ROBOTS READY TO REVOLUTIONIZE RETAIL 

Gary Hawkins

A key message I have been focused on driving across the industry is that technology-fueled innovation is transforming retail at an increasing pace. The corollary to this is that innovation moves from ‘isn’t that interesting’ to widespread adoption much faster than the vast majority of people in the industry are aware of. Nowhere is this more true than with robotics.

Robotic innovation is poised to transform and disrupt retail from several directions - and that’s just based on what is happening today. We’re seeing companies creating self-navigating robots that cruise store aisles to constantly monitor merchandising, alerting store personnel to out-of-stocks, misplaced products, and other issues. Other companies are aggressively testing and conducting real-world pilots of delivery robots for use in cities and neighborhoods. Yet other companies are developing robots to serve customers in restaurants and to use in manufacturing. The day a self-driving delivery van pulls into your driveway and a robot rolls out to deliver your groceries to your front door is coming soon.

Imagine the use of robots in commissaries and food production, an area that is ripe for the application of this technology. Imagine you step up to a deli counter in the store to order a sandwich for lunch… and a machine actually makes it, wraps it, prices it, and hands it to you. Imagine robots stocking store shelves; not much of a reach when you consider the use of robotics today in distribution centers. And for those readers that are laughing to themselves as they read this thinking it will never happen: Reread the first paragraph.

The application of robotics to retail related functions and capabilities is increasing. With it comes a need for those in the industry to consider the implications involved. The ability of a robot to help reduce out of stocks is a no-brainer. The use of robotics to prepare and serve a sandwich may be a positive development in terms of accuracy and consistency but there are issues related to that capability replacing a human in that role. I think we not only as an industry, but also as a society, need to start focusing on and considering the implications of the innovation explosion we are experiencing. Technology advancement and innovation are not going to slow down and it is certainly not going to go away - and I am not suggesting it should. I am suggesting we as an industry should start thinking more about the implications of what is coming at us.