In 2016, worldwide sales of robotic equipment for warehouses were an estimated $1.9m, which is an indication of how many warehouses are embracing new technology, particularly among online retailers.
Warehouse automation is a growing business. It is predicted by the Tractica research firm that by 2021, there will be 620,000 robotic units working in warehouses, and this could mean more and more operations take place in the dark.
One of the biggest investors in automated warehouse technology is online retail giant Amazon, which purchased robotic company Kiva to accelerate its technology development. Its recent Prime Day sale probably could not have been possible without Kiva robots to handle the increase in orders.
Up until now, the price of robot technology has meant that only large organisations could afford them. There are several companies developing warehouse robots though, and as they scale up their manufacturing processes, the price of robots could come down, making them cost effective for small businesses.
One of the new entrants into the market is Locus Robotics, which believes that customers are wanting more in terms of product choices, customer services and delivery speed. Robots can be an integral part of providing the service that customers demand.
Robots work alongside the human workforce, even in Amazon warehouses. They can quickly locate and pick items from warehouse shelving, then humans pack the boxes and get them ready for delivery. As technology develops, we could one day see dark warehouses staffed by machines that have completely replaced the human workforce.
