“Operational Incubation” in Action: GXO and Humanoids

GXO is the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider.

We’re the market leader in automated logistics solutions, and the first 3PL to deploy humanoid robots into live operations. Our R&D strategy is to act as an “operational incubator.” We don’t develop our own automation hardware; instead, we partner with developers to help them build and validate practical use cases that add real operational value for our customers.

Our incubation program starts with use case exploration, progresses to proof-of-concept pilots with two-way feedback loops, and business case validation, then develops into formal partnerships to deploy the technology across our operations. In 2023, we leant into the humanoid robotics category, and we’re currently partnering with three exceptional developers.

Together with our partners – Agility Robotics, Apptronik, and Reflex Robotics – we’re working to bring conceptual prototypes out of the lab and into the fulfillment center.

From lifting totes to each-picking to manually manipulating other types of automation hardware, the bots in this space, and their developers, are doing incredible things.

Our ultimate long-term vision is to deploy humanoids as an anchor application. The passion, skill and creativity of our partners is inspiring, and we’re proud to be building the supply chain of the future together.