Autonomous Mobile Robots for Logistics and Warehousing Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Surge in e-commerce and on-demand warehousing: The robust rise in the online shopping trade is poised to amplify the deployment of autonomous mobile robots for logistics and warehousing applications, both in developing and developed regions. The global e-commerce sales crossed USD 5.9 trillion in 2024, per the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Many companies are focused on offering next-gen autonomous mobile robots to earn lucrative gains from this trend. Autonomous mobile robots enable continuous warehouse operations without increasing labor costs. Overall, automation and robotics are gaining traction in e-commerce and on-demand warehousing applications.
   
• Rising labor costs and warehouse workforce shortages: Warehouse labor shortages, coupled with the automation trend, are projected to propel the sales of autonomous mobile robots in the coming years. The swift rise in industrialization in both developed and developing economies is also supporting the sales of autonomous mobile robots. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 490,000 open logistics-related jobs were reported in 2024, driving up average wages by 6.9% YoY. The ability to do repetitive tasks effectively and accurately also promotes the use of autonomous mobile robots. Japan and South Korea, which are witnessing high aging populations and shrinking labor pools, are introducing favorable subsidies for warehouse automation under their robotics strategies.

Technological Innovations in the Autonomous Mobile Robots for Logistics and Warehousing Market

The AI-based fleet orchestration and 5G-enabled edge computing are expected to boost the sales of autonomous mobile robots. The digital twins, vision-guided navigation, and interoperability standards are also boosting the efficiency of autonomous mobile robots. The continuous investments in technological innovations are further set to open high ROI opportunities for key players. The table below reveals the current technological trends and their outcomes.

AI‑ML Trends in AMR for Logistics & Warehousing

Challenges

• High upfront pricing and ROI uncertainty: The autonomous mobile robots for logistics and warehousing market are a capital-intensive business owing to the integration of specialized components and materials. High-tech robotics imports still face average global tariffs of 8.7%, per the World Trade Organization (WTO). Low capex deters many local warehouses from autonomous mobile robot deployment. Also, small and medium-sized enterprises are not able to earn lucrative gains from trending opportunities due to complex pricing issues. Thus, investing in price-sensitive markets is expected to offer lower returns to key producers.
   
• Infrastructure readiness and connectivity gaps: The infrastructure gaps in the developing markets are poised to lower the deployment of autonomous mobile robots to some extent. The robust Wi-Fi/5G and edge computing platforms are essential for the effective operation of robots, but many regions lack this owing to low budgets. Considering that small companies hesitate to expand their manufacturing operations in budget-constrained regions, this can affect the overall market growth. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report reveals that in 2024, nearly 12.4 million U.S. rural residents still lack access to the minimum broadband speeds required to operate cloud-connected robotic fleets. This highlights that not only developing, but also some parts of developed regions, are expected to hamper the sales of autonomous mobile robots.