What robotic technology/technologies do you expect will make the most impact in 2026?
The biggest impact will come from combining AMRs and robotic picking in heterogeneous environments. The core technology for both AMRs and robotic picking is improving, and multi-agent technology, such as MAOs, is becoming more advanced. Together, these accelerate the value of the AMR + robotic picking combination.
What is your boldest robotics prediction for 2026?
I think we’ll see a steep increase in warehouses using heterogeneous fleets of robotic technology. The trend started to show up in 2025 and I expect it to ramp up in 2026. A recent Gartner report showed 93% of supply chain leaders saying they’ve either already deployed robots or plan to do so in the next two years. Of those who said they were pursuing additional robotics use cases, over 90% will likely procure robots from multiple vendors. These survey findings reflect what we see with customers: there's no “one size fits all” answer to warehouse automation. Each warehouse layout is unique and requires a different custom solution.
What industry/industries do you expect will invest more in robotics and automation in 2026 and why?
We’re seeing the home improvement and healthcare industries sharply increase their investments in robotics and automation. Healthcare companies are typically slow to adopt new technology because they’re so tightly regulated. But we’ve reached a point where the sheer mass of case studies showing the value of robotic automation is impossible to ignore. Now we’re seeing major names make big moves with automation, and I would expect that trend to increase in 2026. Fast fashion and general merchandising have been steadily investing in automation for years, and there’s every sign they’ll continue in 2026.
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