A new generation of robot helpers has boosted productivity in fulfillment operations as warehouses struggle with COVID19-era traffic surges and staffing shortages. With e-commerce acceptance growing, an anticipated second wave of COVID-19, and online orders surging, retailers, third-party logistics providers, and distributors of critical medical supplies are expanding their use of robots to optimize fulfilling orders and manage returns and replenishment as well.
Robots can speed up operations and act as a force multiplier, handling more orders with the same number of people or, alternatively, allowing the same work to be done with people spaced farther apart for the duration of the pandemic. After an initial three to four-week setup period — involving mapping the service area, integrating the robotics software with the WMS, installing the Wi-Fi network, optimizing the flow of robots, and training workers that takes just minutes — scaling the operation is relatively simple. The model estimates an average 129% return on investment after four months.
Even at pre-pandemic growth rates for omnichannel e-commerce, traditional warehousing and fulfillment models are becoming overwhelmed. Research and Markets expects the current $55 billion logistics automation market to average more than 12% annual growth to nearly double by 2025. It’s more a matter of when, rather than if the robots are coming.
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