Leading third-party logistics provider Bleckmann has accelerated the expansion of its Kardex AutoStore system at its Grobbendonk, Belgium, facility—completing a multi-year growth plan in just one year due to the system’s exceptional performance, scalability, and efficiency.

Originally intended to expand in phases over several years to reach nearly 100,000 bins and 71 robots, Bleckmann decided to bring forward the entire expansion to the end of 2024.

This rapid growth underscores the AutoStore empowered by Kardex solution’s ability to optimize warehouse operations, significantly reduce labor requirements, and maximize space utilization— offering seven times the efficiency of manual fulfillment methods. With the extension, Bleckmann enhances its services by offering a multiclient AutoStore solution to multiple customers, setting itself apart with this unique selling proposition.

A futureproof automation success story

The initial Kardex AutoStore system, which went live in late 2023, was fully operational in just five
months from order placement, seamlessly integrating with Bleckmann’s logistics network.

The expansion from 25,000 to 100,000 bins was completed without downtime or operational disruption,
demonstrating the system’s modular and scalable nature. Facing increasing order volumes and labor
shortages, Bleckmann needed a high-efficiency solution to enhance fulfillment speed and optimize
warehouse space.

The Kardex AutoStore system met these demands with minimal energy consumption (ten robots use the same amount of power as a single vacuum cleaner) aligning perfectly with Bleckmann’s sustainability goals at its 100% solar-powered facility.

Enhanced scalability, speed, and sustainability

The initial system comprised a 25,000-bin AutoStore grid, 24 robots, and five ergonomic ports. Since
implementation, order cycles have accelerated by 60%, throughput has increased, and picking errors
have decreased—resulting in greater customer satisfaction and retention.

The expanded system now features seven Carousel Ports, with five additional pick ports in development ahead of Black Friday 2025. Kardex’s innovations have further enhanced the AutoStore system. The dedicated Kardex Warehouse Control System (WCS) has streamlined operations, while an automatic Robot Cleaning Station ensures system reliability.

Additionally, a multiple conveyor port enables simultaneous replenishment across three bins, drastically improving inbound processing efficiency.

A Collaborative Success Story

Eric Ebbers, Senior Sales Manager at Kardex, stated: “We are thrilled to support Bleckmann in
pushing the boundaries of warehouse automation. The Kardex AutoStore solution is designed for
scalability, allowing Bleckmann to start small and expand seamlessly. This partnership is a testament
to the power of innovation and collaboration.”

Kevin Paindeville, Director of Innovations and Warehouse Solutions at Bleckmann, added: “The
flexibility and scalability of the Kardex AutoStore system have exceeded our expectations. We’ve
been able to ramp up to full capacity in just one year without disrupting operations, reinforcing our
commitment to efficiency and customer satisfaction.”

Jens Hooyberghs, Automation Project Manager at Bleckmann, emphasized: “The system
automatically prioritizes high-demand items for faster dispatch, making a significant difference
during peak sales periods. Kardex AutoStore is proving to be a key asset in making our operations
more efficient, sustainable, and future-ready.”

Watch the case study video here; listen to Bleckmann’s Beyond Threads podcast

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Bleckmann, experts in supply chain management for fashion and lifestyle brands, announces the ‘go-live’ of a new automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) at its solar-powered fulfillment site in Grobbendonk, Belgium. 

The new integrated goods-to-person system is an integrated Kardex AutoStore solution with an automated packing line and provides a streamlined alternative to traditional rack storage. It dramatically reduces inventory footprint while speeding up picking and packing operations. The new system is the latest step in Bleckmann’s automation strategy, which aims to address labor scarcity and provide a smoother fulfillment process.

Bleckmann achieves less space and more speed

The new AutoStore uses up to seven times less space than traditional pallet racking to store the same amount of inventory. This increases storage capacity, allowing more SKUs (from multiple customers) to be stored simultaneously and greatly reducing the risk of stock shortages. Items are also retrieved by radio-controlled robots, saving time by eliminating the need for employees to pick products manually. 

The Kardex AutoStore is part of an integrated solution that requires minimal human intervention. This features an advanced conveyor system from carton erectors and an autonomous packing station with height reduction of the cartons, significantly streamlining the fulfillment process. 

“From the moment a product enters the AutoStore until it leaves the warehouse in a carton, it will have only been touched by a single pair of hands,” explained Stefan Schepers, Automation Specialist at Bleckmann. “This allows us to reduce the time between the receipt of an order and its departure from the warehouse by up to 60%.”

An integrated solution

Automating the labor-intensive picking and packing process will enable Bleckmann’s clients to offer their customers later cut-off times for next-day delivery, among other benefits. 

These include intelligent demand forecasting. “The AutoStore system automatically makes the most popular items more accessible so that they can be dispatched faster,” said Jens Hooyberghs, Automation Project Manager at Bleckmann. “It’s also possible to program the system ahead of peak sales periods so top-selling items are available even quicker – saving valuable time during those extra-busy moments.”

Lights-out logistics

According to Stefan, switching to the AutoStore solution has many other benefits: “The new system greatly reduces the likelihood of picking mistakes,” he continued. “It also offers exceptional flexibility and scalability. This means that we can start with a basic set-up and expand it when clients need extra capacity – during the Black Friday period, for example – without disrupting ongoing operations.” 

Another advantage of the AutoStore system is its low energy consumption. Ten robots at work use the same amount of energy as one vacuum cleaner. As the robots can work in the dark, energy can also be saved by switching off warehouse lights. 

Bleckmann is currently onboarding its first client onto the AutoStore system and will be closely monitoring the results of this pilot project over the coming months. “Based on the outcome of this pilot, we will evaluate the quality and efficiency gains that the solution enables,” concluded Jens. “We’re excited about the potential productivity benefits, and the scope for growth is huge – Kardex AutoStore looks set to become a key ally in making our operations safer, greener, and more efficient.”

About Bleckmann

Bleckmann is a market leader in Supply Chain Management (SCM) services for fashion and lifestyle brands. Founded in 1862, Bleckmann developed from a transport company to a full supply chain solutions provider with specific expertise in e-fulfillment. 

From its strong base in Europe, the company expanded into the US and Asia, enabling Bleckmann to serve customers worldwide. Its investments and extensive experience in IT solutions ensure that Bleckmann offers a uniform platform to its customers worldwide. Around five thousand employees are available daily to support Bleckmann's clients and keep their promises. With a turnover of EUR 564 million, Bleckmann has the size and flexibility to provide world-class solutions for its clients. For more information, visit www.bleckmann.com 

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The Belgian Digital Economy Overview presented a recent survey that shows 74,8% of Belgians bought products online during 2022—the research aimed to present the current state of the digital landscape in Belgium.

With 74,8% of Belgians shopping only, the country can claim a higher share than the European average of 68%.

According to the data, consumers most often bought clothes online (41.8 percent). This was followed by booking holiday accommodations (23.4 percent) and tickets for cultural events (21.7 percent).

Last year, 81.76 percent of Belgian online shoppers preferred shopping at local sellers. However, almost 4 out of 10 (39.4 percent) also bought products from sellers in other European countries. This was 22 percentage points higher than the European average of consumers who shop cross-border.

Physical vs Online Future Behavior Globally 

Following a recent Forbes report, it is forecasted that by 2026, 24% of all global retail purchases are expected to take place online. 

That same report forecasted a total of $6.3 trillion in 2023 size for the global e-commerce market, with a considerable increase in the e-commerce regional markets of the USA and Asia. 

Also, it claimed that by 2026, the e-commerce market is expected to grow to a total figure that will surpass $8.1 trillion with the U.S. e-commerce market reaching over $1.1 trillion in sales in 2023. 

Finally, the report highlighted that Amazon accounts for 37.8% of e-commerce sales, the highest market share of all e-commerce companies. 

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The Belgian e-commerce trade association BeCommerce has launched a new ‘trustmark’ for ads done by influencers. 

This ‘trustmark’ works like a seal of guarantee and aims to prevent fraudulent sales on social media. Belgian consumers can now easily check whether an influencer complies with European legislation in its advertising or promotions.

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In order to receive the ‘trustmark’ influencers need to comply with the current European legislation, as well as the guidelines set by the Belgian FPS for Economy. 

One of these rules is that influencers need to make sure that their ads are appropriate and not misleading. They also need to include the words “sponsored” or “ad” when they are recommending a product as part of an arrangement with a company.

To find out more about this new 'trustmark' you can go directly to the BeCommerce website here!

Scams are hot in Belgium 

At least since 2017, Belgium has experienced a dramatic rise in the number of online scams and frauds. 

According to the Federal Public Service Economy  the number of online scams have at leat quintupled in 2022. That’s why the FPS Economy is raising awareness of this problem as much as possible, for example via the website webshopsecurise.be. 

Anyone who notices a fraudulent web shop or who is a victim of a scam can report it via the FPS Economy contact point.

One of the most reported online scams in Belgium revolves around timber and alternative wood-derived heating sources. 

Apparently, scammers hoping to take advantage of the sharp price increases for timber set up websites selling various wood products, including wood pellets and firewood that can be used as an alternative heating source amid the ongoing energy crisis.

The scammers lure victims with attractive prices, which they also promote with advertisements, especially on social media, and sometimes enlist the help of influencers. 

But after a customer pays, the ordered goods are not sent, because they never existed in the first place. Most fraudsters stop replying to any attempts to contact them, or if they do reply, they attempt to extort more money from the victim.

In addition to filing a report with FPS Economy, victims are encouraged to contact their bank and file a report with local police.

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Benelux’s marketplace Bol.com has doubled its number of sellers during the last three years, reaching the mark of 50.000 partner sellers. Currently, partner sellers are responsible for 60% percent of the platform’s revenue in the first quarter of 2022. 

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Bol.com, the Dutch competitor for Amazon, started selling through partners in 2011. One third of all partners currently use Bol.com’s fulfillment service. The ecommerce platform expects this to grow to a whopping 90 percent by 2025. But the growth in partners is slowing down after the pandemic. Yet in the past 2020, 10.000 partners joined the platform.

Bol.com has over 41 million products and 13 million customers

According to Bol.com, mostly all third-party merchants are located in the Netherlands and Belgium. And it is thanks to these sellers that Bol.com now offers 41 million products in multiple categories.

During peak year 2020, the product range grew with 12 million items, an increase of 42 percent. The platform currently has 13 million Dutch and Belgian customers.

Still… no IPO for Bol.com

Last year, the Dutch group surprised everyone by announcing that it would take bol.com public in the second half of 2022. The announcement was striking at the time, as many other e-tailers had been hit hard on the stock market or (like Coolblue) had even completely canceled their IPOs.

Nevertheless, in November, Ahold Delhaize remained positive: an IPO of bol.com would bring in a lot of additional capital (experts talked about a valuation of six billion euros) and many additional growth opportunities. Less than a year later, however, the supermarket group reportedly revised its opinion, albeit – probably – temporarily.

Belgian business newspaper De Tijd quotes insiders who point to the decline in online sales after the extreme peak during the pandemic, but also to the difficulties of the stock markets. At Ahold Delhaize, there is no confirmation or denial at the moment – “We are fully focused on finding the right way to create value for Bol.com and Ahold Delhaize”, a spokesperson told De Tijd. An announcement on the bol.com IPO is expected next week, when the second quarter results are presented.

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Amazon Belgium is close to becoming a reality after the company announced its plans, earlier this year, to open a logistics center in Belgium. So far, everything indicates that Amazon is expected to begin operations in the country in September. 

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While there is still no certainty about the new market, the e-commerce giant is building a logistics center in Antwerp. This is intended to be used as a sorting center for packages arriving from France and Germany before they are shipped to consumers in Belgium. 

Even before the start of the construction of the logistics center, Amazon had already begun work on expanding its courier network in Belgium. So far, it has worked with local courier companies. However, with the launch of its own marketplace, Amazon is expected to use its own delivery network. 

Amazon previously used its Dutch site only for the sale of e-books. The new site will not only offer the full range of products, but it will also be open to businesses and customers in Belgium.

Expectations about Amazon's launch in Belgium

According to documents that have become known, Amazon already has plans to expand to a total of 5 new countries. One of them is Belgium, where the launch is expected to take place in September. 

An interesting point to note is that Belgian retailers will be able to use the Fulfillment by Amazon service. At the same time, Amazon Prime subscriptions will be immediately available from the moment the company arrives in the country, and consumers who already had their subscription through other European sites will be able to continue their membership through Amazon Belgium. 

How is Amazon faring globally? 

One of the things that many people in the e-commerce business have been concerned about is how the giant Amazon is faring in our post-covid world, which has suffered a drastic reduction in the e-commerce sales, at least in comparison with the Covid pandemic sales peak. 

In this regard the company reported 44 percent year-over-year growth in net sales for Q1 2021 and just 7 percent growth for Q1 2022. 

That’s obviously a lot lower than usual for Amazon. In fact Compound Capital Advisors said this quarter marks Amazon’s slowest Q1 growth ever. Amazon also reported its first quarterly loss since 2015, largely due to a $7.6 billion loss on its investment in the electric vehicle maker Rivian, which has seen its stock fall by more than half this year.

All in all, even with historically bad results, Amazon seems driven into a global domination policy. And we should expect more launches in Europe and Eurasia, after Belgium, before the end of 2022. 

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Even though only about one in three shops in the Netherlands is very active, the density is still very high (640 people per online shop). The country does not have a large marketplace like Amazon that is active in the country. Amazon is only present through a translated German Amazon website and an online platform where it sells ebooks.

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The French e-commerce company announced that it can offer international delivery now in its financial report about the first half of 2018. Delivery times for the Italian and German market are 72 hours. In Belgium and Spain, products can be delivered within 48 hours.

Cdiscount also started to sell its products on local partner websites in those same 4 European countries. In addition, Cdiscount has partnered with ColisExpat to offer its customers delivery all around the world at preferential prices. The company also recently signed a strategic partnership with Mr. Bricolage in the Do-It-Yourself and Garden categories with the implementation of a joint-purchasing agreement.

The expansion news follows after Cdiscount revealed it achieved a 15 percent year-on-year growth in net sales, which are now worth 969 million euros. During Q2 of this year, Cdiscount counted 8.7 million active customers who have placed 5.8 million orders for 11 million items.

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It means the e-commerce turnover is increasing even though the average spending per buyer will decrease slightly. Last year, a little more than 50% perecnt of the Belgian population shopped online and spent on average €1700 in 2017. This year, this will decrease to €1686

The majority of online spending in Belgium goes through laptops (54 percent), followed by PCs (30 percent), tablets (9 percent) and smartphones (6 percent). Belgian consumers shop online, they mostly order clothing and footwear (42 percent). This category is followed by home electronics (31 percent), books (21 percent) and cosmetic and skincare (18 percent).

Cross-border
Belgium has always been shopping cross-border, and especially Dutch shops are popular. 34 percent of the Belgian population has shopped online from the Netherlands, which is a significant difference with the percentage of buyers in China (14 percent), the United Kingdom and Germany (13 percent).

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The Belgian Federation of Trade and Services, Comeos, has commented on the new regulation, stating that it is insufficient to get the sector up to speed. While the new regulation makes it possible to work between midnight and 5 a.m. priority should be on the 8 p.m.-midnight timeframe. These are the most important hours Belgian merchants want to continue to work. The main problem with changing regulation for this period is that a new agreement has to be made with all labor unions. The same goes for working on Sundays.

Currently, one in two Belgian e-commerce orders is placed on an international shop selling in Belgium. According to president Dominique Michel, this will not change anytime soon.

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