Cloudpick helps Auchan launch a 20㎡ “just walk out” campus store, extending its low-price, self-service philosophy into a smaller, smarter retail model.
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Customer Requirements
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Cloudpick Solution
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Result
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Customer Testimonial
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Video
From 20,000㎡ Hypermarket to 20㎡ Unmanned Store: Why Auchan Chose Cloudpick
Customer Requirements
Auchan was founded in 1961 and is part of the Mulliez family's AFM group. For decades, the retailer has been known for three core principles: low prices (prix bas) achieved through bulk purchasing and streamlined operations; wide choice (large choix) across all store formats; and self-service (libre‑service), which empowers customers to browse freely with minimal assistance.
However, the retail landscape has changed. Consumers no longer drive to suburban hypermarkets for weekly bulk shopping; they prefer nearby, high-frequency, on‑demand purchases. Urban space is expensive and fragmented. Large stores are hard to place in city centers, and customers refuse to wait 10 minutes at checkout. Retail must embed itself into scenarios like campuses, office buildings, and transit hubs.
Yet going small brings new challenges. Limited shelf space demands careful SKU selection. Labor costs don't shrink proportionally – small stores still need multiple shifts for cashiers and restocking. Peak hours create queues and poor experiences. Many high‑traffic locations (such as university corridors or hospital lobbies) lack the physical footprint or staffing budget for a traditional store.
Auchan needed a way to make "small" truly efficient – not by reducing service, but by rethinking operations from the ground up.
Cloudpick Solution
Auchan partnered with Cloudpick to launch Auchan Go, an AI‑powered unmanned store measuring just 20㎡ (approximately 410 sq. ft.) on the campus of EDHEC Business School in Lille, France.
The solution combines computer vision, weight sensors, and cloud analytics. Customers simply take what they need and walk out – no scanning, no checkout lines.
Frictionless checkout: The system recognizes each pick‑up and put‑back in real time. Payment is completed upon exit, with an average transaction time under 15 seconds. Peak‑hour waiting time is reduced by about 80%.
Fully unmanned operation: No cashiers, no greeters, no shift scheduling. A remote management platform handles monitoring, restocking alerts, and device status. Annual labor costs are reduced by 100% for in‑store roles – saving an estimated €50,000–80,000 per store per year.
Data‑driven operations: From shelf stocking to sales and inventory alerts, every process is digitized. Inventory accuracy reaches 99%, out‑of‑stock rates drop by 30%, and replenishment frequency increases by 50%. Store managers can remotely adjust pricing and product mix.
24/7 availability: The store runs autonomously day and night, covering early mornings, late nights, and holidays. Peak throughput exceeds 50 transactions per hour, unlocking significant per‑square‑foot productivity.
Flexible deployment in “gray spaces”: Auchan Go can be placed in locations traditional convenience stores cannot easily enter – university lounges, office lobbies, hospital corridors, metro exits. The 20㎡ unit achieves 2‑3 times higher sales per square foot than conventional stores, with a payback period as short as 12–15 months.
Result
The first Auchan Go store opened on September 14, 2021, at EDHEC Business School in Roubaix, Lille. It carries approximately 500 SKUs – a tightly curated selection of high‑turnover, immediate‑use products.
Operational data has validated the model. The store generates average daily sales of €2,000, reaching an annual turnover of €730,000 – all with zero in‑store staff. During peak campus hours, it handles over 800 customer visits per hour.
In September 2021, France 2 (a national public television channel) reported that the Cloudpick‑powered Auchan Go won the LSA Innovation Award – an honor selected by 40 prominent mass retail professionals.
Importantly, the solution is fully GDPR compliant. It does not capture facial images or biometric data, making it suitable for the European market.
For Auchan, Auchan Go is not a one‑off experiment but a scalable model. It fits perfectly into the retailer's digital transformation journey – from the Auchan App and self‑scanning to Drive (online order, curbside pickup) and smart logistics. Now, the last 100 meters of the customer journey are digitized as well.
For Cloudpick, this marks a major global milestone. The technology has proven itself deployable across countries and scenarios – campuses, offices, hospitals, airports, and commercial buildings. It is a strong example of how a global retail giant and a Chinese AI company can co‑create the future of retail.
Customer Testimonial
Guillaume Robin, Head of Digital Transformation and Retail Innovation at Auchan France:
“We are proud to test our new generation Auchan Go here on the campus of EDHEC. Equipped with product and movement recognition, and mobile scan‑and‑go, Auchan Go simplifies the shopping experience and offers new practices. The supply chain of the store is connected to our hypermarket. Auchan Go brings a range of quality products at the best prices and in close proximity, just like our Auchan Piéton stores.”
Anne Zuccarelli, Director of Student Experience at EDHEC Business School:
“This great solution brings real added value to people within our campus in Croix. It meets our desire to facilitate students'and staff's daily lives by providing the most innovative services. The solution also reflects our School's ambition: to promote innovation from all perspectives and to bring innovation in the service of the majority of people.”
Video
To see the Auchan Go campus store in action, watch the video below:
YouTube:
