Humanoid Robots In Logistics: Early Curiosity, Lingering Skepticism

Highlights of Indago research on the current use and perception of humanoid robots in logistics operations.

Oct 01, 2025

In a February 2025 Wall Street Journal article titled, “Humanoid Robots Finally Get Real Jobs,” Christopher Mims writes, “As global demand for new kinds of robots has shot up, mass manufacturing and falling costs for components are making [humanoid robots] cheaper to produce. Just as important, new kinds of AI — some close kin to the kind that has upended the priorities of tech companies and governments since the debut of ChatGPT — are animating robot bodies in ways that simply weren’t possible even a few years ago.”

This article prompted us to ask members of our Indago supply chain research community for their perspectives on humanoid robots and whether these technologies will find a place in their operations. While the concept has long been the subject of science fiction, advances in artificial intelligence and robotics are fueling renewed attention and investment. But are logistics organizations ready to embrace humanoid robots?

Using Robots to Load/Unload Trucks

A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted how “new advances in robotics are [enabling the automation of truck loading and unloading]. Improved sensors and algorithms, advancements in AI and faster image-processing technology are making these robots proficient players in tasks that are like a game of 3-D Tetris.” This survey sought to understand industry readiness, key challenges, and opportunities associated with using robots to load or unload trucks.

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