Ocado software launch enables concurrent pick modes

OCADO INTELLIGENT Automation has released Ocado IQ, a cloud-based, AI-powered fulfillment execution software with multiple pick modes that can run concurrently across warehouses and fulfillment sites. The software system directs every pick, path, and priority from inbound to outbound, across the Ocado Mobile Robot System (OMRS).

Ocado Group North America president Leah Holding, says: “Most software systems lock you into a single pick mode for every aisle in your warehouse. What elevates the Ocado IQ software suite is its two concurrent pick modes that free operators from the one-size-fits-all pick strategies of the past.”

Ocado IQ acts as the orchestrator of the entire warehouse operation, coordinating tasks, teams, tools, and technologies through a single interface. The software applies smart orchestration logic across every connected touchpoint, giving operations floor-wide visibility and faster fulfillment from receiving and putaway through picking, packing, and outbound.

Ocado IQ powers the Chuck and Porter autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from OIA, as well as the Ocado IQ App, to keep fulfillment operations in sync across automated and manual workflows. As a result, operations achieve:

• Two- to three-times improvement in picking productivity versus manual operations.
• 50% reduced labour costs.
• Up to 90% less training time.
• Performance improvements on day one.
• Return on investment in as few as six months.

 Ocado IQ’s two intelligent pick modes can run concurrently across a warehouse or distribution centre. They are configured by aisle, using factors like aisle width and position, product density and velocity, and task type. That means the software selects the most productive approach for each aisle rather than applying a single method across the entire floor.

• Pick Mode 1: The associate meets the bot at a set point, and it guides them smoothly through the aisle from start to finish on a single, focused flow. This mode is best suited to high- or low-density aisles with fast or slow movers, or narrow aisles where fewer bots minimize congestion.
• Pick Mode 2: In this approach, one associate works with several bots in the same aisle. The software positions each bot near the next pick location at traffic-free points to avoid congestion, so the aisle runs in a smooth, shared flow. It’s ideal for mid-density, medium-mover aisles with wider configurations.
• Smart Bypass is a technique for warehouses that operate ultra-fast. Smart Bypass boosts productivity for Pick Mode 1 and 2 simultaneously across the site. It activates direct-to-pick routes, bypassing meet-up points and automating the badge-in process at every bot transition to preserve momentum. Associates skip unnecessary steps, reduce walking time, and maintain focus without interrupting the underlying pick mode for their aisle.

Ocado IQ’s proprietary Smart Allocation Logic evaluates orders and labour continuously, assigning every task to the right resource at the right moment. Unlike point solutions that manage only individual tasks, the software suite coordinates the full scope of warehouse fulfillment: picking, tasking, routing, error resolution, and real-time operational intelligence.

• All picking methodologies – batch, cluster, or discrete zones for eaches or full cases – are supported by the software. The method is pre-defined for each SKU and determines the smartest approach.
• Smart order prioritisation continuously ranks and sequences orders, grouping tasks for maximum efficiency.
• Dynamic zoning assesses who is best positioned for the next task and adjusts operational zones across the warehouse floor in real time. Instead of relying on fixed boundaries, dynamic zoning reduces unnecessary travel and keeps work balanced, avoiding idle time or overload.
• Smart handoffs and routing calculate the optimal moment for transition between associates and bots and the most efficient path for every pick, reducing travel time and congestion.
• Automated error resolution spots missed items, incorrect quantities, and overflowed totes and takes corrective action quickly to minimize manual corrections later in the process. It reroutes picks and creates new containers without intervention. The system also reallocates tasks and adjusts zones to keep fulfillment on track – with no manual input required. If a bot goes offline or a process stalls, it reroutes instantly.
• Live operational insights give supervisors access to live dashboards tracking pick times, walk time, scan accuracy, queue status, and performance – enabling faster decisions.

“When picking is inefficient, your entire operation feels it. Too many steps, manual workarounds, and course corrections drain the operation,” adds Holding. “Ocado IQ keeps the entire operation in sync, from bots to manual workflows and everything in between, resolving the persistent operational gaps that limit throughput and inflate labour costs.”

Launch and train fast

Ocado IQ is designed to deploy in weeks, not months, removing barriers around implementation timelines, training complexity, and delayed returns. Its intuitive interfaces are multilingual, enabling associates to learn controls, safety steps, and workflows in minutes. On day one, the software offers deep integration with existing warehouse management systems and native connectivity with partner software, without custom workarounds or third-party integrators.

The Ocado IQ App extends intelligent picking logic to manual areas where bots can’t go to handle bulky, oversized, or hard-to-reach items – no separate system needed. The app mirrors the interface on the AMR, so associates can see what they are picking on the handheld device, reducing errors.

Agile scaling

Ocado IQ is engineered for long-term flexibility. Bots can be added or removed quickly to match seasonal demand without rework or code changes. The software scales across new work areas and sites as operational needs evolve. With more than 1,000 guided configurations and continuous rolling software updates, operations remain current and capable without disruption.

“When demand spikes, operations face a limited set of options: overtime, temporary staff, or asking already stretched teams to absorb more. As a warehouse grows and its technology evolves, Ocado IQ is already built to flex with it,” said Holding.