The Interview. Thomas Genestar of Exotec
Exotec is a global warehouse robotics company powering the world’s largest brands. The company combines the best of hardware and software to offer elegant warehouse robotic systems that drive operational efficiency, add resiliency, and improve working conditions for warehouse operators. 50+ industry-leading brands including Gap Inc., Carrefour, Decathlon, and UNIQLO trust Exotec to improve their [...] The post The Interview. Thomas Genestar of Exotec first appeared on Warehouse & Logistics News.
Exotec is a global warehouse robotics company powering the world’s largest brands. The company combines the best of hardware and software to offer elegant warehouse robotic systems that drive operational efficiency, add resiliency, and improve working conditions for warehouse operators. 50+ industry-leading brands including Gap Inc., Carrefour, Decathlon, and UNIQLO trust Exotec to improve their operations across 150+ sites worldwide
Managing Director
– Western Europe, Exotec
Thomas Genestar, Managing Director – Western Europe at Exotec, talks to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What new products or services are you developing to stay ahead of the competition?
We have just launched the Next Generation of our Skypod system, which brings a range of new features and performance improvements that enhance our competitive advantage.
Key features of the new system include a new and more compact Skypod robot, a workstation for robot-to-robot picking, a high-throughput exchanger, and denser storage. These redesigns, combined with new software features, improve the throughput at a single workstation by 50%, while increasing storage density by up to 30% compared to the previous generation of Skypod.
The key differentiator for the Next Generation of Skypod is the ability to handle both individual and case picking, meaning Skypod can better address multichannel needs with a single system. It also supports a number of value-added logistics features that traditionally require external equipment and complex subsystems.
This not only enables customers to simplify the flow of goods through the warehouse, but also significantly shrinks the system footprint by cutting down the need for conveyors, sorters, external storage, and packing stations.
What sectors do your customers work in?
Our customers operate predominantly in the retail, e-commerce, grocery, healthcare, third-party logistics and manufacturing distribution industries. Our global client base has grown significantly in the last few years and continues to expand, with customer examples including Renault, Auchan Retail, Carrefour and BlueStar.
What makes your company unique in your industry?
We are France’s first industrial unicorn, exceeding a valuation of $2 billion in 2022 and reaching this figure just seven years after our foundation in 2015. Both of our co-founders, Romain Moulin and Renaud Heitz, started out in robotics engineering before forming Exotec, bringing a unique level of technical expertise that has guided the progress of the company to this day.
Our dedication to quality, innovation and sustainability set us apart in the warehouse automation industry, with our hands-on experience of robotics technology meaning we can deliver superior systems that help our customers reach new standards of efficiency. All of our employees are experts in their field, and are heavily invested in the success of our customers.
For all of our projects, we don’t just provide a product, install it and walk away. We are focused on continually developing new solutions for our customers’ most difficult fulfilment challenges. The Next Generation of Skypod is a prime example of our philosophy in action.
How would you explain the culture of your company?
Our three company pillars are Understand Your Client, Build Together, and Be Proud.
Our culture emphasises creative freedom, openness, innovative thinking and a consistent focus on improving how we serve our customers. We encourage all of our employees to suggest ways of improving our products, operations and customer service, ensuring that every customer receives a tailored approach that helps them achieve their goals as a business.
Taking pride in our work is an integral aspect of our company culture. We stand behind our systems, and celebrate our projects and the value they deliver to customers.
What are the biggest challenges facing your company and your industry?
There are lots of changes taking place in the world of warehouse logistics and automation. One major challenge we have seen through conversations with our customers and the way the market is evolving generally, is that warehouse robotics needs to address a wider range of processes within the warehouse walls.
We’ve aimed to address these requirements with the Next Generation of Skypod. The system is already helping our customers to reimagine their entire supply chains, from combining case and individual picking operations, to leveraging outbound sequencing to improve transportation costs.
What are your key priorities for the next year and beyond?
We are looking forward to continuing our rollout of the Next Generation of Skypod, which will be a crucial priority for us for the rest of this year and beyond.
In the two years prior to the official launch, we began installing the new system in stealth mode at various customer sites around the world, including Oxford Industries (encompassing brands such as Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer and Southern Tide) and E.Leclerc. This means that we’re very much ready to deploy the Next Generation of Skypod at pace for more customers, and have some very exciting new projects planned for the coming months.
We will also be carrying out a series of exclusive events designed for our customers and partners to experience our live sites in person. Known as Exotours, these events enable attendees to see the Next Generation of Skypod in action, ask questions of our senior staff, and network with industry peers. We encourage anyone who is interested to contact us for more information.
Exotec
The post The Interview. Thomas Genestar of Exotec first appeared on Warehouse & Logistics News.
