Supply chain · Production
Waitrose & Partners uses Blue Prism intelligent automation to streamline direct store-to-supplier ordering
The problem
Waitrose & Partners managed a complex supply chain with many UK and international suppliers and acted as a costly middleman between suppliers and individual stores, adding time and expense to product fulfillment.
Workflow diagram · grounded in source
1
Store identifies low stock
trigger
“if a local store realizes it is running low on a popular cereal or pasta sauce, the store places an order with Waitrose by the case, pallet or layer”
2
Digital worker reviews and aggregates
ai_action
“a digital worker reviews the order, aggregates the products from each supplier”
3
Minimum order requirement check
validation
“determines whether it meets a minimum order requirement to get a direct shipment”
4
Order approved and dispatched directly
output
“the digital worker approves the order and it is sent directly to the local Waitrose”
Reported outcome
Intelligent automation delivered significant time and cost savings; when branches order directly from suppliers, Waitrose's fulfillment cost is cut in half, and those savings are passed along to shoppers.
Reported metrics
Time and cost savingssignificant time and cost savings
Fulfillment costcut in half
Reported stack
Blue Prism digital workers
Source
https://www.blueprism.com/resources/case-studies/intelligent-automation-helps-waitrose-meet-and-exceed-store-inventory-demands/
Read source ↗Frequently asked questions
What did this team achieve with this AI workflow?
Intelligent automation delivered significant time and cost savings; when branches order directly from suppliers, Waitrose's fulfillment cost is cut in half, and those savings are passed along to shoppers.
What tools did this team use?
Blue Prism digital workers.
What results were reported?
Time and cost savings: significant time and cost savings; Fulfillment cost: cut in half (source-reported, not independently verified).
How is this supply chain AI workflow structured?
Store identifies low stock → Digital worker reviews and aggregates → Minimum order requirement check → Order approved and dispatched directly.