OPLOG Opens New Fulfillment Center in U.K. Featuring Automated Systems

OPLOG, an Istanbul, Turkey-based fulfillment company, announced yesterday that it has opened a new warehouse in Leighton Buzzard, England that has been decked out with robots.

Founded in 2013, OPLOG said it enables e-commerce brands to operate in various markets without physical boundaries through its international fulfilment network. To date, the company has raised €11m ($12 million USD) in funding and employs over 350 staff including 100 engineers and developers.

"Bringing OPLOG to the UK marks a major step in our company's journey, so I am extremely excited to launch our fulfilment centre in the UK, and I am super confident that this will be a major part of our global fulfillment network, said Halit Develioglu, CEO and founder of OPLOG, in a statement.

Major customers include Sony, Tupperware, and Rossmann.

"Surrounded by many last mile delivery and logistics operators, Leighton Buzzard was selected as the ideal location for OPLOG's inception into the UK. Its arrival in the historic market town coincides with positive signs of economic growth in the area, with reports showing over 2,000 new businesses were registered in the county during 2022," the company said. "We believe that OPLOG will be highly efficient and competitive in the UK's logistics market while offering a seamless post-purchase experience to new generation consumer brands."

"Thanks to its close proximity to the business hub of the UK's capital, Leighton Buzzard is well positioned for OPLOG's fulfilment center. OPLOG also intends to hire 50 employees, who will be responsible for running the day-to-day operations at the warehouse," it added.

The company has additional facilities in Istanbul, Darica, Dilovasi, and Ankara.

UK economy sees impact of robotics but behind in robotic industrial installations

The company cited a November 2021 London Economics report for the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy that found "the economic impact of robotics and autonomous systems uptake across all selected sectors in the UK is estimated to be in the region of £6.4 billion ($7 billion USD) by 2035."

"Yet, the UK is still currently lagging behind when it comes to robotic industrial integration, compared to other G7 countries, which tend to attribute a much higher percentage of their GDP to manufacturing," the company said. "With its presence in Leighton Buzzard, OPLOG hopes to significantly accelerate innovation in the UK within this sector."

The company thinks it has a competitive edge since it allows customers to outsource their supply chain and fulfillment operations.