Dear Readers,

Imagine your intralogistics as an orchestra. In the past, this orchestra had to play the same piece over and over again – rigidly rehearsed, with each instrument programmed to perform a specific task. But what if the tempo suddenly changes, the audience wants a different genre, or a musician drops out? In today's dynamic business world, rigid automation is no longer enough. What we need is an ensemble that can improvise. This is where flexible automation comes into play – the neural network of modern logistics.

Flexible automation is like a highly sensitive nervous system for your internal processes. It combines modular technologies, robotics, AI, IoT and cloud-based controls to form a responsive organism. These systems detect changes, process them and respond – quickly, efficiently and precisely. Whether unexpected peaks in demand, delivery bottlenecks or staff shortages arise, instead of rebuilding the entire system, all that is needed is a software update or the addition of another robot. What used to be a major undertaking is now a matter of plug and play.

A market in transition – and on the rise again

The latest figures speak for themselves: According to VDMA and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) the market for service robots (non-producing robots) has grown worldwide in 2023 by 30% and in intralogistics by 24%. After a stagnation in 2024, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to rise above 14%, potentially surpassing 5 billion euros by 2030.

Why now?

We live in an age of uncertainty – global crises, volatile supply chains, skills shortages. Companies that rely on traditional systems risk capsizing like a rigid ship in a storm. Flexible automation, on the other hand, transforms this ship into a manoeuvrable sailing boat with modern navigation. It enables:

• Responsiveness instead of rigidity: When markets fluctuate, your intralogistics remain capable of acting.
• Optimisation at the touch of a button: AI-supported analyses not only improve processes, they also enable them to be continuously developed.
• Cost efficiency through scalability: Automation does not have to be expensive – it can be tailored precisely to your needs.
• Sustainability from the heart of the system: Resources are used more sparingly, emissions are reduced and the ecological footprint is minimised.

The key: lowering barriers to entry

Automation often feels like a steep mountain to climb, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. But today, there are many paths to the top – and not all of them are rocky. Think of a modular system: you start with a simple, mobile robot that transports goods between two stations. No major conversion, no complicated IT. As you grow, the system grows with you – modular expansion included.

Or you can opt for a rental model: no high initial investment, just monthly payments based on usage. It's like a car subscription – only this time it transports pallets instead of people.Standardised interfaces make integration easy. Cloud solutions replace expensive server landscapes. And many providers not only supply the technology, but also training, support and further education. The entry level is lower – the impact remains.

Those who think flexibly today will remain competitive tomorrow.

Flexible automation is no longer a luxury – it is a prerequisite for future viability. And it is no longer accessible only to large companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises now have more opportunities than ever to transform their intralogistics – step by step, tailor-made and with calculable risk.

Let's shape this transformation together. Not as a rigid system of cogs, but as an intelligent network. The future won't wait – but it is open to everyone who is ready to move.