The hype around humanoid robots is outpacing the technology’s readiness for large-scale deployment, according to Gartner research released today.
The business and technology insights company said that over the next two years, less than 100 companies will progress humanoid robot proofs of concept beyond experimentation, with fewer than 20 companies going live in production for supply chain and manufacturing use cases. Most production deployments of humanoid robots during this time will remain limited to tightly controlled environments, rather than in dynamic and high-throughput supply chain operations, the research firm said.
Humanoid robots, which mimic the human body, are attracting attention from chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) seeking solutions to workforce challenges and rising labor costs. Such robots feature AI-enabled systems, advanced sensors, and machine learning algorithms intended to dynamically adapt to multiple tasks.
Although the technology holds promise, Gartner said humanoids aren’t ready for the rigors of manufacturing and supply chain work in the near term.
“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,” Abdil Tunca, senior principal analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain practice, said in a statement about the research. “CSCOs must carefully evaluate readiness and avoid overcommitting resources to solutions that cannot yet deliver on their potential.”
Gartner said humanoids face key barriers to adoption in supply chain, logistics, and manufacturing, including:
- Technological limitations: Current models lack the dexterity, intelligence, and adaptability required for complex, unstructured environments such as mixed-SKU [stock-keeping unit] picking, trailer unloading, or exception handling in high-velocity warehouses.
- Integration complexity: Compatibility with existing systems and workflows remains a challenge.
- High costs: Substantial upfront investment and ongoing maintenance expenses must be weighed against uncertain returns. With the current technology and costs, humanoids cost multiple times more than task specific polyfunctional robots while delivering lower throughput and uptime.
- Energy constraints: Limited battery life restricts operational time for high-mobility tasks.
The industry is likely to see more immediate gains from polyfunctional robots, which are optimized for flexibility and are not constrained by a human-like design, according to the report. The researchers cited an example: A polyfunctional robot with wheels and a telescopic arm can move boxes, pick cases, scan inventory, and perform inspections, usually with higher uptime and using less energy than a humanoid that is attempting the same tasks. Polyfunctional robots can integrate features that enhance efficiency and durability, making them better suited for dynamic supply chain environments.
“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.”
To navigate investment decisions, Gartner advises CSCOs to:
- Pursue pilot programs to validate feasibility before committing to full-scale deployment.
- Collaborate with emerging providers to influence product development and align solutions with operational needs.
- Implement continuous monitoring to track performance and guide iterative improvements.
- Foster a culture of innovation that supports experimentation and calculated risk-taking.
- Prioritize outcome-driven automation that targets specific bottlenecks, rather than generalized “headcount reduction” strategies, which is also less risky from an investment standpoint.
