Gartner warns humanoid robots unlikely to see widespread supply chain use before 2028

Fewer than 100 companies are expected to move humanoid robot projects beyond experimentation by 2028, with fewer than 20 deploying them in live supply chain or manufacturing operations, according to Gartner Inc.

The research firm said most humanoid robot deployments over the next several years will remain confined to tightly controlled environments rather than dynamic, high-throughput supply chain operations.

Humanoid robots, which are designed to mimic the human body and movement, have drawn interest from chief supply chain officers seeking to address labour shortages and rising costs. However, Gartner said the technology’s maturity is lagging behind industry expectations.

“The promise of humanoid robots is compelling, but the reality is that the technology remains immature and far from meeting expectations for versatility and cost-effectiveness,” said Abdil Tunca, senior principal analyst in Gartner’s supply chain practice. “CSCOs must carefully evaluate readiness and avoid overcommitting resources to solutions that cannot yet deliver on their potential.”

Gartner identified technological limitations, integration challenges, high costs and energy constraints as major barriers to adoption in logistics, manufacturing and warehousing environments. The firm noted that humanoid robots currently cost multiple times more than task-specific alternatives while delivering lower throughput and uptime.

As an alternative, Gartner said polyfunctional robots — which are not constrained by human-like design — may offer greater efficiency and flexibility in supply chain operations.

“Companies with a high-risk appetite and focus on innovation are the best candidates for pursuing humanoid robots at present, given the unproven capabilities of these solutions and related lack of clarity for return on investment,” said Caleb Thomson, senior director analyst in Gartner’s supply chain practice. “For the majority of companies that will need to prioritize robots that maximize throughput-per-dollar invested, we expect polyfunctional robots to be the superior solution.”

Gartner advised supply chain leaders to pursue pilot projects, work closely with emerging technology providers and prioritize outcome-driven automation focused on specific operational bottlenecks.