Lotte Mart launches automated Zeta Smart Center Busan

Lotte Mart has officially commenced operations at the Zeta Smart Center Busan, an online-only logistics hub developed in partnership with the British retail technology company Ocado. The facility, which represents a 200 billion won investment, utilizes Ocado's Smart Platform (OSP) to integrate AI, big data, and machine learning for automated logistics.

The center features a highly automated 'Hive' storage system where hundreds of robots—capable of scaling up to 1,000—move goods across a grid at speeds of 4m/s. The AI-driven platform predicts demand based on variables like weather and seasonality to optimize stock placement. The facility is designed with a 100% cold chain system, maintaining refrigerated zones at 1–5°C and frozen zones at -25°C to ensure food freshness.

Currently serving 4 million households in Busan, Changwon, and Gimhae, the center provides delivery windows every 2 to 3 hours, operating 24 hours a day. Lotte Mart plans to expand its delivery reach to Daegu and Ulsan next year, with a target of processing over 33,000 orders daily, representing an estimated annual revenue of 960 billion won.