Robotics and the Future of Retail Trade

Overview

Robotics has become a crucial component in the evolution of the retail industry, transforming business models, improving efficiencies, and enhancing customer experiences. This guide will explore the statistics and projections surrounding the immense potential of robotics in the retail trade. Data highlighted includes the projected size of the global retail robotics market ($19.4 billion by 2025), the forecasted boom in autonomous mobile robots usage in warehouses (27,000 units by 2025) and the record-breaking number of robots shipped to retail and consumer goods companies (11,300 units in 2019). The integration and implementation of drone technology in retail are also examined, as well as the impact of robotics on the workforce.

The Global Retail Robotics Market

The rise of the global retail robotics market is astonishing with a projected value of $19.4 billion by 2025, potentially driving a CAGR of 31.5% between 2020 and 2025. These numbers are based on the increasing usage of robotics for a variety of retail operations such as warehouse automation, stocktaking, customer assistance, and delivery to name a few. Retailers are capitalising on the ability of robots to reduce costs, increase operational efficiency, and improve customer experience, leading to substantial growth in this market.

Autonomous Mobile Robots in Warehouses

Many concrete examples of the shift towards automation can be seen in warehouses where the use of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) is booming. According to the Robotics Industries Association, AMR usage is predicted to reach 27,000 units by 2025, up from just 4000 units in 2020. This dramatic uptake speaks to the significant potential of AMRs to streamline operations and enhance productivity and accuracy, offering a strong return on investment for businesses in the retail sector.

Robotic Machine Shipments to Retailers

In 2019, a record number of robots (11,300 units) were transported to retail and consumer goods companies. This figure was significantly higher than the previous year (around 18% growth). This trend underscores the rapid adoption rate of robots within retail, reducing operational costs and errors, while increasing warehouse safety and handling higher volumes of online orders more efficiently.

Impact of Drones in Retail Industry

Drone technology is being integrated more commonly into the retail supply chain, from inventory management to delivery. A report suggests that by 2022, more than one million drone deliveries are anticipated per day. This reflects the immense potential for drones to revolutionize various retail processes including stocktaking, visual merchandising and delivering goods to the doorstep of the customer.

Robotics and the Workforce

It’s important to note the impact of robotics on the workforce. However, contrary to popular belief, automation does not necessarily equate to job losses. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, by 2025, the adoption of robotics will create 12 million more jobs than it will eradicate. This results from the additional roles that arise due to the increased productivity provided by robotic process automation.

Key Takeaways

• The global retail robotics market is projected to reach $19.4 billion by 2025
• Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) usage is forecasted to reach 27,000 units by 2025
• A record number of 11,300 robotic units were shipped to retail and consumer goods companies in 2019
• More than one million drone deliveries are anticipated per day by 2022
• By 2025, the adoption of robotics is expected to create 12 million more jobs than it will eradicate

Meet 3Laws Robotics

3Laws Robotics is leading the way in the future of automation. Their innovative software enhances safety and reliability for robotics systems. Addressing the significant pain point of certification for many robotics companies, their technology, 3Laws Supervisor, simplifies the process by offering robust safety measures and proof of system resilience. The software is built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), a technology from Caltech that provides mathematically guaranteed safety.

3Laws Robotics' portfolio is diverse and spans numerous industries and applications. This includes successful use cases in warehouse automation, where their intervention led to a 40% efficiency increase for an autonomous forklift customer, and Human-Robot Interaction, where they enabled safe and uninterrupted operation of robots around humans. In dynamic environments, 3Laws' reactive collision avoidance capabilities allow robots to navigate effectively irrespective of unpredictability.

Furthermore, by providing real-time boundaries for autonomy stacks, 3Laws ensures that robots operate nearer to their peak capacities whilst maintaining safety. Their software is flexible and compatible with a wide range of platforms including mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators, and can work with popular middleware like ROS and ROS2.

3Laws Robotics is redefining safety solutions for the automation industry, going beyond traditional e-stop methods. Their software offers proactive safety measures, unlocking robotics' full potential with dynamic, predictive safety that could be certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.