Brain Corp flags Covid powered robotic automation tech boom

The retail industry is tapping new robotic technology faster than expected due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with widespread adoption now expected in just a few years, according to research conducted by Brain Corp.

The company surveyed 136 people, including retailers and wholesalers, consultants, tech solution providers, and brand marketers and manufacturers.

64% of retailers believe it is important to have a clear, executable, and budgeted robotics automation strategy in place in 2021, including 77% of large retailers.

Nearly half of the respondents said they would be involved with an in-store robotics project within the next 18 months. 

73% of large retailers stated that the importance of using robotics in warehouses or distribution centres has increased due to factors that emerged during the pandemic.

Other Covid factors that influenced a change in thinking included the need to provide a safer, cleaner store for shoppers; enhanced social distancing; and improvement of on-shelf inventory availability. 

The research also shows that retailers are looking to use robotic solutions for in-store functions like automating tasks and collecting environmental data for improving customer experiences.

This includes applications for scanning shelves for stockouts (59%), order picking (47%), delivering goods from the back warehouse to store shelves (35%), and pricing accuracy checks (35%).

“The global pandemic brought the value of robotic automation sharply into focus for many retailers, and we now see them accelerating their deployment timelines to reap the advantages now and into the future,” says Josh Baylin, Senior Director of Strategy at Brain Corp.

“Autonomous robots are versatile productivity partners that help keep stores clean, generate additional hours for employees, and help improve in-store customer experiences.”

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