Eurofound Survey: Are robots revolutionising work in Europe?

At the heart of its involvement in the robotics ecosystem, SCALLOG has just participated in Eurofound’s European study, carried out by Open Evidence on the theme “Are robots revolutionizing work in Europe? “. Lucie Lechardoy, Research Manager of Open Evidence, takes the floor and tells us more about the trends and impact of robotics in European companies.

Carried out by Open Evidence, a research and consulting firm, under the impetus of EUROFOUND, the  European agency in charge of studying working conditions, quality of life and business practices, a European study was conducted among a panel of players, of all sizes and sectors, on the impact of advanced robotics in their organizations,  their practices and working conditions. This survey, which is at the heart of Eurofound’s priorities to identify the major issues related to social cohesion and transitions in a changing economic environment, aims to show the opportunities and challenges related to a closer interaction between humans and robots. In addition, it raises the question of automation as a lever for increasing productivity that could revolutionize the economy and the labor market in Europe. As part of this survey, Open Evidence set out to conduct various case studies in several European countries, including France, from SMEs to mid-caps, and to interview different profiles, from managers to trade unionists and robotics manufacturers including SCALLOG. Among the companies that have been solicited  is Polyflame, a  French importer of lighters and accessories dedicated to smokers, which in 2022 chose SCALLOG’s Goods to Person robotic solution to automate its order preparation in its new warehouse!

What are the key factors driving the rise of robotics in Europe?

For all the companies surveyed that use robotics for a wide variety of needs, from logistics to cleaning to catering, it must optimize productivity and costs, while improving processes and quality of work. Robotics must also improve Quality of Life and Working Conditions (QWL), by eliminating arduous tasks and valuing employees. The companies surveyed highlight that there is currently a shortage of labour coupled with high labour costs in Europe which are accelerating the robotisation of physical and manual tasks. Proof of this is the SCALLOG solution that has enabled Polyflame to triple its productivity: its logistics operators can now process 100 order lines per hour, which makes it possible to meet the promise of delivery in less than 48 hours and to reduce preparation costs by 10%.

What are the key factors that ensure the success of a robotization?

Robotization is a multi-step project that requires a gradual process. It is essential from the upstream phase to involve the user employees, the social partners, to carry out a “good” risk analysis and to calibrate the robotic solution according to the needs of the company. In addition, this project must be carried out by the management that evangelizes, involves and gets employees to adhere to the robotic transformation. The “right” interactions between humans and machines must be imagined so that employees are confident and, above all, trained. Robotics is no longer considered a threat, from the fear of using it to the fear of being replaced, it becomes an ally of employees who use innovative technology and value their skills. Aware of the importance of employee buy-in, Polyflame has set about the best possible change management: training by SCALLOG of ambassadors in charge of transmitting “good” practices and “good” processes to all and support at all stages for rapid acceptance. Today, Polyflame employees are in favour of the SCALLOG solution, which is user-friendly and even fun, and makes their daily tasks easier.

What are the impacts of robotization?

Robotic technology is often deployed during the creation of a new building or before a redevelopment; indeed, it requires the creation of a dedicated and, above all, protected space. With robotic technology, it is a question of reorganizing processes and “replacing a link” to optimize it. In all cases, robotics is changing practices and tasks; employees are interacting with robots. There are more supervision and control tasks that value the “intellectual work” of employees. In addition, the ergonomics of the robotic workstation generate less fatigue and stress or even mental load, even at high speeds such as in logistics. As part of the centralisation of its logistics in a new 9,000 m² warehouse – more than 50,000 annual orders, Polyflame, via the SCALLOG solution – 132 shelves transported by 8 robots to 2 picking stations, has multiplied its productivity by 3 – more than 100 lines per hour. It has also opened up to new channels – marketplaces, mass distribution, while reducing the arduousness of its operators’ work. Versatile, they benefit from frequent rotation and alternate tasks, without effort, fatigue or stress.

What are the main obstacles to robotization?

here are two of them: mistrust and financing, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. These two obstacles can be quickly removed today; Robotic solutions are becoming more and more accessible and support humans, not replace them. In addition, there are many schemes such as France 2030 that allow companies to access aid or even subsidies to robotize.

In the near future, interactions between robots and humans are expected to intensify, with the help of artificial intelligence, in particular, and in particular in the logistics sector, which is under pressure in many European countries. In the connected warehouse, the most repetitive and demanding tasks will be entrusted to “autonomous” robots equipped with sensors and boosted by AI; Value-added tasks for operators. According to Interact Analysis, “shelf-to-person” robots, such as the SCALLOG solution, have sold more than 40,000 in 2023 worldwide and this is just the beginning. In this “goods-to-person” market, the French company SCALLOG makes the difference, with more than 80 references already to its credit.

To read the full survey: Human-robot interaction: what does it mean for workplaces? | European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions