Ocado Technology opens new Software Development Centre in Sofia

Plans to triple number of software developers

Ocado Technology, creators of the innovative software and systems that power the end-to-end online retail platforms of leading grocers Ocado and Morrisons, has today announced the opening of its latest Software Development Centre in Sofia. The British Ambassador to Bulgaria, Emma Kate Hopkins OBE, officially opened the new office.

Emma Hopkins, British Ambassador to Bulgaria, said “The new software development centre of Ocado is a great example of how a UK company can benefit from the advantages of Bulgaria as a business location.”

Ocado Technology is the proud creator of the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP), a unique end to end e-commerce solution, designed to get the world’s retailers online. With a mixture of cutting-edge technology and industry expertise, Ocado Technology has designed its solution to bridge the gap between bricks-and-mortar stores and the increasingly popular online shop. Ocado is now entering an exciting stage in its development, having signed multiple OSP deals with international retail giants including Kroger, Morrisons, ICA, Sobeys, and Group Casino.

Ocado Technology develops world-leading software and systems at the forefront of five disruptive technologies: AI, Robotics, the Internet of Things, Big Data, and the Cloud. This rich technology estate and Ocado Technology’s leadership in the space provide exciting opportunities for cutting-edge software development across six strategic hubs - one in the UK, two in Poland, one in Spain, and one in Bulgaria.

The new Software Development Centre in Sofia spans 1800m2 in a modern building near to Paradise Mall with excellent links to the Metro, ring road, and local buses and trams. Already over 60 software developers are working on cutting-edge projects in the areas of robotics, machine-learning, AI & simulation, data science, warehouse control, in-store picking, and more. This number is expected to triple over the coming years.

Richard Haywood, Head of Ocado Technology Sofia, commented: “We are delighted to expand our operations in Sofia. While Questers has been a fantastic partner in helping us establish ourselves in Sofia initially, this significant independent presence will enable our future growth. The opening of the new office is testament to the talent of our rapidly growing team, which has successfully tackled some very complex development and engineering challenges over the last two years.”

About Ocado Technology

Ocado Technology is developing world-class systems and solutions in the areas of robotics, machine learning, simulation, data science, forecasting and routing, inference engines, big data, real-time control, and more.

Ocado Technology enables Ocado.com, the world’s largest online-only supermarket, to serve more than 645,000 active customers in the UK. The fusion between the Ocado retail and Ocado Technology divisions creates a virtuous circle of innovation that leads to disruptive thinking.