“While the promise of humanoid robots is compelling, the reality is that this technology is still immature and far from being as versatile or cost-effective as expected,” Abdil Tunka, 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 are not yet fully realized.
While humanoid robots may offer certain advantages due to their ability to replicate human morphology, Gartner predicts that multifunctional robots, which are non-humanoid machines designed for logistics tasks such as sorting and assembly, may still perform better in supply chain operations, especially since they are not constrained by human-like design.
Looking beyond that 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 cost.
Caleb Thomson, senior director analyst in Gartner’s supply chain practice, added: “At this time, companies with a taste for risk and a focus on innovation are the best candidates to pursue humanoid robots, given the unproven capabilities of these solutions and the associated unclear return on investment.”
To advance robotics investment decisions, Gartner recommends that CSCOs pilot programs to assess feasibility, collaborate with providers on product development, conduct continuous monitoring, support innovation, and prioritize results-driven automation.
