Online retailer Zalando has deployed robots at its fulfilment centres following a successful pilot project where the technology achieved 10,000 picks per day.

The company said the robots will strengthen operational excellence at its fulfilment centres and support employees with their daily tasks.

The robots, called Richard, carries out item-level picking, scanning and induction to automated pocket sorters.

A total of nine robots will be live in 2025, with Zalando planning to deploy a “double-digit number” of robots in 2026.

The robots have been installed in partnership with Nomagic, a provider of AI-powered robotics for warehouses.

Zalando has also made a minority investment into Nomagic as part of its previously announced $44 million Series B round.

“At Zalando, we are continuously developing and testing the automation of work processes in logistics, both to make the work of employees easier and to provide customers with first-class service”, said Marcus Daute, vice president logistics network at Zalando.

He went on to say that the technology rollout has demonstrated “clear, measurable value” in its operations, allowing it to scale automation quickly while “maintaining high service levels”.

In May, Zalando shared that it is increasingly using AI to accelerate content production, with approximately 70 per cent of its editorial campaign assets being AI-generated in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The company, which operates across 25 European markets, has turned to generative AI technology to respond more rapidly to short-lived fashion trends that emerge on social media.

Matthias Haase, vice president content solutions at Zalando, explained the strategic shift: "AI gives us the ability to move at the pace of culture — from spotting a trend to producing tailored content in under 24 hours. It's like going from two hands to four. That kind of flexibility means our teams can stay creative, empowered and focused, while scaling content that's timely, relevant, and high quality."

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