The Adoption of robots in small and medium sized warehouses

Abstract

Warehouse management has become essential to supply chain management due to recent advancements. Automation has transformed many industries, particularly the supply chain, where giant corporations have reaped significant benefits, but small and medium-sized organisations have faced challenges. This dissertation seeks to identify the challenges encountered by selected organisations when using robots in their warehouses. This study included a comprehensive literature evaluation and data collection from 30 research articles published between 2010 and 2024. The Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework was used, and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used to examine the factors influencing small and medium-sized firms. The results revealed positive perceptions of robots' benefits in operational efficiency, as they save workers' travel time and safeguard their physical health by doing strenuous tasks, also increasing productivity, while also emphasising employees' hesitance towards security concerns and job loss regarding adoption. The methodology used in the dissertation was appropriate; nonetheless, it primarily consisted of an analysis of current research, indicating a deficiency of primary data stemming from insufficient direct contact with warehouse owners to investigate and assess the causes behind their non-adoption. Furthermore, it relied on previous research, which might introduce bias into the results.