Chinese-made warehouse robots are increasingly playing a central role in the UK’s retail sector, helping major retailers process online orders faster, improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.
Behind many online purchases is an automated system where compact silver robots move beneath storage racks, lift entire shelves and transport them to warehouse workers for order fulfilment.
One of the companies leading this transformation is Geek+, whose manufacturing facility in Hefei, eastern China, produces fleets of autonomous mobile robots for customers across the globe.
The company supplies robotic technology to several major UK retailers, including Tesco, Asda, and Next, where the machines are used to streamline warehouse operations.
According to Geek+, the robots speed up the picking process, maximise warehouse storage capacity and reduce human errors by automating repetitive tasks.
Unlike traditional warehouse automation systems that depend on fixed conveyor belts and costly infrastructure, the company’s autonomous mobile robots require only QR-code floor markers and safety barriers, making them quicker and cheaper to deploy.
Geek+, which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in one of the largest robotics share offerings of 2025, has grown into the world’s biggest supplier of autonomous mobile robots, reflecting the rapid expansion of automation in global retail and logistics.
