Stories

Wed, 29 Jul 2026

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 The Chinese robot army transforming the UK's retail industry

Britain's weak productivity growth and labour shortages are creating an opportunity for China's robotics firms.

* 2,000 Geek+ robots have been deployed across 10 sites in the UK.
* These robots help process online orders by automating repetitive tasks such as lifting shelves and carrying them across warehouses.
* The use of autonomous mobile robots has increased picking speeds and reduced errors for retailers like Tesco, Asda, and Next.
* China's company Geek+ has become the world's largest supplier of autonomous mobile robots.
* The UK has been slow to adopt robotics compared to other countries, but is now seeing an increase in adoption due to labor shortages and productivity pressures.
* The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged employers to invest in retraining workers and involve them in decisions about automation.
* China's government has prioritized the development of robotics as part of its drive for economic growth and manufacturing advantage.
* Chinese companies are investing heavily in humanoid robots, but experts say current technology is not yet suitable for many tasks.