Few Companies Will Scale Humanoid Robots by 2028, Predicts Gartner
Fewer than 100 companies will advance humanoid robots beyond the pilot stage by 2028, with fewer than 20 deploying them fully for supply chains and manufacturing, according to recent research from Gartner.
Most will remain limited to tightly controlled environments rather than dynamic settings within operations.
Humanoid robots, which mimic the human body in shape and function, are attracting interest due to rising labor costs and other workforce challenges, as well as AI-enabled systems that help them adapt to various tasks. But Gartner says the industry should slow the hype about them, as it is outpacing its readiness for large-scale deployments.
“The promise of humanoid robots is compelling, but the reality is that the technology remains immature and far from meeting expectations for versatility and cost-effectiveness,” Abdil Tunca, senior principal analyst in Gartner’s supply chain practice, said in a statement. They caution chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) to seriously consider their readiness before committing to solutions that can’t yet fully deliver.
While humanoid robots can offer certain advantages due to their ability to replicate the human form, Gartner predicts that polyfunctional robots, non-humanoid machines designed for logistical tasks such as sorting or assembly, may still outperform them in supply chain operations, especially since they are not constrained by human-like design.
Looking beyond their potential, Gartner noted that humanoid robots face significant barriers to full adoption across supply chains, logistics and manufacturing, including technological limitations, integration complexity, energy constraints and high costs.
“Companies with a high-risk appetite and focus on innovation are the best candidates for pursuing humanoid robots at present, given the unproven capabilities of these solutions, and related lack of clarity for return on investment,” added Caleb Thomson, senior director analyst in Gartner’s supply chain practice.
To navigate robot investment decisions, Gartner encourages CSCOs to pilot programs to assess feasibility, collaborate with providers on product development, implement continuous monitoring, support innovation and prioritize outcome-driven automation.
