AI-technology is expected to manage over 90% of warehouse logistics tasks worldwide by the decade’s end, firmly establishing automation as the new industry standard.
A sweeping transformation driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and automation is poised to redefine the UK fulfilment industry. Research from Impact Express indicates that by 2030, over 85% of UK warehouses will be automated, marking a fundamental shift in logistics operations.
This change is fueled by persistent labour shortages, rapidly growing ecommerce demands, and strong incentives for businesses to invest in cost-saving AI technologies. The report highlights that AI adoption is already well underway, with 45% of UK fulfilment centres having implemented AI-powered automation in 2023.
Moreover, 55% of businesses have increased their supply chain investments, prioritising AI and automation solutions.
This trend is expected to accelerate, with over half of UK fulfilment centres projected to use AI in their operations by 2025, rising to 70% by 2027. By the decade’s end, the AI-technology is anticipated to handle over 90% of warehouse logistics tasks globally, with warehouse automation becoming the industry standard.
Neil Miller, Managing Director at Impact Express, said, “What stands out in this research is how fast things are moving. Technologies like AI and robotics, once limited to the biggest players, are becoming more accessible and widespread.”
Surge in Service Robots and Advanced Technologies
There has been a dramatic surge in the deployment of service robots within the transportation and logistics sector, a key enabler of automated goods movement. Sales of these robots increased by 44% in 2022 and a further 35% in 2023, with an estimated 140,000 units to be sold in 2024.
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For the UK, this translates to an average of approximately 4.25 robots per fulfilment warehouse by 2025, a figure expected to climb to 7.52 robots by 2030. The UK currently has an estimated 98,463 fulfilment warehouses as of 2024.
“The growth in service robot adoption shows that this isn’t a future idea – it’s already happening,” said Neil Miller. “Fulfilment businesses should be assessing their current operations and identifying areas where automation could improve efficiency and help them keep up with rising customer expectations.”
Key AI technologies identified as spearheading this change include automated picking and sorting systems, AI-powered inventory management with predictive analytics, Autonomous mobile robots for warehouse navigation, AI-enhanced order processing, and the use of computer vision and ML for quality control.
Emerging Opportunities Amid Changing Roles
While traditional manual warehouse roles are expected to decline, the report highlights the emergence of new opportunities in AI logistics analysis, automation engineering, data specialisation, and system supervision.
Companies like Ocado, John Lewis, and GXO Logistics are already illustrating this shift by integrating AI and robotics, leading to increased efficiency and the redeployment of staff into new, skilled roles.
The implications of these findings extend throughout the logistics and wholesale courier provision sectors. As fulfilment centres become increasingly automated, the entire supply chain will benefit from enhanced speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
For wholesale courier providers like Impact Express, this means adapting to new service expectations driven by AI-optimised warehousing, ensuring seamless integration with automated systems, and leveraging these advancements to offer faster, more reliable, and cost-effective delivery solutions to their clients.
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