Warehouse Robotics Market by Type (Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVS), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRS), Articulated Robots, Collaborative Robots, Cylindrical & SCARA Robots, and Others), Payload Capacity (Less Than 20 Kg, 20–100 Kg, 100–200 Kg, and More Than 200 Kg), Application, (Palletizing & Depalletizing, Sorting & Packaging, Picking & Placing, and Transportation), Offering (Hardware, Software, and Services), Industry Vertical (E-commerce, Automotive & Transportation, Foods & Beverages, Chemical, Rubber, & Plastics, Healthcare, Electrical & Electronics, and Others) - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023–2030

Market Overview

The global Warehouse Robotics Market size was valued at USD 6.09 billion in 2022, and is predicted to reach USD 15.66 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 11.8% from 2023 to 2030.

Warehouse robotics uses automated systems, robots, and specialized software to perform various tasks and streamline & automate warehouse processes. These robots are equipped with various technologies such as laser, computer vision, geo-guidance, and LiDAR for effective navigation. They play a significant role in warehouse automation.

These robots perform tasks, such as order picking, packing, palletizing, and transportation. They are used in various industry verticals, such as e-commerce, automotive, pharmaceuticals, metal machinery, and foods & beverages.

Expansion in the E-commerce Sector Drives the Market Growth

E-commerce companies use warehouse robots to automate and streamline their storage & fulfillment operations. Using robots in warehouses can improve efficiency, accuracy, and speed in picking & packing orders, reduce labor costs, and increase scalability. By using robots, e-commerce companies can handle high volumes of orders, reduce human error, and increase overall productivity. These factors help them meet demands from the fast-paced and rapidly growing e-commerce industry.

For instance, in July 2021, Walmart and Symbotic announced that they joined hands to bring advanced automation to their supply chain. The warehouse robots used for supply chain operations can sort, store, retrieve, and pack goods with high precision, speeding up the intake process and increasing the accuracy of goods stored for future orders.

An Increase in Use of Robots in Automobile Warehouses Propels the Growth of the Market

Warehouse robots are increasingly used in automobile warehouses across the globe to increase productivity and efficiency. This factor propels the growth of the market. Collaborative robots (Cobots) are used in automobile warehouses to provide employees with a safe working environment and reduce human errors & the overall cost of warehouse management. This factor further boosts the market growth.

For instance, in November 2020, Toyota announced two new autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) named Center-Controlled Rider Automated Forklift and Core Tow Tractor Automated Forklift For Warehouses. They were designed to position and maneuver with high accuracy, and can be operated manually or using an onboard lidar system.

High Costs Associated with the Setup of Warehouse Robotics Restrain the Market Growth

High initial investments required to purchase and install warehouse robots and high costs for ongoing maintenance and repair hinder the market growth. The price can be too high for smaller companies or those with tight budgets, thus restricting them from using these robots.

In addition, the cost of training workers to use and maintain these robots and the need to upgrade or modify existing infrastructure restrain the market growth. Hence, the high price associated with the initial acquisition of warehouse robotics may limit its use across various industries, which, in turn, hampers the growth of the market.

The Emergence of Industry 4.0 Creates an Opportunity for the Warehouse Robotics Market

The widespread implementation of Industry 4.0 includes using smart sensors, mobile devices, big data, and augmented and virtual reality. This implementation aims to make the industry more efficient and smarter than before. This evolution has increased demand for improved fundamental processes in warehouses and logistics operations. These processes include picking & placing, loading & unloading, and stock management.

The emergence of Industry 4.0 has led to the usage of automatic mobile vehicles (AMVs) and automated mobile units (AMUs) in warehouse and logistics operations. Hence, the rise in demand for automation and robotics with the emergence of Industry 4.0 creates lucrative growth opportunities for the market.

North America is Projected to Hold the Largest Share of the Warehouse Robotics Market

The presence of a large number of industries such as pharmaceuticals, foods & beverages, and automotive that use robotics technology propels the warehouse robotics market growth in this region. For instance, according to the World Robotics 2021, the Industrial Robots report presented by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) stated that around 310,700 industrial robots were operating in factories in the U.S. In addition, the advent of innovative technologies at a higher rate along with the presence of leading warehouse operatives in the region boost the growth of the market.

For instance, Locus Robotics, Amazon, 6 River Systems, and Honeywell International have their headquarters in the U.S. They are adopting strategies, including product launch and acquisition, to increase their market presence and dominance in the global market. For instance, in September 2022, Honeywell launched a new robotic technology, "Smart Flexible Depalletizer," to help warehouses boost productivity by minimizing human labor.

Europe Witnessed Substantial Growth in the Global Warehouse Robotics Market

Europe is one of the leading regions with a high adoption of warehouse robots. It is expected to show steady growth in the warehouse robotics market, owing to factors such as the increased adoption of robots across automotive and foods & beverages industries. The automotive industry is one of the largest growing industries in Europe.

Moreover, the high demand for vehicles in European countries has forced manufacturers to increase their regional production capabilities. Thus, the use of automation in automotive manufacturing facilities has increased the demand for industrial robots along with warehouse robots such as AMRs and AGVs. Furthermore, the presence of key market players such as ABB, KUKA AG, KION Group AG, and KNAPP AG further drives the growth of the market.

These warehouse robot manufacturers have undertaken rigorous research and development activities, and are launching numerous products that further increase the adoption of warehouse robots in Europe. For instance, in May 2022, ABB launched a robotics depalletizer for handling complex depalletizing tasks in logistics, e-commerce, healthcare, and consumer packaged goods industries.

Competitive Landscape

Various market players operating in the warehouse robotics industry include KION Group AG, Honeywell International, Inc., Omron Corporation, Daifuku Co., Ltd., Media Group Co., Ltd., ABB, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Fanuc Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Locus Robotics, Fetch Robotics, Hangzhou Hikrobot Technology Co. Ltd., Vanderlande Industries Inc, Knapp AG, and 6 River System LLC. These market players are adopting several strategies, such as product launches and partnerships, across various regions to maintain their dominance in the global market.

For instance, in December 2022, ABB launched the "ABB SWIFT CRB 1300" cobot for automating tasks such as palletizing, pick-and-place, and others in warehouses. Through this launch, ABB customers can use robotic automation for improving their processes by making them more efficient, flexible, and resilient than before. This will help them counter labor shortages and enable their employees to perform core business activities.

Also, in August 2022, Dematic, a subsidiary of Kion AG, partnered with Dexterity to deploy full-task robots for warehouses. Through this partnership, the companies aim to provide businesses with automated material handling work such as palletizing, sorting, and other warehouse operations.

In addition, in January 2022, Fanuc introduced the M-1000iA robot, which is capable of handling heavy products such as automotive components, construction materials, and battery packs for electric vehicles. Through this launch, the company increased the number of products in its portfolio, especially for automotive warehouses.

Warehouse Robotics Market Key Segments

By Type

• Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)

• Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)

• Articulated Robots

• Collaborative robots 

• Cylindrical and SCARA robots

• Others

By Payload Capacity

• Less than 20 Kg

• 20–100 kg

• 100–200 kg

• More Than 200 Kg

By Application

• Palletizing and Depalletizing

• Sorting and Packaging

• Picking and Placing

• Transportation

By Offering

• Hardware

• Software 

• Services

By Industry vertical

• E-commerce

• Automotive & Transportation

• Food & Beverages

• Chemical, Rubber, and Plastics

• Healthcare

• Electrical & Electronics

• Others

By Region

• North America

  • The U.S.

  • Canada

  • Mexico

• Europe

  • The U.K.

  • Germany

  • France

  • Italy

  • Spain

  • Denmark

  • Netherlands

  • Finland

  • Sweden

  • Norway

  • Russia

  • Rest of Europe

• Asia-Pacific

  • China

  • Japan

  • India

  • South Korea

  • Australia

  • Indonesia

  • Singapore

  • Taiwan

  • Thailand

  • Rest of Asia-Pacific

• RoW

  • Latin America

  • Middle East

  • Africa

Report Scope and Segmentation