Furniture retailer Ikea will expand and develop its drone technology across Europe following a year of trials at a distribution centre in Belgium.

The drones, which work continuously alongside employees, use an AI algorithm to identify and photograph product storage locations and an indoor positioning system to navigate higher levels of storage. They also have obstacle detection capabilities to reroute their paths and avoid collisions.

Ikea said the next phase of development will boost operational efficiency by automating stock inventory, which is normally handled by employees and can be physically demanding and time-consuming task.

The retailer added that the drones will free up employees to concentrate on improving the customer experience as well as increasing the speed and accuracy of stock management.

Additionally, the tech allows employees to respond to real time data provide by the drones which Ikea said “significantly” increases product accuracy and decreases employee workload.

The retailer went on to say that the drones, which have specifically been designed to be operated in distribution centres, have been equipped with safety features to ensure that all facilities operate “safely and efficiently”.

Looking ahead, Ikea said that future developments for the drone technology include exploring unit loads and rack inspection functionalities, as well as improving the analytics and insights component of the technology.

Ikea first started using drones in 2021 in a collaboration with Verity, an AI and robotics firm.

Ikea now uses over 250 drones in 73 locations in nine countries.

“Implementing a solution that truly makes a difference in our warehouses is an immensely rewarding experience,” said Tommy Niemierowski, fulfilment project implementation manager, Ikea Belgium. “The installation process itself is relatively straightforward, and the reward is monumental, as it facilitates collaboration amongst various stakeholders.”

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