A new report looking at the state of automation in UK warehousing has identified retail and 3PL as the two sectors that could see strong potential gains from the use of robotics.

The UK Warehouse Robotics Readiness Report, published by OW Robotics, a supplier of flexible automated warehouse solutions, pulls together research and insights from across the UK’s warehousing sector, analysing the current state of robotics, the barriers and challenges to implementation and examples of those businesses already setting the pace in warehouse robotics.

It focuses on analysis of four of the UK’s key industries that rely heavily on warehousing including, retail and e-commerce, 3PL, pharmaceuticals and grocers.

The report explains why these sectors should be turning to large-scale automation to boost picking rates and picking accuracy and to save square feet in the warehouse to create space for more stock in order to keep-up with growing demand for e-commerce.

It also highlights how labour gaps, space shortages, and the impact of Brexit and Covid-19, have created favourable conditions for robotics adoption across UK warehousing.

David Hallam, chief executive officer at OW Robotics, said: “A number of key factors affecting UK warehouse operators have all seemingly come together in the past year, which have highlighted how important robotics and automated solutions in the warehouse could be for the future.

“There are of course challenges for any business to adopt robotics, but it is clear, the robotics revolution is only going to gather pace over the coming years. Those who adapt quickly have an opportunity to significantly grow their market share, those who don’t, may find their business model obsolete.

‘Manual processes are ill-suited to the high order volumes of e-commerce and grocery retail, and with the precision demanded by the likes of pharmaceuticals, it is only a matter of time before they are phased out completely.”