AutoStore Updates Aim to Remove Autonomous Operation Barriers

E-commerce has changed the way consumers purchase goods, and the fulfillment center is part of the reason products can be ordered online one day and received the next. A fulfillment center is essentially a warehouse that stores products temporarily near populated areas. AutoStore provides intelligent fulfillment solutions using autonomous robots and a unique storage system.

AutoStore’s latest software and hardware releases include multi-sized bin and piece-picking, Robotics-as-a-Service for smaller businesses, fully integrated barcode scanning at the picking station, design software to aid in ROI and fulfillment solutions, and fleet software that works with existing CubeAnalytics to predict maintenance schedules and reduce unplanned downtime.

AutoStore's Fall 2026 releases introduce new hardware and software solutions to enhance automated fulfillment operations. Image courtesy of AutoStore

Enhanced Bin Picking

When products enter an automated fulfillment center, they are placed in categorized bins and stacked in columns. When a customer places an order, a robot travels to the storage location and picks the bin containing the purchased item. This bin is then transported to an operator who selects the correct item and quantity for shipment. While this process is highly effective for uniformly sized products, oddly shaped items or case-packaged goods traditionally required manual handling.

To enhance the bin-picking process, AutoStore has introduced FlexBinsPort and enhanced AutoCase.

FlexBinsPort is designed to work with the AutoStore system and can support all standard AutoStore bin sizes at one workstation. This enables mixed-bin operations so that a single operator can handle different shapes and different categories of products.

AutoCase, an existing module within the AutoStore platform, supports handling of cases of products and individual products. With the latest update, AutoCase includes parallel processing of outgoing cases, creating a continuous product flow for downstream processes such as palletizing and packaging.

The upgraded VersaAI workstation automates robotic piece picking and inventory validation across new and existing AutoStore configurations. Image courtesy of AutoStore

Robotics-as-a-Service for Smaller Businesses

Start-up companies often handle the fulfillment process themselves, but many need assistance when scaling through automation. AutoStore is releasing Pio Pal, a Robotics-as-a-Service model for smaller companies that want to take advantage of automation but might not have the capital. The Pio Pal module is a robotic picking workstation capable of working with pre-picked orders at a rate of 540 order lines per hour.

Robotic Piece Picking Upgrades

AutoStore is also expanding its robotic piece-picking capabilities, centered around its VersaAI solution, across more workflows and configurations. Enhancements include automated item induction, workstation barcode scanning, and robotic cycle counting for inventory validation, with support for both new and existing AutoStore systems.

Fleet Management

To keep robotic fleets running efficiently, proper maintenance is key. AutoStore’s new CubeFleet software uses CubeAnalytics and AI to provide alerts, guidance, and work orders to reduce unplanned downtime by 35% to 45%.

AutoStore’s new AI-powered design software helps businesses model and optimize automated fulfillment center layouts prior to implementation. Image courtesy of AutoStore

Automated Fulfillment Center Design

Designing a fully automated fulfillment center can be a daunting task. AutoStore has released new AI-powered software to help businesses alleviate uncertainty during the design phase.

CubeExplore is a GenAI-powered ROI tool that can help model return on investment using operational benchmarks and project data.

CubeStudio is an AI-powered design assistant that enables users to model different configurations of the AutoStore system. The results are a more refined solution that is tested in a digital world.

Powering the Future of Intelligent Fulfillment

E-commerce is a large part of the way consumers purchase goods today, and in order to maintain this way of purchasing, the technology needs to continue to grow.

AutoStore recognizes this demand for growth and is meeting it through its latest hardware and software releases.