Accenture, Vodafone Procure & Connect and SAP are testing the use of humanoid robots in warehouse environments as part of a pilot project examining the role of physical artificial intelligence in supply chain operations.
The initiative is being presented at Hannover Messe 2026 and focuses on how robotics systems can be integrated into existing warehouse processes to improve efficiency, safety and operational visibility. The pilot was conducted at a Vodafone Procure & Connect warehouse in Duisburg, Germany, where humanoid robots were deployed alongside existing systems. The robots received inspection tasks through SAP’s Extended Warehouse Management platform and carried out autonomous visual assessments across the facility.
During the trial, the robots identified misplaced or damaged products, evaluated pallet stacking and weight distribution, and detected unused storage capacity. They also flagged safety risks, including obstacles in aisles and improperly aligned pallets. Findings were transmitted directly into the SAP system, allowing real-time monitoring and operational adjustments.
SAP oversaw the integration of the robotics systems into warehouse management software, while Accenture developed the robot intelligence and operational framework, including training environments based on digital twin technology.
According to Christian Souche, advanced robotics lead at Accenture, the use of humanoid robots trained in digital environments and powered by physical AI could reduce workplace injuries and lower reliance on temporary labor, while generating operational data for future deployment models.
Lukasz Ostrowski, head of embodied AI and robotics at SAP, said the system connects robots to enterprise processes and data, enabling automated safety reporting and inventory validation through standardized workflows.
Reinhard Stefan Plaza Bartsch, global network logistics director at Vodafone Procure & Connect, said the pilot is intended to assess how robotics could be scaled across supply chain operations and contribute to future business models.
The robots used in the project operate on Accenture’s “Robot Brain” system, which supports interaction with human workers through voice, gestures and text. They are trained using digital replicas of warehouse environments and employ simulation and reinforcement learning techniques to expand their capabilities beyond predefined tasks.
