By the end of the decade, one in 20 supply chain managers will be responsible for overseeing robots rather than human workers, according to new research from Gartner Inc.
The shift reflects a growing reliance on automation in warehouses and fulfillment centers. Labor shortages, cost pressures, and the need for greater efficiency are driving that shift. Gartner also projects that 80% of people will interact with smart robots daily by 2030. It expects robotics will become embedded in both consumer and industrial environments.
In the logistics sector, the rapid deployment of mobile and multifunctional robots is reshaping the structure of warehouse operations. Chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) increasingly identify robotics as a strategic investment, yet many organizations lack the technical and operational expertise to manage growing fleets of autonomous machines.
“CSCOs must develop an organizational structure to support the management of growing fleets of robots,” said Abdil Tunca, senior principal analyst at Gartner. “Managers will encounter different scenarios when managing robots than they would with people, especially when managing fleets of task-specific and polyfunctional robots.”
Navigating robot management
Early-stage robotics programs are typically managed by technical staff within narrow functional areas. But as companies expand robotics use cases — from transporting pallets to coordinating with human workers in dynamic environments — robot management is becoming a broader operational responsibility.
The transition raises new challenges. Unlike traditional teams, robots require oversight rooted in a working knowledge of their capabilities, limitations, and how they interact with physical space and other systems. Managing a robot fleet that includes different models, tasks, and levels of autonomy involves a mix of operational coordination, safety oversight, and system integration.
Tunca noted that many existing management structures were built around human capital, with clear frameworks for training, performance, and supervision. In contrast, few established models exist today for overseeing robots — particularly mixed fleets deployed at scale.
As robotics become more common, the role of robot manager could evolve from a technical specialty into a standard part of supply chain leadership. Much like the rise of IT in the early 2000s, the integration of robotics could gradually reshape organizational design and day-to-day management practices across the industry.
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