The Future of Warehousing: Robots, AI, and Human Collaboration with Gartner's Abdil Tunca

Why It Matters

Robot‑centric warehouses will redefine labor roles and cost structures, forcing supply‑chain executives to adopt strategic automation frameworks to stay competitive.

Key Takeaways

• Humanoid robots face hardware complexity, high defect rates at scale
• Cost structure makes simple automation more attractive than humanoids now
• Supply chain for humanoids lacks mature, mass‑produced components
• Polyfunctional robots excel at standardized tasks; humanoids handle exceptions
• By 2030, half of new warehouses will be robot‑centric, not human‑optional

Summary

Supply chain leaders gathered at Gartner’s Orlando symposium to explore how robots, AI, and human collaboration will reshape warehousing. Senior principal analyst Abdul Tunca, a former Kroger practitioner, explained that while humanoid robots promise flexibility, they remain hampered by hardware complexity, high defect rates, costly components, and immature supply chains, making them less viable than simpler automation for most tasks today.

Key data points underscore the challenge: companies automate primarily to cut labor costs and address shortages, yet the cost per robot still exceeds that of proven polyfunctional systems. Polyfunctional robots, optimized for specific workflows such as picking, sorting, and inspection, outperform humanoids on standardized tasks, while the latter are better suited for exception handling. Tunca highlighted a 94% deployment or planning rate for intra‑logistics smart robotics within two years, and cited a retailer’s robotic arm that delicately bags oranges as a tangible example of advancing dexterity.

Tunca also warned that the supply chain for humanoids relies on specialized, low‑volume components, limiting scalability. He likened mass production of humanoids to turning a concept car into a Toyota Corolla—still a distant goal. However, as AI perception, battery technology, and infrastructure evolve, especially in brownfield warehouses built for humans, humanoids may become cost‑effective for retrofitting existing sites.

The broader implication is a shift toward robot‑centric, or “human‑optional,” warehouses by 2030, where humans transition from manual picking to supervising and handling exceptions. Success will depend on strategic ROI frameworks—what Gartner calls “sweating the assets”—to ensure that robot fleets deliver measurable value without simply adding complexity.

Original Description

Live from Gartner Supply Chain Symposium 2026 in Orlando, Scott Luton sits down with Abdil Tunca, Senior Principal Analyst with Gartner's Logistics and Customer Fulfillment Practice, to explore the future of warehouse automation, robotics, AI, and the evolving role of humans in supply chain operations. Drawing on years of practitioner experience and industry research, Abdul shares his latest insights into the technologies reshaping fulfillment and logistics.

As robotics adoption accelerates across supply chains, organizations face critical decisions about where and how automation delivers the greatest value. In this engaging conversation, Abdil breaks down the differences between humanoid and polyfunctional robots, explains why robot-centric warehouse design is becoming the new standard, and shares Gartner's predictions for the future of automation. The discussion also explores the growing role of AI in warehouse decision-making, the rise of Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS), and why successful automation strategies require more than simply deploying new technology. Supply chain leaders will gain practical insights into the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping warehousing over the next decade.

Key Takeaways

Humanoid robots show tremendous potential, but significant challenges remain around cost, scalability, reliability, and supply chain maturity.

Polyfunctional robots are often better suited for standardized warehouse workflows because they combine multiple capabilities into a single platform.

Gartner predicts that by 2030, half of newly designed warehouses will be robot-centric, with facilities optimized around robotic workflows and automation infrastructure.

AI is increasingly shifting from task automation to decision automation, helping optimize inventory placement, fulfillment, and operational efficiency.

The warehouse robotics market continues to expand rapidly, with growing adoption among mid-sized companies.

Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) is lowering barriers to entry and providing greater flexibility in an increasingly volatile business environment.

If you're trying to understand where warehouse automation is headed and how emerging technologies will impact your operations, this episode offers valuable perspective from one of Gartner's leading analysts. Abdil provides a practical, data-driven view of the robotics landscape while separating industry hype from reality. Whether you're evaluating automation investments today or planning for the future, this conversation will help you better understand the technologies that are transforming supply chain execution.

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Abdil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdil-tunca-a97a3086/

Learn more about Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/

See more coverage from Gartner Supply Chain Symposium 2026: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0GldQFXYIs

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