Marrakech – Ingka Group, the force behind most Ikea stores, is diving headfirst into this emerging tech.
With vast warehouses filled with bulky furniture, it’s a challenge for humans to navigate and too tall an order for most robots.
That’s the main perk of Ikea’s fleet of 100 drones buzzing across Europe.
These small scanning drones offer 24/7 inventory updates and can reach heights that are out of reach for both humans and most robots.
The drones, decked out in Ikea’s signature blue and yellow, complete with the iconic logo and a cheerful “Hej!” greeting, are the handiwork of Verity.
This startup has caught the eye of investors, largely due to its partnership with Ikea.
They raised $32 million last March and followed it up with another $11 million just four months later.
“We are always curious to learn from others, and this project is a great example of how we have collaborated across Ikea and together with an external partner come up with a solution that we all benefit from,” said Peter Ac, Ikea’s logistics head, in a statement.
The Ikea initiative took flight in 2021, starting in Verity’s home turf of Switzerland.
The drone company crafted a tailor-made solution for Ikea’s needs, and now it spans 16 locations, including stores in Belgium, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Verity might be stealing the spotlight with its high-profile partnership, but it’s not the only player in the inventory drone game.
The competition includes Corvus Robotics, Gather AI, and Indoor Robotics.
And let’s not forget Dexory, which tackles those high shelves with its giant telescoping autonomous mobile robot.
