• Two additional automated fulfilment centres to launch in the first half of 2021.

Dubai, UAE: Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has collaborated with eGrocery innovator Takeoff Technologies to launch an automated Micro Fulfillment Centre (MFC) at its Carrefour store in Ibn Battuta Mall. A first-of-its-kind facility in the Middle East, the digitised storage picking facility automates the task of managing orders, slashing the time required to process them by half. This is the first of three fulfillment centres to adopt advanced technologies and automation, with an additional two fulfillment centres set to implement AI and autonomous robots in the first half of 2021.

The Micro Fulfillment Centre was inaugurated during a visit by HE Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications along with Alain Bejjani, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim and Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Retail.

Communities served by Carrefour Ibn Battuta will find it more convenient to order online as a result of the newly implemented technology. Orders will now be automatically processed by a system that controls the automated storage facility, which also includes a chilled section, a first for an automated fulfilment facility.

Commenting on the launch of this new Micro Fulfillment Centre, Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Retail said, “We are committed to offering our customers the best experience by implementing innovative technologies that help us achieve efficient operations. In partnership with Takeoff, the automated technologies will help us fulfil customers’ orders faster, while minimising human errors, and utilising our colleagues’ skills to better serve our customers. As always, we remain focused on delivering exceptional value for our customers through every experience.”

Nalla Karunanithy, Chief Digital Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, added “Automation is driving the retail industry forward helping to keep up with shoppers’ demands for even faster service. As industry leaders, Carrefour is committed to adopting the most innovative technologies to enhance its operational efficiency. This is the first of three fulfillment centres that demonstrates our drive to continuously develop our processes to better serve our customers.”

The Carrefour Micro Fulfillment Centre utilises Artificial Intelligence (AI) to pick customers’ orders from the optimum storage location. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) assist human colleagues to retrieve items and maintain stock levels as products leave the facility. A dedicated inventory placement machine uses AI to allocate storage space for stock depending on each item’s popularity, drastically improving stock availability for orders. All orders are prepared within five minutes, cutting the average time between order placement and dispatch in half. This guarantees up to 200 accurate orders are sent out every hour to get products to customers in nearby communities on-time and in perfect condition.

In the wake of the pandemic, Carrefour has recorded 220% per cent increase in online orders in 2020, which led the company to accelerate its online growth plans. As a result, Majid Al Futtaim opened its Garhoud Fulfillment Centre in a record 5 weeks and activated several of its stores to fulfil online orders.

-Ends- 

Media Contact:
Sami Al Ghadban – Media Relations
E: Sami.alghadban@ogilvy.com
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About Carrefour 

Carrefour was launched in the region in 1995 by UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim, which is the exclusive franchisee to operate Carrefour in over 30 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and fully owns the operations in the region. Today, Majid Al Futtaim operates over 350 Carrefour stores in 17 countries, serving more than 750,000 customers daily and employing over 37,000 colleagues.

Carrefour operates different store formats, as well as multiple online offerings to meet the growing needs of its diversified customer base. In line with the brand’s commitment to provide the widest range of quality products and value for money, Carrefour offers an unrivalled choice of more than 500,000 food and non-food products, and a locally inspired exemplary customer experience to create great moments for everyone every day. Across Carrefour’s stores, Majid Al Futtaim sources over 80% of the products offered from the region, making it a key enabler in supporting local producers, suppliers, families and economies.

About Carrefour in UAE

Carrefour was launched in the UAE in 1995. Today, Carrefour operates 29 hypermarkets and 80 supermarkets, employing more than 10,000 colleagues. 

About Majid Al Futtaim

Founded in 1992, Majid Al Futtaim is the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

A remarkable business success story, Majid Al Futtaim started from one man’s vision to transform the face of shopping, entertainment and leisure to ‘create great moments for everyone, every day’. It has since grown into one of the United Arab Emirates’ most respected and successful businesses spanning 17 international markets, employing more than 43,000 people, and obtaining the highest credit rating (BBB) among privately-held corporates in the region.

Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates 27 shopping malls, 13 hotels and four mixed-use communities, with further developments underway in the region. The shopping malls portfolio includes Mall of the Emirates, Mall of Egypt, City Centre malls, My City Centre neighbourhood centres, and five community malls which are in joint venture with the Government of Sharjah. The Company is the exclusive franchisee for Carrefour in over 30 markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, operating a portfolio of more than 350 outlets and an online store.

Majid Al Futtaim operates more than 500 VOX Cinemas screens as well as a portfolio of world-class leisure and entertainment experiences across the region including Ski Dubai, Ski Egypt, Dreamscape, Magic Planet, Little Explorers and iFLY Dubai. The Company is parent to the consumer finance company 'Najm', and a Fashion, Home and Specialty retail business representing international brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, AllSaints, lululemon athletica, Crate & Barrel, Maisons du Monde, LEGO and THAT, a Majid Al Futtaim fashion concept store and app. In addition, Majid Al Futtaim operates Enova, a facility and energy management company, through a joint venture operation with Veolia, a global leader in optimised environment resource management.

www.majidalfuttaim.com 

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