We'e rapidly entering an era where robots don;t simply operate with human commands from static maps and point-to-point instructions; they do so autonomously — and with each other.

The majority of production deployments of humanoid robots over the next couple years will be limited to "tightly controlled environments," Gartner predicts.

In an era where speed, accuracy, and efficiency are the lifeblood of retail, the logistics industry is undergoing significant change. At the heart of this is goods-to-person (GTP) automation, a technology that could change not just the warehouse floor, but the economics and possibilities of fulfillment itself.

From manufacturing and logistics to finance and customer service, automation is redefining how work gets done.

Despite their promise, AI-enabled vision systems present several challenges that organizations must address. 

Large retailers are placing automated MFCs in stores to pull inventory closer to demand, compressing cycle times.

Companies today see their storage and fulfillment networks as extensions of their risk-management strategy: places to adapt, recalibrate and absorb shocks when global dynamics shift.

Modern-day sortation technologies — including hardware, software and data— at middle-mile cross-docks give retailers and shippers the tools to transcend the “transportation-only” mindset.

Goods-to-person automation flips traditional warehouse processes on their head.

The introduction of AI has created a need for a variety of new roles to implement and manage the technology, from machine learning engineers to automation specialists.