Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are deployed across numerous industrial environments and help automate a range of tasks. While these robots operate without the need for human intervention, proper planning and preparation are still essential for successful deployment. Following the best practices below will ensure your company optimizes the profitability of your AMR investment.
AMRs are deployed in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and other industrial settings. They move materials, pick, stack, and perform other “menial” tasks that free up humans to work on more complex jobs. They also work alongside humans and, in these scenarios, are called collaborative robots (or, cobots).
Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and AMRs are often lumped into the same category, but guided vehicles follow a fixed route, while AMRs can adapt and respond to their environment. That makes them infinitely more useful in scenarios like automotive manufacturing and warehousing, where the environment can change rapidly.
As AMRs are improving all the time, having a “set it and forget it” approach is rarely wise. Floor managers need to understand the safety features of their mobile robots, how human personnel will interact with them, and how to identify potential hazards that could interfere with the safe operation of AMRs.
The relevant standards surrounding the use of AMRs within various industries, such as ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025, are also constantly shifting. Employing future-proof best practices helps ensure you’re always compliant and working with the safety of your teams in mind.
From automated industrial trucks to robotic pickers, your AMRs should support your productivity and profitability. These 10 AMR deployment best practices help ensure that:
AMRs are only a good investment if they take over a substantial amount of work or increase productivity in some way. Focus on deploying AMRs in repetitive, transport-heavy workflows. These may include point-to-point movement of materials, line-side deliveries, or returns handling.
Deploying AMRs merely as a technology-first initiative to move ahead of competitors or improve your firm’s brand reputation could be a costly mistake. Align the integration of all automation technologies with business goals.
Any AMR vendor will need to understand the payload weight and dimensions you’re expecting AMRs to handle. Also, clearly note how far robots will travel and how often.
You should also consider the environmental factors and how they impact the required AMR features, such as obstacle detection. Some mobile robots may be able to cope with different textured floors and slopes but may struggle to detect obstacles such as moving people. Your AMR vendor should be able to help you find the right robotics solutions for a variety of environments.
Safety is a top concern when integrating any new technology. Built-in AMR safety features may include sensors, cameras, and automated emergency stop systems. Don’t wait for problems to arise before implementing these. Ask your vendor to include them from day one, based on your risk assessments of shared human-robot spaces.
Regularly reassess the success of existing safety features and whether upgrades are required, and regularly liaise with your vendor or other partners to ensure these are integrated swiftly.
All employees should be trained on the safe operation of AMRs. As well as keeping personnel informed, this helps build trust between human teams and AMRs such as driverless industrial trucks. Training can include moving carefully around the robots, not interfering with their operation, and reporting problems immediately.
Consider having a dedicated safety specialist or manager to collate reports and own issues surrounding AMR safety. Safety inspections should become a regular aspect of life with AMRs and should be documented carefully.
As AMR technology and workflows evolve, continuous training will help ensure everyone stays up to speed with changes. Ensure you have clearly defined roles within your internal teams and any partners, such as your AMR vendor and integrator.
Just because an AMR vendor offers the most features and services doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for your organization. The capabilities of robots should match real-life tasks within your industrial or warehousing setting. Consider facility compatibility with AMRs, such as the layout and size of the area, and how widespread connectivity is throughout the building.
The right AMR vendor should also understand the relevant safety standards for your industry. There are numerous AMR safety standards, and businesses operating globally may have to comply with local and international regulations. The right partner will understand this and support your team’s AMR strategy accordingly. Look for vendors that offer long-term support.
AMR deployment requires careful mapping of high-traffic and high-risk zones and the design of routes that robots can follow efficiently. This efficiency should, however, always be balanced with safe human interaction.
Aim for route designs that can be redesigned as required to avoid obstacles in real-time.
Infrastructure bottlenecks can slow the productivity of AMRs, making them largely redundant. Ensure you have the right facilities to charge and deploy robots, making them available as and when required.
Network reliability and software integration are also top concerns and should be in peak condition before the deployment of AMRs.
Beyond physical infrastructure, software plays a critical role in supporting reliable AMR operations. A warehouse control system (WCS) can serve as the connective layer between AMRs, material handling equipment, and higher-level systems like a WMS or WES.
Platforms such as BoxLogix’s Logix WCS are designed to provide real-time visibility into equipment status, workflows, and exceptions, helping teams identify bottlenecks, respond quickly to issues, and maintain uptime as automation scales. By enabling vendor-agnostic integration and centralized control, a WCS helps reduce operational risk while allowing facilities to adapt as processes and automation strategies evolve.
Test your AMRs in small, controlled deployments before scaling up. Validate their success via KPIs like throughput, uptime, and labor impact. Gather feedback and reports from personnel working alongside robots to quickly uncover and handle any issues.
Pilot schemes allow you to refine workflows before expanding your fleet of AMRs. Always record what’s worked well and what aspects require improvement before pumping money into large-scale deployments.
Plan or adapt your facility to accommodate the possibility of larger-scale deployments. Seasonal peaks or layout changes could lead to a larger requirement for AMRs in the near future. Have contingencies in place to manage heavier traffic, more complex coordination, and potential congestion.
AMRs excel in numerous environments, such as large warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing floors, agricultural facilities, and some healthcare settings.
However, some scenarios are better served by fixed automation, such as AGVs or similar technologies. Smaller environments where a fixed route is more useful may benefit from an AGV. Disinfection robots in some hospitals, for example, may need to follow the same route daily for hygiene purposes.
Consider which technology suits your facility best, and whether AMRs can be part of a broader automation strategy.
Getting to grips with safety requirements, potential risks, and use case identification isn’t something you need to struggle with on your own. An experienced AMR partner can help you understand the types of AMRs best suited to your facility and how best to deploy them.
Talk to the experts at BoxLogix about your AMR strategy and turnkey materials handling solutions.
AMRs are best suited for environments with repetitive, transport-heavy workflows and enough scale to justify automation. Facilities should evaluate task frequency, travel distances, layout variability, and labor constraints, then assess whether AMRs align with broader operational and business goals rather than serving as a technology-first initiative.
AMRs excel at point-to-point material transport, line-side deliveries, replenishment, returns handling, and goods-to-person workflows. These tasks benefit from AMRs’ ability to navigate dynamically changing environments and reduce manual travel for human workers.
AMR deployments are governed by evolving safety standards that address human-robot interaction, system design, and operational safeguards. Facilities must stay current with applicable industry and regional regulations and conduct ongoing risk assessments to ensure safe operation as workflows and technologies change.
Successful AMR deployment requires reliable network connectivity, clearly defined traffic routes, charging infrastructure, and software systems capable of integrating with existing warehouse operations. Supporting systems should provide real-time visibility and control to prevent bottlenecks and maintain uptime as robot fleets scale.
Common issues include unclear use-case definition, underestimating infrastructure requirements, insufficient employee training, and attempting to scale too quickly. Treating AMRs as a “set it and forget it” solution rather than part of an evolving automation strategy can also limit long-term performance and ROI.