Otto Group and Sereact deploy AI-driven robots for returns processing in Poland

Otto Group and robotics firm Sereact have partnered to deploy AI-controlled robotic systems to manage e-commerce returns. The initiative begins with the installation of ten dual-arm robots at a logistics facility in Poland, with plans to scale to 25 units contingent on the performance of the initial phase.

The project addresses the difficulty of automating returns, where items often arrive in unpredictable conditions. Sereact’s "Cortex Physical AI" software, developed using Nvidia simulation tools, allows the robots to identify and sort items without requiring specific programming for each product. This capability is intended to handle the high variance found in retail returns, from crumpled packaging to irregular item shapes.

Under a Robotics-as-a-Service arrangement, Sereact manages the operation and maintenance of the robots. The transition shifts the role of warehouse personnel from manual lifting and sorting to supervisory tasks, such as exception handling and final quality assessment. Success in this pilot may lead to wider integration across the Otto Group logistics network.