Warehouse Robots

Companies like Ford and Amazon have recently begun the implementation of a new type of workforce: robots. COVID-19 altered the retail world in drastic ways, and one of the greatest changes the pandemic brought was the way spenders behave. In times of crisis, like we have seen in other cases such as the recession of 2008, consumers suspend the purchases of goods that aren’t crucial to their safety or survival. Clothing and cosmetic products see a steep decline, with buyers stocking up on necessities like sanitation products and food that can be stored for a long time, such as canned goods. Many retail companies are hit hard by this tight spending, which emphasizes even more the need for efficient, cheap output. 

COVID-19 directly impacted retail companies’ workforce when workers fell ill to the virus, and government mandated COVID protocols made it difficult, if not impossible, for employees to do their physical jobs. It seems as if retail companies were made painfully aware of the humanity of their employees, creating the demand for workers who do not need sick days or distancing protocols. So, big players like Amazon have recently followed in the footsteps of other e-commerce giants like China’s Alibaba or JD.com to implement the use of robots in their warehouses. 

Amazon claims that their robots are to reduce employee accidents, as warehouse workers are tasked with lifting and moving heavy orders that have proven dangerous. The robots are able to swiftly transport boxes without the possibility of human error, which as a result, has cut hundreds of workers out of their jobs. Robots, unlike people, don’t demand pay increases, don’t get sick, and work at a significantly more efficient rate. To retail giants like Amazon, this is a gold mine of a workforce, eliminating the need for the disposable workforce many big companies rely on. 

The “disposable workforce” in America is at the heart of many retail companies; they are generally paid very low, often have not obtained college degrees or sometimes even high school degrees, and are responsible for the majority of the workforce for retail giants like Walmart, Amazon, and Target. The possibility creeping in that robots are the face of new retail and e-commerce poses a major threat for the disposable workforce, as they would be the employees replaced. 

According to CNBC’s article on Amazon’s new robots, “Bert” and “Ernie,” “Amazon said these types of robots could take over workers’ tasks of moving empty packages across facilities so they can focus on activities requiring critical thinking skills and reduce physically strenuous work.” The problem with this statement is that many of these workers will likely not be moved to a position with greater critical thinking skills, but instead fired and replaced with more educated workers in the eyes of Amazon. This new venture, disguised as a way to make their employees’ lives easier, will instead result in a devastating loss of jobs. While it will undeniably increase efficiency and productivity for retail companies, it may create a difficult decision for many smaller businesses: join the robotic retail movement while stalling behind competitors or reduce the humanity of their workforce.