USA 
United Kingdom
IKEA has announced it will roll out AI-powered drone technology in its US distribution centers, starting at a facility in Perryville, Maryland.
The drones will work continuously alongside employees to conduct stock inventory and stock management, according to a statement released last Friday by Ingka Group, the franchisee that controls 367 of 422 global IKEA stores.
“The next phase will further boost operational efficiency by automating the physically demanding and time-consuming task of stock inventory, which is otherwise handled by employees,” the company said. “This shift will not only free up co-workers to enhance the customer experience but also provides IKEA with faster, more precise and accurate stock management.”
The company has been developing and innovating an autonomous drone solution for its warehouses in 2021 and has been testing drones at 73 locations in nine countries.
How will IKEA’s drones drive employee productivity and wellbeing?
IKEA hopes the technology will “elevate the co-worker experience” in its distribution centers by transforming the inventory management process, “significantly boosting operational efficiency whilst also enhancing co-worker productivity.”
“The Ikea drones use an artificial intelligence-based algorithm to identify and photograph product storage locations,” said Parag Parekh, Global Chief Digital Officer for IKEA Retail (Ingka Group).
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“In addition, drone flights are pre-scheduled, utilizing a custom indoor positioning system to navigate higher levels of storage locations (for levels three and up). Equipped with obstacle detection capabilities, these drones can avoid collisions by rerouting their paths.’”
This will prevent staff from having to block isles and move products around to complete the process, thereby increasing accuracy and decreasing their workload.
“Integrating 24/7 operational drones into IKEA warehouses is not only a great step in inventory management but also a boost for employee wellbeing,” the post explains. “By taking over the physically strenuous task of inventory checks, these drones reduce the ergonomic strain on co-workers, allowing them to focus on lighter and more interesting tasks.”
Ingka Group's release referenced a report from the New York Times which found that drones could improve health and safety in warehouses reducing the risk of repetitive strains and other injuries caused by manual labor.
By lowering the need for repetitive, physically exhausting tasks, IKEA believes the drones – which are designed with safety features tailored specifically to its distribution centers – can improve long-term health, as well as job satisfaction.
The technology, according to IKEA, meets all data privacy compliance requirements, “including the safety, integrity and privacy of co-workers.”
AI drones create “a more ergonomic workplace” at IKEA
The drones have been tested at a distribution center in Winterslag, Belgium, over the past year.
IKEA now plans to expand the use of the technology across Europe and North America, and will continue to improve and develop the solution, increasing the loads each drone can carry and its capabilities to inspect, analyze, and provide insights to staff.
“We continue to embrace the benefits of technology and innovation, our goal is to create a better experience for our customers and a more ergonomic workplace for our co-workers,” said Marcus Baumgartner, Head of Fulfilment & Core services at IKEA Retail.
Tommy Niemierowski, Fulfilment Project Implementation Manager, IKEA Belgium, added that for a relatively simple installation process, IKEA co-workers are given major work optimization benefits.
“Implementing a solution that truly makes a difference in our warehouses is an immensely rewarding experience,” he explained. “The installation process itself is relatively straightforward, and the reward is monumental, as it facilitates collaboration amongst various stakeholders.”
