Growth in e-commerce boosts innovation in the warehouse robot market

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to illustrate how the growth in e-commerce has catalysed innovative developments in robots for use in warehouses. Design/methodology/approach Following a brief introduction to e-commerce and warehouse robots, this first paper discusses Amazon’s involvement with robotic technology. It then considers the community of recently founded companies manufacturing warehouse robots, together with details of their products. The paper concludes with a short discussion. Findings Amazon pioneered the use of robotics in its e-commerce warehouses with Kiva robots. It acquired the company in 2012, renaming it Amazon Robotics, and withdrew the products from open sale, triggering a boom in development activity to fill the gap in the market. Many companies in the USA, Europe and Asia have since been set up to exploit this opportunity and now manufacture robots for use in fulfilment centres around the world. While several products resemble the Kiva robots, others are more sophisticated and feature capabilities such as shelf picking and autonomous navigation. In the longer term, it is anticipated that functions such as product packing will also be conducted by robots, leading to fully automated fulfilment centres. Originality/value This paper discusses the recent and dramatic upsurge in the development of robots for use in warehouses, particularly those serving the rapidly growing e-commerce sector.