May 25, 2023

There’s a lot of talk circulating about the future of robotics and how it will improve workflows in the long term. Many question if robotics has the power to strip people of their jobs and duties, and while it is true that the industry is steering towards forward-thinking technology to automate processes and increase efficiency, all things have their limits.

And so do robots.

Though highly intellectual and programmed to extreme detail, these machines do not have the reason and mental capacity to perform more variable and varied tasks. For this reason, there is no need to be afraid of technology, but rather make peace and learn to assemble with it.

These are three ways that Robotics will NOT be able to confiscate your warehouse jobs.

1. Robots Only Can Do What They’re Programmed To Do
   AI robots are best suited for operations that have predictive, repetitive, and familiar tasks. A robot only works according to preset systems and processes that are installed into the hardware and its functionality is entirely dependent on its preliminary programming. While these machines are astute at performing automated tasks that look the same across the board, they are inept at generating innovative ideas and performing variable tasks that require brainstorming and mental power. 
   
   
2. Their Metal Fingertips Won’t Create a Lights Out Factory
   It’s industry knowledge that robots can facilitate many different tasks depending on the robot (Machine Vision, AS/RS, AGVs) but it’s also commonly understood that robots are needed for dangerous tasks that could put people at risk due to the location of the job or the weight of the products in question. They work best doing what workers don’t love doing because they’re analytical and don’t have the thinking capabilities to adapt to changing situations, respond to a crisis, or make executive decisions. Be rest assured knowing that robots pave the way for humans to innovate while they automate and not the other way around, there will never be a warehouse that exists without the need for employees. That’s just not the future of robotics. 
   
   
3. They Walk While You Work
   Robots are only in place to make tedious tasks simpler and faster, they are not in place to replace and “refurbish” the modern warehouse employee. One of those key tasks that robots help shed time on is walking. Associates have to walk anywhere between 12 to 14 miles a day in warehouses, and now with the introduction of AMRs, they don’t have to deal with insufferable back and leg pain from strenuous walking. This translates to satisfied employees who have higher productivity levels (up to 24%) and longer employment within the company. This is what most companies strive to accomplish with robotics, using it as a crutch to explore the future while mitigating meticulous tasks that people would rather avoid.

Interested in learning how robotics could help you as an employee or warehouse manager? We know it’s thrilling yet cumbersome to explore a space entirely foreign to you alone. Connect with our team to discuss how you can find the happy medium between human and tech integration for your manufacturing needs to upgrade your business. If you’re ready to implement, view our Heartland Robotics page to uncover more about how you can redefine your enterprise agility and vigor. Itching to learn more about robotics in relation to your job? Check out our previous blog post that dispels the myth of a robotic revolution in the supply chain.