Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems

This Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) Market Research Study delivers current market analysis plus a five year market and technology forecast.  The study is available as a market intelligence workbook (Excel) and/or a concise, executive-level market analysis report (PDF), with or without detailed charts.

E-Commerce Fulfillment Requirements Drive Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) Demand

Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are computer-controlled systems responsible for the automated movement and placement of goods, to and from set storage locations within a warehouse. Revenues from the following subcategories of AS/RS are included in this study: Traditional Unit-Load AS/RS, Traditional Mini-Load AS/RS; Shuttle Systems, and Cube-Based Automated Storage Systems. The integrated subsystem must be sold to an end-customer for revenues to be included.

The automated storage and retrieval systems market is experiencing rapid growth, primarily driven by the fulfillment requirements from the ongoing, widespread growth in e-commerce. There is also a notable spike in demand for warehouse automation by the grocery segment of the retail industry.  Shuttle systems and cube-based automation storage systems are the primary AS/RS subcategories benefiting from this uptick in grocery investment.  At the same time, there are numerous new entrants to the market that provide innovative hybrid systems, which offer the benefits of shuttles and robotics.  These innovations are poised to accelerate the market’s growth

Demand for unit-load AS/RS continues to remain strong due to its role as critical automation for heavy-load, high-bay warehouses.  Demand for traditional mini-load AS/RS remains well-suited for many applications but is also being displaced in many instances by shuttle systems.  The widespread increase in labor costs, labor shortages in certain regions, and high industrial real estate costs are factors that continue to heighten the value proposition for AS/RS systems across all sub-categories.  
 

Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)  Strategic Issues

In addition to providing a five-year market forecast, the automated storage & retrieval market research provides detailed quantitative current market data and addresses key strategic issues as follow.

Shuttle Systems Align with Today’s Fulfillment Needs

Shuttle systems are encroaching on projects where other systems would have been installed in years past.  In addition, shuttle systems’ throughput capabilities and adaptability align well with the high-variability, high-throughput needs of today’s direct-to-consumer fulfillment operations.  The relative maturity of these systems and their proven reliability now provide a higher level of confidence than in years past, opening up opportunities to sell to organizations with a lower level of risk tolerance.  

Storage Density Optimized with Cube-Based Automated Storage

Cube-based automated storage offers a cost-effective means for automating fulfillment while providing superior storage density. These solutions are synonymous with AutoStore’s systems in 2019. However, Ocado is expected to generate revenues from its systems that are structurally similar. Ocado is currently building numerous grocery fulfillment sites with partners in Europe and the US.

Traditional Unit-Load and Mini-Load Serve Traditional Fulfillment

AS/RS has its roots in traditional unit-load systems. These systems are currently in widespread use, and new system adoption is still widespread today. The size of the traditional unit-load and mini-load market segments is substantial, although growth is not as rapid as that of shuttle systems. Industrial companies and heavy-load operations such as food and beverage distribution continue to adopt traditional AS/RS as the load capacity, storage density, throughput, and system cost align with their operational needs. 

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