In the future, the Hamburg-based mail order company Otto will use robots controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) to process orders. They are to be used for a variety of activities that have so far required hand-eye coordination, according to Otto. The plan is to use hundreds of adaptive robots to assemble and package individual products into individual orders.

Susanne Preuß

Business correspondent in Hamburg.

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This involves both cost efficiency and responding to increasing staff shortages. "The use of AI will be a key success factor in logistics in the future," said Kay Schiebur, Chief Service Officer of the Otto Group, commenting on the company's entry into AI applications. Instead of shifting transshipment to cheaper locations, Otto can "continue to be close to its customers and strengthen the European, especially the German, location". For the implementation, the Otto Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Covariant, a pioneer in AI robotics based in California.

300 possible fields of application

The first eight robots will be launched in autumn at locations in Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt. "What a robot in Altenkunstadt learns, the robot in Haldensleben can do at the same time," said a spokeswoman about the networking of the 120 robots in the medium term.

300 possible fields of application have been defined. Which ones will really be taken over by robots will only become clear over time. "The challenge is that you're dealing with a dynamic situation – with a huge variety in terms of shape, color and quantity of goods to be processed." In contrast to humans, robots must first learn not only to make decisions in predetermined paths, but also to deal with unknown situations. The mail order company does not provide any information on the extent of the investment.