets, a first for us on this scale.
“In less than six months, 350 stores were equipped, our teams were trained, and we reached our objectives,” added Vantorre. “In a full year, this intelligent solution will enable us to save 35 million products, equaling 17,000 tons of products and 41,000 tons of CO₂. This is a real source of pride for our teams.”
The FWMS enables Auchan to optimize its close-to-expiry food inventory management and cut food waste by empowering retail store workers with AI insights and recommendations. As a result, there has been a drastic reduction in the time spent on tasks related to expiring food products and a four-fold increase in team member productivity. AI-powered data delivered on the Zebra mobile computers and mobile printers turn inventory analysis into action.
“This project was of strategic importance to all involved,” said Elie Mura, retail director, Zebra Technologies France. “I am delighted we are helping Auchan meet its ambitious goal and demonstrate the best and quickest return on investment with a hardware and software solution infused with AI.”
Auchan initially rolled out the solution across 30% of its stores and then reached full deployment with the help of Zebra partner and integrator Hub One, a specialist in logistics and mobile fleet management.
Already invested in the fight against food waste, Auchan wanted to accelerate its mission by digitizing the management of its unsold food products. The goal: to gain speed, increase efficiency and simplify time-consuming essential tasks such as detecting soon-to-expire products on shelves, choosing the correct pricing options, applying the right discount rates, and printing discounted labels among other activities.
To achieve this goal, Auchan turned to Zebra and Smartway, a Zebra software partner who has been supporting retailers in the fight against food waste for 10 years. Together, Auchan, Zebra and Smartway deployed a bespoke solution including Zebra TC57 handheld mobile computers and ZD410 mobile printers combined with the SmartWay AI software platform—creating the FWMS.
"The fight against food waste is one of our corporate priorities," said Bénédicte Vantorre, operations and CI performance director, Auchan Retail France. "To increase efficiency, we have deployed the digital solution offered by Zebra and Smartway in all our hypermarkets and supermarkets, a first for us on this scale.
“In less than six months, 350 stores were equipped, our teams were trained, and we reached our objectives,” added Vantorre. “In a full year, this intelligent solution will enable us to save 35 million products, equaling 17,000 tons of products and 41,000 tons of CO₂. This is a real source of pride for our teams.”
The FWMS enables Auchan to optimize its close-to-expiry food inventory management and cut food waste by empowering retail store workers with AI insights and recommendations. As a result, there has been a drastic reduction in the time spent on tasks related to expiring food products and a four-fold increase in team member productivity. AI-powered data delivered on the Zebra mobile computers and mobile printers turn inventory analysis into action.
“This project was of strategic importance to all involved,” said Elie Mura, retail director, Zebra Technologies France. “I am delighted we are helping Auchan meet its ambitious goal and demonstrate the best and quickest return on investment with a hardware and software solution infused with AI.”
Auchan initially rolled out the solution across 30% of its stores and then reached full deployment with the help of Zebra partner and integrator Hub One, a specialist in logistics and mobile fleet management.