Guess distribution for EMEA and Asia now runs on 127 robots

GXO Logistics and warehouse robotics provider Exotec have completed the deployment of an Exotec Skypod system at GXO's Venlo facility in the Netherlands, the site that handles fulfilment for Guess across EMEA and Asia. The two companies announced the deployment on Tuesday.

The installation comprises 127 robots, 60,000 rack locations, eight goods-to-person picking stations and 200 metres of conveyor network. The system processes between 40,000 and 70,000 pieces per day and can reach a throughput of up to 2,200 order lines per hour during peak periods.

At the Venlo site, GXO manages inbound logistics and value-added services for Guess, including quality control and garment conditioning, as well as outbound distribution. The two companies designed the automation solution around the specific demands of fashion logistics: high SKU counts, seasonal demand fluctuations and changing customer requirements. Exotec coordinated the integration and end-to-end deployment.

"The impact has been evident from day one," said Mark Donné, operations manager at GXO Venlo, in a statement published on Exotec's website. "Our automated solution with Exotec, tailored specifically for Guess, has helped take our operation to the next level, enabling faster processing, greater predictability and a smoother workflow across the site. As our business with Guess continues to grow, we have the scalability and flexibility needed to support future demand."

Exotec framed the project as a case for purpose-built rather than off-the-shelf systems. "Fashion logistics doesn't tolerate approximation — high SKU counts, seasonal spikes, and EMEA-wide distribution require precision engineering, not off-the-shelf automation," said Wim Vermeir, senior sales executive Benelux at Exotec. "With GXO, we designed a system built specifically for those demands, and the throughput numbers speak for themselves. The result is a highly efficient operation that supports both current performance and future growth."

GXO describes the deployment as strengthening its existing collaboration with Exotec and Guess, and points to the wider argument that automation allows retailers to scale supply chains without re-engineering them and to hold throughput steady under seasonal pressure.

GXO Logistics, listed on the NYSE as GXO, is the largest pure-play contract logistics provider, with more than 150,000 employees across over 1,000 facilities totalling more than 200 million square feet. Its corporate headquarters is in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Exotec designs and manufactures its own warehouse automation technology, positioning itself as a single-source provider. More than 75 brands use its systems across over 200 sites worldwide, including Oxford Industries, which owns Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer, as well as Carrefour, Decathlon and Uniqlo.

This article was written with the assistance of AI.