Warehouse workers are embracing robotics, according to a recent survey of more than 400 U.S. warehouse associates who say they view the technology as a benefit to their careers and livelihoods.
The information comes from global warehouse robotics provider Exotec and is detailed in the company’s recent “Warehouse Workers Sentiment Report: Understanding the Impact of Automation on Retention and Satisfaction.” Company leaders said the survey reveals a “surprisingly strong embrace of robotics” on the warehouse floor, with a majority of respondents saying they are interested in working with the technology: Seven out of 10 workers said they are open to or interested in working alongside automation, for example, and nearly three times as many workers said they are attracted to working in a warehouse with automation than are put off by it (37% versus 13%).
Compensation plays a role in those results. According to the survey, nearly half of workers (49%) said they’ve earned pay increases thanks to warehouse automation and 40% agreed that working with automation increases the likelihood of getting a raise or promotion. What’s more, nearly two-thirds (63%) of workers reported higher job satisfaction from working with automation compared to manual operations.
Exotec’s leaders said those sentiments echo the company’s experience on the warehouse floor.
“While our survey didn’t explore the reasons behind these pay increases, we see clear patterns in the field,” according to Arthur Bellamy, Exotec’s chief revenue officer. “Automation often brings greater visibility into individual performance, and many operators respond by tying bonuses or raises to productivity targets, especially in picking. At the same time, automation frees workers from the most repetitive tasks, allowing them to build more valuable skills and take on more strategic responsibilities—changes that naturally support higher pay and advancement.”
Other survey findings point to productivity gains, worker retention, and improved safety as key automation gains:
- 98% of warehouse workers said automation makes them more productive.
- Workers partnering with automation are more than three times as likely to stay at their job longer rather than leave early (36% vs. 11%).
- Workers are nearly three times more likely to apply to warehouses with automation than those without (37% vs 13%).
- Three in five automation workers reported fewer workplace injuries, and a similar proportion (59%) reported a decrease in physical strain on their bodies.
- Nearly 70% of workers said they find automation-assisted tasks more enjoyable than traditional, manual tasks.
“The data is clear, workers believe that working alongside automation offers new potential for workers’ long-term careers and immediate job satisfaction,” Romain Moulin, Exotec’s CEO, said in a statement announcing the survey results. “Warehouse workers quickly learn from experience that automation makes their work lives better, delivering [myriad] benefits ranging from more take-home pay, significantly improved safety, to substantial productivity boosts. The new supply chain challenge isn’t convincing today’s workers that robots are good for their career; it’s getting a new generation of workers in the door in the first place to experience it themselves.”
The survey also found that automation is viewed as a powerful solution to seasonal staffing crunches: 70% of workers surveyed agreed that warehouse automation makes them less stressed during busy peak periods, and a third reported fewer coworkers quitting during peak seasons after automation was introduced.
Exotec worked with Method Research and Watermelon Research to conduct the online survey in late August.
