Using AI-supported robots to combat the labor shortage in logistics

Artificial intelligence

Marvin Meyke, 20.03.2024, 19:42

Using AI-supported robots to combat the labor shortage in logistics

Logistics companies have already invested heavily in robotics and automation as a result of increased demand: sales of professional service robots for the transportation of goods or merchandise rose by 44% (2021-2022). However, the labor shortage threatens to slow down future growth.

According to the International Federation of Robotics, a new generation of AI-supported robots will help to overcome these challenges.

"The shortage of truck drivers, warehouse or port workers is a critical factor in global supply chain management," says Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics. "Robot manufacturers are combining hardware with intelligent software to serve the specific automation needs of the warehousing and logistics industry. Robots equipped with artificial intelligence open up a huge range of new opportunities for this sector."

AI and robotics

A major advantage of using AI in robotics is the ability to deal with variability and unpredictable situations. Logistics service providers are dealing with a mass market for cross-border shipping, e-commerce or last-mile delivery. The challenge here is that frequently changing products, orders and stocks are processed.

To enable machines to support flexible workflows such as these, AI software relies on an experience-based learning process. For example, AI-supported robots learn to pick and pack various objects at high speed in a logistics center. They use optical systems to autonomously transport items around the factory and provide AI-driven interfaces that transform a once 90-minute maintenance task into a one-second adjustment.

AI-supported robots relieve the burden of physical labor

While the labor shortage affects logistics supply chains in Europe, Asia and the USA equally, the specific reasons and the extent of the shortage differ significantly in some cases. In Germany in particular, older workers need better support in the workplace for physically demanding tasks in order to be able to work longer on the job.

"Robotics is suitable for a variety of different tasks in the logistics industry: while service robots work hand-in-hand with human colleagues to create more efficient workplaces, industrial robots help to automate dirty, boring and dangerous tasks behind fences," says IFR President Marina Bill.

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