Associate Director Josh Langley manages our warehouse automation team here at CrimsonXT, and has a wealth of experience recruiting across the automation industry. Putting his industry expertise to use, he recently produced “Automation Insights” – a bi-weekly news roundup, that explores the latest funding, collaborations, product updates and funding news from cutting-edge automation and robotics companies across the US, Europe and APAC.

October/November continued the markets rapid development, with companies pushing for higher efficiency, adaptability, and precision in response to both the global demand and intensified e-commerce competition. Throughout the past month, we’ve seen a surge in strategic partnerships addressing labor shortages, as well as an uptick in investments toward AI-driven solutions, specifically in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and collaborative robotics.

Warehouse operators are prioritizing flexible, modular automation that can scale with peak seasons, particularly as we head into the holiday rush. Companies are also heavily investing in software to optimize real-time decision-making and integrate seamlessly across supply chain touchpoints. Let’s dive in!

 

 

Acquisitions, spin outs, expansions and legal updates

Reveal Group acquired by global leader in intelligent automation, Ashling Partners. This acquisition is a great step in Ashling Partners’ strategy to enhance its Multimodal Automation™ capabilities.

Ireland-based industrial automation company Robotics and Drives is acquired by Automated Industrial Robotics. The transaction reinforces AIR’s presence in Europe.

Locus Robotics has opened its new global headquarters, Locus Park, in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The company has also surpassed an incredible four-billion-unit picks across its worldwide customer deployments.

Geekplus has deployed a fleet of Goods-to-Person robots for THG Fulfil in its Omega facility in Warrington. THG Fulfil is THG Ingenuity’s fulfilment and courier management solution.

Exotec expanded its North American presence by establishing a new headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The team also received ISO/IEC 27001 certification, reinforcing its commitment to cybersecurity and data protection within automated warehouse operations.

 

Collaborations and partnerships

DHL Supply Chain and Robust.AI formed a strategic partnership to launch “Carter,” a collaborative robot for warehouse operations. This partnership highlights DHL’s continued push toward integrating advanced robotics to enhance safety and efficiency within warehouses​.

Peak Technologies and Robotize partner to streamline logistics and boost productivity across industrial sectors. Peak and Robotize plan to jointly accelerate AMR adoption in manufacturing and warehousing environments, emphasizing the integration of smart technologies for seamless automation and enhanced competitiveness in dynamic markets.

DMW&H joined forces with Movu Robotics to advance warehouse automation. This partnership introduces Movu’s flexible, modular technologies, such as the “Movu ifollow” AMRs and 3D storage systems, into DMW&H’s material handling portfolio.

Reveal Group is acquired by Ashling Partners to expand multimodal automation solutions.

Integrated Systems Design has joined MHI’s Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) product section group. ISD said the strategic move reinforces its commitment to advancing automation technologies to its manufacturing and warehouse customers, improving their warehouse, logistics, and supply chain systems.

Aptean announces the acquisition of Indigo Software Limite, which adds new capabilities to its warehouse management and supply chain management offerings for manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers and 3PLs.

 

Tech and product updates

Bear Robotics unveiled the Carti 100 robot for logistics and warehouse operations. Carti 100 is built to handle the complex demands of factories and warehouses, supporting up to 220 lbs.

 

Funding

Simbe Robotics builds automation solutions for shelf auditing and analytics. The San-Fransico based company announced a Series C funding round, raising $50,000,000 from numerous investors.

Voliro leads in aerial mobile robotics with cutting-edge technology designed for precision work at heights. The company recently announced a $12M Series A funding round.

FedEx co-led a $106 million funding round into autonomous fulfillment company Nimble in a major vote of confidence from the logistics giant in robotics technology, elevating the company to a $1 billion valuation.

Brighton warehouse automation co. to grow after $62M raise. The company has been testing its products from a 200K square-foot testing site. The funding round from some big-name investors brings the company’s total equity capital fundraising to more than $250 million.

Dexory Ltd. has raised $80 million in new funding led by DTCP.  With this round, Dexory has raised a total of $120 million over the past three years, including a $19 million round led by Atomico in June 2023.

Vecna Robotics closed a $100 million Series C funding round, which will support its plans for scaling its automated mobile robots (AMRs) and launching new robotics for material handling.

Outrider, developing robotic software and systems to automate logistics hub operations, has raised a Series D funding round of $62,000,000.

Path Robotics, the Columbus, OH-based AI-enabled robotic welding company has raised $100M in Series D venture capital funding.

Nimble Robotics, the AI robotics and e-commerce fulfillment technology company, automating the processes of picking and packing products, has raised a Series C funding round of $106,000,000.

Dash Bio has raised a Seed funding round of $6,500,000.

Agility Robotics, building highly efficient, agile, and robust legged platforms for real world applications, has raised a Series C funding round of $150,000,000.

Bright Pick raises $12M for warehouse automation. To date, Photoneo has invested over $35 million in Brightpick, with this latest round bringing total funding to $47 million.

 

 

It’s clear the industry is pushing forward with innovative solutions in response to the increased demand, efficiency needs, and labor shortages.

Recruitment trends are also reflecting this shift: we’re seeing demand rising for talented candidates skilled in robotics programming, data analytics, and operational integration. Many firms are now prioritizing flexible recruitment to find specialists in AI-driven logistics and AMR operations, positioning themselves to stay competitive in the increasingly automated landscape.

 

What skill sets are particularly valuable right now?

  • Robotics programming and AMR configuration
  • Data analytics and machine learning
  • AI and computer vision
  • Software integration and systems engineering
  • Mechanical and electrical engineering
  • Project management and change management


How can you grow?

Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) offers industry-recognized certifications in areas like robotics integration, industrial cybersecurity, and mechatronics. These certifications are ideal for both technical and management roles, providing skills in Industry 4.0 technologies and automation.

MIT’s MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management, offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, provides advanced training in supply chain systems, logistics, and data analytics. While not exclusive to automation, it emphasizes skills critical for supply chain automation professionals.

Udacity’s Robotics Software Engineer Nanodegree – this is an online program that covers ROS (Robot Operating System), AI, and computer vision, essential for AMR and AGV systems. It’s a practical course designed for direct application in the workforce.

MassRobotics offers workshops, networking, and skills training tailored to robotics and automation. It partners with leading companies like Vecna and Amazon Robotics to provide industry-relevant training and hands-on experience, which is valuable for job seekers and those looking to upskill.

ARM Institute (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing), funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, collaborates with academic institutions and industry partners to provide training in robotics and automation technologies, focusing on filling skill gaps and connecting employers with trained professionals.

 

 

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