In context
In May 2025, logistics automation was accelerating as major players scaled robotic deployments beyond pilot phases. DHL Group, already a large user of warehouse automation, was deepening partnerships with robotics vendors to co-develop solutions rather than buy off-the-shelf.
What was reported
DHL Group signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Boston Dynamics to deploy more than 1,000 additional Stretch robots globally, building on a collaboration that began in 2018. Stretch, designed for case handling, was first used by DHL for container unloading and has achieved rates up to 700 cases per hour, while reducing physically demanding work in hot or cold trailers.
DHL Supply Chain introduced Stretch commercially in North America in 2023 and expanded to the UK and Europe. The partnership has included joint product development with end-to-end automation integrating conveyors and palletizers, as demonstrated in a UK project.
DHL plans to extend Stretch's use to case picking, described as the most labor-intensive activity within DHL Supply Chain. The company has invested over €1 billion in automation in its contract logistics division over the past three years and now operates more than 7,500 robots, 200,000 smart handheld devices, and nearly 800,000 IoT sensors. Over 90 percent of DHL warehouses worldwide have at least one automation or digitalization solution.
Why it mattered
This agreement signaled a shift from vendor-customer transactions to co-development models, where logistics operators provide real-world environments for testing and scaling robotics. It highlighted the growing role of mobile manipulation in logistics and the potential for standardized robotic platforms to address multiple use cases, setting a precedent for industry-wide adoption.
“Stretch is ideally suited to be the first multi-use case, box picking robot that can meet the diverse needs of DHL.”
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2025-05-13 · “DHL orders 1,000 additional robots from Boston Dynamics”