Recent years have brought on a host of new challenges for manufacturing companies. Chief among these are a changing labor market, higher customer expectations, the rapid growth of e-commerce and strained capacity. For many companies, robotic picking, sorting and packing has emerged as a groundbreaking solution to their problems.

Warehouses that previously relied on human labor to fulfill orders can now use robots to do the repetitive work of filling, packing and labeling boxes, allowing the humans to focus on higher-level tasks. Automation has also been proven to increase efficiency, precision, and productivity, all high-value achievements in a world where next- or same-day delivery is becoming more popular.

While automation might feel futuristic to some, it’s only the beginning for businesses across industries. Companies that can embrace this reality now will be better prepared for an inevitably autonomous future. 

But as with any new or innovated technology, adoption is rarely seamless. While some warehouses might see immediate improvements after transitioning to robotic picking, others struggle to meet their key performance indicators (KPIs) and opt not to move forward with a full rollout of the technology after trialing it. Why, then, despite the apparent benefits of automation, do some robotic picking deployments fall short of expectations?

Chris Geyer, vice president and fellow with Berkshire Grey, an automation and robotics solutions company, shares key insights into what makes a robotics launch successful and what companies should be looking for in their technology before, during, and well after deployment.

Please CLICK HERE to download the white paper.