https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/20/fulfillment-is-still-hot-as-greyorange-closes-135m-round/

Over the last few years, I’ve asked countless people in the robotics space “what comes next after warehouse/fulfillment?” The already popular category got red hot during the pandemic, as online shopping turned from convenience to necessity.

Amazon has been leading the space for more than a decade with in-house systems, while companies like Locus, 6 River Systems and Fetch (now owned by and branded Zebra) have struck partnerships with top retailers. But asking “what’s next” is in no way an indication that fulfillment’s time in the spotlight has ended. In spite of some economy-fueled investment slowdowns, it’s a huge category that’s only getting huger.