Exotec Skypod System Transforms Guess Logistics at GXO Venlo Facility

Contract logistics provider GXO Logistics and warehouse robotics innovator Exotec have officially launched a state-of-the-art automated storage and retrieval system at a major distribution hub in the Netherlands.

Designed specifically to support the global fashion brand Guess, the new installation is already processing between 40,000 and 70,000 pieces per day, fundamentally reshaping how high-volume apparel distribution operates in the region.

The Venlo facility is no ordinary warehouse. It manages complex inbound logistics, value-added services like garment conditioning, and outbound distribution for Guess across both EMEA and Asian markets. To handle the notorious challenges of fashion retail—such as massive SKU counts, unpredictable seasonal spikes, and rapidly evolving consumer demands—Exotec deployed a highly customized solution.

Rather than piecing together disparate technologies from multiple vendors, GXO opted for a single-integrator design. This strategic choice simplified accountability and ensured every mechanical and software component was optimized to work in perfect harmony. At the heart of the operation, 127 autonomous robots navigate 60,000 rack locations, bringing inventory directly to operators at eight specialized goods-to-person picking stations.

The Skypod architecture relies on innovative robot-to-robot handling. At ergonomic workstations, human operators pick items from one robot carrying inventory bins and place them directly into another robot holding the final shipping carton. This clever design completely eliminates the need for separate picking and packing zones.

Furthermore, an Integrated Buffer feature stores completed or semi-completed orders directly inside the racks until they are ready for outbound consolidation, removing the traditional need for bulky staging areas. For outbound logistics, the robots group orders and deliver them in a precise arrangement to a unit called the Exchanger. This system routes items for loading onto trucks based on specific delivery routes or store planograms, bypassing the need for external sorting equipment entirely.

The operational impact has been immediate and profound. Processing times have been slashed to a single day, transforming what was once a high-pressure, heavily manual environment into a highly organized and predictable workflow.

Operations manager Mark Donné noted that the collaboration allowed the teams to tackle complex site constraints with tailored engineering solutions, resulting in one of the smoothest deployment ramp-ups in the company's history.

Currently, the Venlo site efficiently distributes products to Guess retail stores across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. With the physical infrastructure now fully optimized, the facility is also poised to imminently go live with dedicated e-commerce fulfillment operations for the Benelux region, proving that advanced robotics is no longer just a futuristic concept, but a present-day necessity for global retail survival.