DHL Supply Chain has announced a new partnership with robotics firm Robust.AI to develop and deploy an innovative fleet of warehouse robots, as the contract logistics leader accelerates automation inside distribution centres.
The collaboration brings together DHL Supply Chain’s experience implementing automated solutions with Robust.AI’s capabilities in artificial intelligence and advanced robotics. The companies will initially focus on piloting and deploying Carter, a collaborative mobile robot designed to provide flexible material-handling automation in warehouse environments.
Pilot underway, broader deployment planned
According to DHL, the pilot for Carter is already underway at a DHL Supply Chain warehouse, with an initial deployment planned for later this year. The first use case will centre on improving the picking process—one of the most labour-intensive and time-sensitive activities in fulfilment operations.
Using AI technology, Carter is designed to learn and adapt to real-time warehouse conditions, with the goal of optimising workflows and increasing productivity. DHL also said the robot’s embedded sensors and AI capabilities will generate operational data that can be used to refine warehouse layouts, staffing decisions, and inventory management.
“Smarter, safer, more reliable” warehouses
“At DHL Supply Chain, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in logistics,” said Sally Miller, chief information officer and global digital transformation officer, DHL Supply Chain. “Partnering with Robust.AI, a pioneer in AI-powered robotics, allows us to continue redefining what’s possible within the four walls of the warehouse. This partnership will help us to create a smarter, safer, and more reliable supply chain one intelligent robot at a time.”
Robust.AI said the partnership has already helped refine product workflows and AI, with early results pointing to measurable productivity gains.
“DHL Supply Chain has been an incredible partner. As the industry leader, their analytics and logistics expertise are unparalleled and have helped us refine our product workflows and AI,” said Anthony Jules, CEO and co-founder of Robust.AI. “Working cooperatively, our teams have demonstrated meaningful productivity increases in the warehouse. DHL Supply Chain and Robust.AI share a vision that is centered around people. At Robust.AI, we build robots and AI that amplify and augment workers’ abilities, and we are grateful to have a partner at massive scale who shares our drive for marrying increased efficiency with an elevated employee experience.”
Building on DHL’s existing robotics portfolio
Carter will join DHL Supply Chain’s existing roster of robotic solutions already deployed across its operations. DHL highlighted several examples, including a robotic arm developed for carton unloading of trucks, automated guided vehicles such as an autonomous forklift, and a range of autonomous mobile robots that support picking and carton movement within warehouses.
The announcement underscores a broader shift in logistics toward collaborative automation—systems designed to work alongside employees rather than replace them—while helping operators manage throughput demands, improve safety, and strengthen service reliability.
As warehouse networks continue to adapt to changing customer expectations and persistent labour challenges, partnerships between large-scale logistics providers and robotics specialists are increasingly becoming a key route to accelerate practical, scalable automation.
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