Chinese robotics firm Geek+ has become the world's largest supplier of autonomous mobile warehouse robots, with more than 2,000 of its units already deployed across 10 UK sites via its partner MotionTech. Major British retailers including Tesco, Asda and Next now use the technology, which sees squat floor robots glide beneath storage racks and carry shelves to human workers, speeding up picking, improving storage efficiency and reducing errors. This matters because the UK has suffered weak productivity growth for over a decade, and analysts see robotics adoption as key to reversing that trend, particularly amid persistent labour shortages.

Unlike traditional warehouse automation, which needs fixed conveyor systems, Geek+'s robots can be deployed using only QR code floor markers and safety fencing, making them faster and cheaper to install. Geek+ listed in Hong Kong in 2025 in one of the year's biggest robotics share sales, and Britain is now its largest European market. The OECD's 2026 report on SME technology adoption called the UK's low uptake of robotics "surprising" given its manufacturing heritage, noting firms lag in this area despite embracing other digital tools. The TUC, representing almost six million workers, has urged that automation be used to boost productivity and improve jobs rather than simply cut costs, calling for worker involvement and retraining investment.