Bol.com today started the construction of the expansion of its distribution centre in Waalwijk. The 50,000-square-metre expansion will enable bol.com to accommodate its annual growth for the time being.
The new building will be commissioned in 2021 and connected to the current fulfilment centre in Waalwijk. The Belgian and Dutch sales partners gave the go-ahead today by laying the first hand on the foundation.
Space for fulfilment sales partners
Bol.com is growing by 30 per cent annually. With the extra surface area, the online player wants to make space for its sales partners. There are currently more than 20,000 of them. "We expect our Belgian and Dutch entrepreneurs to realise more than 50 per cent of all sales via bol.com within two years," said general manager Huub Vermeulen. "When the expansion is put into use in 2021, a large part of the parcels sent will therefore be filled with items from our partners. By ushering in construction together today, we are literally joining forces."
Goods to man
The construction of this expansion is in line with bol.com's existing fulfilment centre, and is taking place according to BREAAM guidelines. Daylight and walking distances are key, alongside minimal environmental impact. Through automation, walking distances will be reduced. Goods will move to the employee instead of the other way around.
Tailor-made packaging
The new building takes into account the commissioning of advanced packaging machines, putting items in the most optimal box and reducing air in packaging. Bol.com says this marks an important step towards climate-neutral shopping. The online shop's ambition is to reduce its direct footprint to 0 grams of CO2 emissions per parcel by 2025.
New jobs
The construction of the expansion is taking place in phases, allowing current employees of fulfilment partner Ingram Micro to continue their work. With the expansion, bol.com is creating 100 additional jobs, both at the fulfilment centre in Waalwijk and at bol.com's office in Utrecht.
