We fly rockets to Mars – so why do so many warehouse automation projects still fail? The robots are mature and reliable, yet getting them to run in daily operations remains a multi-billion-dollar struggle, even for the biggest retailers.In this episode of automation awakenings, Dr. Oliver Zuchowski and Matthias Koblitz (Managing Partners, Automation A) break down the five mistakes they see again and again in warehouse and logistics automation projects – and how to avoid them:1. Picking the wrong use cases – why truck loading and unloading is the "end boss" of automation, while simple floor-to-floor pallet transport often pays off faster2. Automating a bad process – "when you automate a bad physical process, you get a bad automated process": standardization, master data and load carriers first3. Getting the business case wrong – overestimated savings, hidden cost buffers, and why IT integration budgeted at 10K often ends up at 100K4. Integration and the lock-in trap – vendor lock-in vs. fleet manager lock-in (VDA 5050) vs. integration lock-in, and why you should start standalone5. Treating go-live as the finish line – stabilization, continuous improvement and why every project needs an "automation master"Rule of thumb from the episode: adapt the process to the tech – not the tech to the process.Question for you: when should you appoint the automation master – three months after go-live, or at the very start of the project? Let us know in the comments.🔗 More on Automation A: https://automation-a.com🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automation-awakenings/id1724719427💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-aNew episodes every second Monday. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one.Automation A – consulting for warehouse automation, robotics and intralogistics.#WarehouseAutomation #Robotics #Intralogistics

Everyone talks about humanoids. But do you actually need legs on the shop floor? And why do so few companies run fleets of mobile manipulators?In this episode of Automation Awakenings, recorded live at the Omron Automation Center in Stuttgart (with robots driving past us), Matthias Koblitz and Oliver Zuchowski take apart the difference between humanoids and mobile manipulators.You'll learn:→ What a mobile manipulator (MoMa) is, and why every humanoid is one but not every MoMa is a humanoid→ Why an arm on an AMR is harder than it sounds: 2D SLAM precision is not enough for precise picking→ The three ways to fix it: mechanical guidance, optical markers, or a camera on the arm→ The 99% reliability trap: 1,000 picks a day means 10 failures, roughly one every 2.5 hours→ When a humanoid beats a wheeled robot, and when it doesn't→ Why versatility is the real success factor, and why error handling matters more than legsIf you're evaluating mobile manipulators or humanoids, this episode helps you ask the right questions before you invest.🔗 More on Automation A: https://automation-a.com🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automation-awakenings/id1724719427💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-a00:00 Intro from the Omron Automation Center01:31 Humanoid vs. mobile manipulator: what's the difference?03:48 Why don't we see more mobile manipulators?11:25 The 99% reliability trap13:50 What can legs do better than wheels?18:28 Key takeaway: smart robots beat legs vs. wheels#mobilemanipulator #humanoidrobots #mobilerobotics #AMR #logisticsautomation #AutomationAwakenings

"Outdoor robots only work in warm, dry countries." Wrong. The real problem is somewhere else, and most companies find out too late.In this episode of Automation Awakenings, host Matthias Koblitz sits down with Lasse Hansen, Chief Commercial Officer of Capra Robotics, to talk about what it really takes to move pallets and totes between buildings with mobile robots.You'll learn:→ How much snow is too much for an outdoor robot (and why falling snow matters more than snow on the ground)→ Why connectivity is the biggest challenge for outdoor robots, and why Wi-Fi alone often isn't enough→ How outdoor robots navigate: cameras near buildings, GPS far away from them→ What to sort out before your first outdoor project: yard traffic, gate control and fleet hosting→ Why a great demo is not a business case→ Where outdoor robotics is heading: urban maintenance, de-icing, weeding and parcel deliveryIf your automation stops at the warehouse door, this episode shows you what it takes to go further.🔗 More on Automation A: https://automation-a.com🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automation-awakenings/id1724719427💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-a#outdoorrobotics #mobilerobotics #AMR #intralogistics #logisticsautomation #AutomationAwakenings