Logistics technologies in warehouses: how companies are modernizing their sites for 2026

More and more retail companies are investing in technologies that make processes in and around the logistics warehouse more efficient, safer, and more sustainable. The examples show how broad the spectrum of innovations has become – from AI-optimized warehouse management to new forms of automated movement of goods.

GLS has been using 70 autonomous sorting robots in its depot in Bielefeld since 2023, which automatically sort small parcels up to three kilograms. Employees place the parcels on the self-driving robots, which take over the rest of the sorting. The system significantly speeds up processes and relieves the team.

A loading cycle of the robots takes only around five minutes, and they are operational for four to five hours. If needed, their number can be increased flexibly. After the successful test in Bielefeld, the robots are now being used in regular operations at further locations, including Dortmund and Neuenstein. The automated loading system is still currently under development.

In October 2025, Macy’s opened a new, highly automated fulfillment center in the city of China Grove, North Carolina, USA. This warehouse and logistics center for order processing is considered one of the most advanced of its kind. According to a report by Warehouse Automation, robots, AI-powered optimization, and an integrated Warehouse Management System (WMS) are used to efficiently handle a wide range of products.

Mobile units and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) transport goods to ergonomic picking stations, significantly relieving human workers. High-speed sorting systems with sensors and AI make autonomous decisions about routing. Predictive AI also optimizes task sequences, workloads, and storage space usage. This increases throughput, reduces errors, and enables shorter fulfillment cycles.

At its logistics center in Löhne, Hermes Fulfilment is using autonomous mobile robots for pallet transport for the first time. The robots handle the movement of large pallets with picked goods, such as furniture, large electrical appliances, upholstered furniture, or mattresses, within the 100,000 square meter site. The autonomous mobile robots weigh around 222 kg, can transport up to 1,200 kg of payload, and navigate independently using laser scanners. They move at an average speed of 1.5 m/s, detect obstacles automatically, and adjust their movements accordingly. The use of these robots relieves employees, reduces manual transports, and makes internal logistics processes more efficient and ergonomic. Several hundred to a thousand transports can be carried out per day, with a total daily travel distance of several dozen kilometers.

Kaufland is improving maintenance of its logistics systems with digital tools such as smart glasses, drones and app-based guidance systems. Smart glasses support technicians by projecting inspection steps or instructions directly into their field of view, making repairs faster and safer. Drones are used for quick visual inspections in hard-to-reach areas and provide high-resolution imagery. App-based instructions also facilitate structured documentation of maintenance rounds. This helps detect errors more quickly, reduce downtime and ensure more reliable operation of complex warehouse technology. 

These examples confirm a general trend: an analysis by Future Market Insights shows the strong growth of the warehouse robotics market. According to the study, global revenue is expected to reach around USD 5.6 billion by 2034, with significant annual increases.  This clearly indicates that warehouse automation technologies are no longer limited to pilot projects but are becoming standard across modern logistics centres worldwide.

Modern logistics technologies offer retailers, manufacturers and logistics service providers a wide range of benefits. Automated sorting and transport systems increase speed and process reliability, while AI-supported optimisation reduces errors and boosts flexibility in day-to-day operations. Autonomous robots ease physical workloads while enabling higher throughput. Digital tools for maintenance ensure more reliable system operation and fewer outages. Altogether, these innovations not only support more efficient and sustainable workflows but also strengthen the long-term competitiveness of logistics locations.