Ocado Intelligent Automation has adapted its robotic storage and retrieval technology for the pharmaceutical sector. The company is deploying its Ocado Storage and Retrieval System (OSRS) to manage sensitive medical inventory and ensure compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines.

The OSRS employs a cubic grid structure where AI-managed robots handle inventory storage and retrieval. The system is designed to operate under strict environmental controls, which is a requirement for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and high-value products such as narcotics or precursor substances.

Operational capabilities of the OSRS include:

• Processing of a 50-item order in approximately five minutes
• Integrated sensors for real-time temperature monitoring and automated alarms
• AI-driven predictive maintenance and inventory slotting algorithms
• Support for First-Expired, First-Out (FEFO) inventory policies
• Compatibility with existing pharmaceutical ERP and warehouse management systems

The system is intended to reduce manual errors and security risks, such as theft or damage, by keeping picked orders within the secure grid until they are ready for dispatch. Ocado stated that the automation allows logistics providers to manage rising demand for cell and gene therapies despite a shrinking labour pool in the sector.

Ocado Intelligent Automation, a division of Ocado Group, has operated in the online grocery sector for more than 20 years. The company is now positioning its hardware and software for broader industrial applications where high-density storage and precise environmental monitoring are required.