> Ocado has delivery vans that seem to be in no particular hurry (unlike uber eats etc)

True. the difference is that Uber eats takes an order and immediately aims to deliver it as soon as possible.

Ocado takes a grocery order, stores it and aims to deliver it e.g. "next Wednesday, between 6pm and 7pm", and you can modify the order until midnight on Tuesday.

Given that UK Urban traffic levels are unpredictable, the vans will occasionally be in position before the start time. There also is some time where the guy is in the back of the van finding the current order.

But you're right, as the public interacts with them, Ocado's role is "Deliver groceries in a van" not "automation/robotics". The latter is an implementation detail to us.

Also, several people's groceries in 1 van is more fuel efficient and less traffic congestion than all of those people each driving to a big store and back. So it's a win.