16 million connected locker doors opened: proof that short supply chains are scaling up 🔥

16 million openings. Yes, 16 million Automat-e connected locker doors have already been opened. 16 million times consumers chose short supply chains. This number does not describe a passing trend: it reveals the scale of a movement that is permanently transforming local distribution around the world. Every door opened means a product collected and a producer paid. This symbolic milestone sends a clear message: the vending machine has become an adopted and measurable sales model. And if this figure keeps growing, it is because short supply chains have become simpler, more accessible, and fully compatible with today’s consumer habits. And everything suggests this momentum is only just beginning…

• 16 million opened doors represent 16 million purchases made;
• The lockers generate direct revenue for producers;
• Every opening reflects a choice in favor of local and short supply chains;
• This milestone is the result of a coherent and deliberate industrial model;
• The momentum is part of a long-term transformation of local commerce.

16 million locker openings. This figure does not represent simple visits… but 16 million actual purchases completed.

For producers, retailers, or businesses looking to get started, this number is a strong signal: consumers genuinely use connected lockers to buy products.

Available 24/7, this distribution method fits perfectly into new consumption habits: fast, autonomous, and accessible at any time.

These millions of purchases prove one thing: self-service retail works, and it continues to grow.

This figure demonstrates one thing clearly: connected vending machines are used daily.

And the explanation is simple. Today, nearly 65% of rural municipalities no longer have a food store. Residents are therefore looking for simple ways to buy products close to home. Available 24/7, the connected locker perfectly answers this need.
It provides easy access to local products, anytime and independently.

Installing local product vending lockers allows producers, artisans, and farmers to sell directly, without intermediaries.

The vending machine can either replace a physical store or complement an existing business. In both cases, it is a strategic decision: creating an autonomous point of sale capable of generating additional revenue without requiring permanent on-site presence.

Accessible 24/7, the locker extends sales hours and generates impulse purchases that would not happen in a traditional retail setting.

Beyond the revenue generated, the locker vending machine saves both time and freedom: sales happen autonomously.

Management and restocking are simplified thanks to Le Kiosque, our intelligent management system. Producers can remotely monitor sales, analyze best-performing products, and adjust stock levels accordingly.

Short shelf-life management is simplified thanks to the FIFO principle (“first in, first out”), reducing waste and optimizing product rotation.

This data control makes it possible to gradually improve profitability, with a clear and precise overview of operations to maximize sales and revenue.

Buying local is now clearly reflected in consumer behavior.

“Customers are showing up, they support the concept, and here everything is 100% local. Nothing comes from outside the region,” explains Julie from Le Casier Bleu.

These testimonials from our customers reflect a deeper shift: consumers are increasingly looking for proximity, traceability, and direct relationships with nearby producers.

The 16 million openings recorded on our smart locker prove that local products are becoming genuinely accessible. Great news! While short supply chain alternatives are often limited by opening hours, remote locations, or inconsistent availability, the Automat-e self-service locker removes these barriers by providing 24/7 access. Customers can shop whenever they need, not only when a store is open!

This accessibility is further enhanced by the Automat-e mobile app, which allows users to check available products remotely before traveling. The result: buying local becomes even easier! The mobile app is currently evolving and will soon offer Click & Collect: online ordering with locker pickup.

16 million openings mean one very simple thing: it works.
Every day. Everywhere. In all weather conditions.

Our R&D teams have also designed modular wooden and steel buildings to protect self-service vending installations and create real connected retail spaces that are visible and durable. Beyond protection, these modular buildings create a genuine store environment to welcome visitors.

The reliability of our connected vending machines also relies on the quality of the chosen materials. Our manufacturing processes are precise and rigorous, and we pay particular attention to selecting materials designed to last and compatible with locker usage.

Thanks to feedback from our customers in the field, we continuously improve our connected machine. It is part of our DNA: making it ever more efficient for your sales.

From design to final product, we control the entire production chain. Our connected lockers are designed using high-quality materials.

If we have reached 16 million today, it is because behind every locker opening, behind every sale, there is a company that controls its tools and builds for the long term.

Automat-e has no intention of stopping there!

This figure reflects a trajectory: consumers want local products, autonomy, and freedom from opening-hour constraints. Short supply chains are no longer a niche movement: they are becoming a mainstream consumption habit.

At the same time, producers are seeking sales models that are more direct, more profitable, and less dependent on intermediaries. The vending machine responds perfectly to this dual evolution: simplifying purchases for customers while securing sales for producers.

And the movement is now expanding beyond agriculture alone. Restaurants, bakeries, fishmongers, pastry shops, caterers… new uses are emerging and broadening the possibilities.

16 million openings are not the finish line.
They are the beginning of a lasting change in the way people sell… and buy.

What if the next number was yours? 💡

Are you a producer, artisan, or project owner wondering about the potential of a connected locker?

Let’s discuss your situation, your region, and your goals.
Every installation is unique.

Contact our teams to study your project.

🔹How is the figure of 16 million opened locker doors calculated?

Each opening is automatically recorded when a purchase is validated through payment. Only the physical opening of a locker is counted. This is not an estimate, but real data generated from transactions across all installations through Le Kiosque.

🔹What do 16 million opened locker doors actually represent?

This figure corresponds to 16 million purchase actions completed through Automat-e connected lockers in short supply chains. Every opening means a product sold by a producer, farmer, artisan, or direct seller.

🔹Why does the number of opened locker doors keep increasing?

Because demand is real: consumers are looking for local products, autonomy, and extended opening hours. At the same time, producers are seeking more direct and profitable sales channels. The connected locker is therefore a practical solution. The figure continues to grow because it answers a long-term need, not a temporary trend.

🔹Do the 16 million opened locker doors prove the profitability of the model?

Yes, these 16 million openings concretely demonstrate that there is customer demand to sustain your autonomous machine.
Above all, they demonstrate massive adoption of the system. Such a volume of openings implies repeat purchases, customer loyalty, and real operational activity. Profitability depends on location and product offering. Usage itself proves the viability of the model.

🔹Does the connected locker model only work in rural areas?

Not at all. The 16 million openings concern rural areas lacking stores, as well as suburban and urban areas. The system adapts to producers, artisans, restaurateurs, and even new uses such as fast food services on university campuses.