Humanoid robots are moving into more real-world logistics operations as GXO Logistics and Agility Robotics expand their commercial partnership. Announced on October 26, 2026, the agreement will bring Agility's Digit humanoid robots to additional GXO facilities in North Carolina and Tennessee, extending a collaboration that has already tested humanoid automation in an active warehouse environment.
The expansion is significant because it moves the partnership beyond its original deployment site in Flowery Branch, Georgia. According to the companies, Digit robots have already moved more than 100,000 totes at that facility, performing repetitive material-handling work alongside existing warehouse automation systems.
Humanoid Robots Heading to More Warehouses
Under the expanded agreement, Digit robots are expected to support e-commerce fulfillment operations at GXO facilities in Statesville, North Carolina, and Lebanon, Tennessee. The robots will initially handle highly repetitive material-handling tasks that are common in large distribution and fulfillment centers.
Deployments are expected to begin in early 2027 using the existing Digit 4 platform. GXO and Agility plan to transition these deployments to Digit 5 when the newer humanoid robot becomes commercially available. This phased approach allows the companies to expand their existing operations while preparing for the next generation of robotic capabilities.
From Warehouse Pilot to Commercial Expansion
The partnership began with a proof-of-concept project in late 2023 at GXO's Flowery Branch facility. In June 2024, the companies signed a multi-year Robots-as-a-Service agreement, making the project an early commercial deployment of humanoid robots in a live logistics environment.
Under this model, Digit works alongside existing automation equipment, moving totes and placing them onto conveyors. Rather than replacing an entire warehouse operation, the robot is designed to take on specific repetitive tasks and integrate into established workflows. The expansion to additional facilities suggests that GXO sees potential in applying this approach across more of its logistics operations.
Why Digit Matters for Industrial Automation
Agility Robotics has reported more than 65,000 hours of real-world operation across its commercial deployments and customer programs. That operational experience has helped shape Digit 5, the company's next-generation humanoid robot, which was unveiled in September 2026 with an emphasis on working safely near people.
Digit 5 is designed to support a wider range of industrial workflows, while Agility's robot management platform helps coordinate fleets and integrate robots with existing warehouse systems. The company's broader strategy is to make humanoid robots useful in practical commercial environments rather than limiting them to demonstrations and controlled laboratory settings.
What This Means for the Future of Warehouse Robotics
The GXO expansion highlights a growing shift in robotics: companies are increasingly evaluating humanoid robots through operational performance, repeatability and their ability to fit into existing facilities. Warehouses are a particularly relevant testing ground because they involve repetitive lifting, moving containers and transporting materials between workstations.
However, broader adoption will depend on more than a successful pilot. Businesses must assess reliability, operating costs, maintenance, worker safety and the ability to integrate robots with existing systems. The planned 2027 deployments will provide another opportunity to evaluate how humanoid robots perform across multiple commercial locations.
For now, GXO's expanded agreement represents a meaningful step in the commercialization of humanoid robotics. If the deployments perform as expected, the partnership could provide a useful example of how general-purpose robots can gradually become part of everyday warehouse operations.
