Communications of the ACM
'Tis the Season for Surge Robots as Holiday Hiring Finds Automation
Retailers and logistics operators are investing in collaborative robots for their warehouse operations during in the holiday season.
Credit: Locus Robotics Corp.
Retailers and logistics operators are investing in collaborative robots (cobots) to accelerate warehouse operations in the holiday season.
Locus Robotics CEO Rick Faulk cites increasing demand this year for "surge robots," to supplement the seasonal warehouse workforce, and assist in filling online orders and restocking inventory at brick-and-mortar stores.
Companies are turning to robots to help with storing, sorting, and packing goods for shipment, especially during the holidays, when retailers and logistics providers hire tens of thousands of additional employees.
Automation companies say the bulk of seasonal demand for robots comes from clients that already use their machines, which means new operations can be set up in minutes or hours.
Some companies envision robots taking over for an aging labor pool, while other warehouse operators envision machines filling in for a shortage of available workers.
From The Wall Street Journal
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