1、SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSSUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSGROWING NEED FOR AUTOMATION IN RETAILWhile the focus in automation has been on production with industrial robots for decades,the greatest opportunity for automation is increasingly found further down the su

2、pply chain at the level of storage,distribution,fulfillment,and retail.This trend is unsurprising,given the high rate of revenue growth in the global retail market.Based on Figure 1,from 2020 to 2030,global retail revenue is projected to grow from US$27.7 trillion to US$55.3 trillion,with a compound

3、 average growth rate(CAGR)of 8.8%over 10 years.An increasing percentage of this revenue is focused on e-commerce,growing from 15%of total worldwide retail revenue to 40%.This growth is attributable to several reasons,including competitive pricing,shopping experience,price comparisons,product ratings

4、,customer reviews,changing consumer habits accelerated by the pandemic,and the better-than-expected post-pandemic recovery.Figure 1:Online versus Brick and Mortar Retail Revenues World Markets:2019 to 2027(Source:ABI Research)2021 ABI Research The material contained herein is for the individual use

5、of the purchasing Licensee and may not be distributed to any other person or entity by such Licensee including,without limitation,to persons within the same corporate or other entity as such Licensee,without the express written permission of Licensor.3 CR-RICOH-102:SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFIL

6、LMENT CENTERS 1.GROWING NEED FOR AUTOMATION IN RETAIL While the focus in automation has been on production with industrial robots for decades,the greatest opportunity for automation is increasingly found further down the supply chain at the level of storage,distribution,fulfillment,and retail.This t