Robots in the Warehouse Industry — Business Models and Dataset (2021)

Robots working in perfect rhythm with I.o.T. and A.I. technologies to fulfil orders and deliveries in perfect harmony in a human-less warehouse — that is the vision of a lights-out or dark warehouse.

1. Overview
2. Dataset
3. Business Models
4. Highlights

Warehouse robots (source: TechObjects.io)

With significant advances in robotic and A.I. technologies today, the vision of a lights-out or a dark warehouse is now within reach. There are now whole suites of autonomous robots that can collaborate to execute an entire warehouse's processes — from smartly optimized storage, to intelligent picking to sorting to all manners of robotic transports, such as autonomous rollers, forklift robots and tote/pallet/stack handlers.

There are various business models in the acquisition of these robots for work in the warehouse. The customer can make upfront asset purchase for the robots with annual service charges or paying for a subsequent price per action. Customers can also lease the robots on a monthly basis from the manufacturers or distributors.

For example, a 6 Rivers Systems' solution will cost US$250,000 for 8 robots in the first year followed by a recurring US$50,000 in maintenance costs per year. TORU, the picking robot from Magazino has a hybrid asset-purchase with pay-per-use model — charging EUR 55,000 (US$61,800) for the hardware asset purchase along with an subsequent charge of EUR 0.06 per pick.

AMRs from Ronavi are available with a leasing price of 100,000 rubles (US$1,400) per month while an inVia picker robot can cost around US$4,000 per month to lease.