How robots automate e-commerce shipping, delivery and reverse logistics

E-commerce distribution centers need all the help they can get when peak season arrives. During the holidays, robotics might be the greatest gift of all, enabling faster processing and delivery of customer orders than ever before. From inside the warehouse up to the customer’s doorstep, automation is improving efficiency, speed and accuracy.

But, these robots and automation platforms need to ensure they stay off the naughty list and fulfill orders smoothly and efficiently to prevent lumps of coal in gift boxes.

We’ll dive into conveyance, induction, storage, palletizing and sortation robots, including compact automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) for microfulfillment and hyperlocal fulfillment. We’ll also examine autonomous vehicles for transportation and robots for final-mile delivery in this SFI, rounding out 2025 with a look at how goods move from the warehouse to the consumer.

In this Special Focus Issue: 

• How Bosch Rexroth conveyors, Kassow Robots’ cobots keep fulfillment moving
• Amazon launches new AI foundation model to power its robotic fleet, deploys millionth robot
• Adiona Tech’s FlexOps platform utilizes machine learning to optimize delivery processes
• ...And more