DELIVER Asia 2026 Conference Recordings

Retail fulfilment is becoming increasingly complex as demand patterns grow more unpredictable.

At DELIVER Asia 2026 in Singapore, Terence Chan, Senior Sales Manager for Southeast Asia at Geek+, discussed how warehouse robotics is helping companies handle rising operational pressures.

Retailers must now manage fluctuating demand, increasing SKU counts and seasonal spikes driven by e-commerce growth. Traditional warehouse models struggle to adapt quickly enough to these changes.

Automation offers a pathway to greater flexibility, allowing operations to scale capacity and efficiency without relying solely on labour.

Labour availability remains one of the biggest challenges in warehouse operations globally.

High employee turnover, recruitment difficulties and inconsistent operational practices can all affect fulfilment performance.

For retailers handling high order volumes, labour shortages can create bottlenecks during peak seasons and major promotional events.

Warehouse robotics provides a way to reduce dependency on manual processes while maintaining consistent operational performance.

Geek+ specialises in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) designed to automate key warehouse workflows.

These robots operate within fulfilment centres to transport goods, retrieve inventory and support picking operations.

Rather than requiring workers to walk through warehouse aisles searching for items, robotics systems follow a goods-to-person model, where robots bring inventory directly to workstations.

This approach significantly reduces walking time and increases picking efficiency.

Automation also improves accuracy by reducing the risk of incorrect item selection, which can lead to costly returns and customer dissatisfaction.

Chan outlined three main automation approaches used in modern warehouse robotics.

Pallet-to-person systems are designed for large and heavy products stored on pallets. Robots retrieve and transport full pallets to workstations for handling or processing.

Tote-to-person systems handle smaller items commonly found in e-commerce and retail fulfilment. These systems store products in bins and use robotics to retrieve and deliver them to operators.

Shelf-to-person systems use mobile shelving units that robots transport directly to picking stations, allowing workers to access multiple SKUs quickly.

Each model supports different warehouse environments and product types, allowing retailers to choose solutions based on their operational needs.

One of the key advantages of robotic warehouse systems is improved space utilisation.

Automation allows inventory to be stored more densely than in traditional warehouse layouts.

For example, tote-based robotic systems can store goods in high-density vertical racks, maximising the use of warehouse space.

In some cases, robotic storage systems can achieve up to five times greater storage density compared to conventional warehouse configurations.

This is particularly valuable in urban logistics environments where warehouse space is limited and expensive.

Beyond storage and picking, robotics can also automate sorting and internal material movement.

Geek+ sorting robots are commonly used in e-commerce fulfilment and parcel logistics operations.

These robots transport packages to specific destination points based on automated routing decisions, allowing companies to handle high parcel volumes efficiently.

Robotic transport systems can also move goods between warehouse areas, such as transferring pallets from automated storage systems to packing or shipping zones.

A major advantage of autonomous robotics systems is their scalability.

When warehouse demand increases, companies can expand capacity simply by adding additional robots to the system.

This flexibility allows businesses to scale operations during peak periods without redesigning warehouse infrastructure.

Similarly, if operational requirements change, robotics systems can be reconfigured or relocated more easily than traditional fixed automation equipment.

One of the remaining challenges in warehouse automation has been the final picking step.

While robots can retrieve goods efficiently, manual labour is often still required to physically pick items from bins.

Geek+ is now developing robotic picking stations equipped with vision systems and robotic arms that can identify and retrieve items automatically.

Although still evolving, these systems represent the next stage in fully automated fulfilment workflows.

Hardware is only one component of warehouse robotics systems.

Geek+ platforms also include software layers that manage robot fleets, coordinate tasks and integrate with warehouse management systems.

These include:

• fleet management systems controlling robot movement

• warehouse execution systems coordinating tasks

• dashboard tools for monitoring performance and reporting

Together, these platforms allow warehouse operators to manage automation systems efficiently while maintaining visibility across operations.

Chan concluded by emphasising that warehouse robotics is no longer simply about improving efficiency.

In a world of fluctuating demand, labour constraints and rising operational complexity, automation is becoming essential for building resilient fulfilment networks.

Flexible robotics systems allow retailers and logistics providers to respond quickly to market changes while maintaining productivity and operational control.

As automation technology continues to evolve, robotics is expected to play an increasingly central role in the future of retail fulfilment.