As businesses worldwide search for automation solutions, the rapid development of humanoid robots like Unitree’s G1, Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, Figure AI’s Figure 02, Apptronik’s Apollo, and Tesla’s Optimus has fueled anticipation. Yet, deploying these robots at scale remains elusive. Despite significant investments and heightened expectations, barriers involving cost, readiness, and technological complexity persist. Companies hoping to leverage these innovations for their supply chain and manufacturing needs are weighing feasibility against evolving alternatives. Past interest has fueled high expectations, but practical adoption faces persistent obstacles.
Market assessments conducted during the last two years signaled cautious optimism about humanoid robotics, noting a growing volume of prototypes but highlighting limited real-world adoption. Current projections echo those cautionary themes, showing little substantive change in deployment rates or capability breakthroughs. Instead, research consistently points toward slow and selective implementation, as companies and investors scrutinize the actual return on deploying humanoid models over more specialized robots in operational environments.
Which Companies Will Pursue Humanoid Robotics in the Near Term?
Industry analysts forecast that by 2028, only a small group of companies—fewer than 100—will move beyond trial phases into meaningful proof-of-concept work with humanoid robots. Fewer than 20 organizations are predicted to transition these robots into actual production settings. These deployments are likely confined to controlled environments where the challenges of variability and high throughput can be minimized. The robots in question, while capable of mimicking human movement, often struggle with cost, complicated integration, and meeting performance expectations for demanding logistics and manufacturing settings.
What Factors Limit Broader Adoption of Humanoid Robots?
Despite having advanced AI-driven systems and sensor networks, humanoid robots face hurdles in dexterity, flexibility, and operational endurance required in complex warehouses or factories. Analysts have flagged high capital requirements and integration obstacles as primary concerns for chief supply chain officers.
“The promise of humanoid robots is compelling, but the reality is that the technology remains immature and far from meeting expectations for versatility and cost-effectiveness,”
said Abdil Tunca, a senior principal analyst. Battery life limitations and ongoing maintenance costs also make companies hesitant to commit resources to this technology in its current state.
Are Polyfunctional Robots a More Practical Choice for Supply Chains?
Analysts now increasingly consider polyfunctional robots—mobile machines such as Diligent Robotics’ Moxi, Kinisi Robotics’ Kinisi 01, Humanoid’s HMND 01, and RoboForce’s Titan—to be a more viable automation path for most businesses. These robots, designed for specific operational efficiency without being bound to human form, are reported to deliver better performance in tasks such as box manipulation, inventory scanning, and inspections.
“For the majority of companies that will need to prioritize robots that maximize throughput-per-dollar invested, we expect polyfunctional robots to be the superior solution,”
according to Caleb Thomson, a senior director analyst. Such solutions reportedly exhibit higher uptime and reduced energy use alongside better integration into today’s automated supply chains.
Industry consultants advise companies to limit up-front commitments to humanoid deployments, recommending pilot projects, ongoing data collection, and flexible partnerships with providers. Investing in targeted automation to address specific operational challenges—rather than broad workforce replacement—may yield more sustainable and measurable returns.
Business leaders and investors will need to adjust their automation strategies in line with these realities. Although humanoid robots will remain a focal point for research and marketing, their commercial prospects are likely to trail behind their specialized and polyfunctional counterparts through the next few years. Companies aiming for successful robotics integration will benefit from a practical, risk-managed approach and should track improvements in both technologies. Understanding the strengths and shortcomings of current humanoid models—relative to alternative robots—can help organizations allocate resources more effectively, optimize operational productivity, and keep automation goals grounded in practical results.
