NEWS DHL & Boston Dynamics: Teaming up to scale robotics innovation

Our strategic partnership with Boston Dynamics aims to set new standards for automation in the logistics industry.

DHL Group and Boston Dynamics have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to intensify collaboration and deployment of new robotics solutions for logistics. The strategic agreement builds on years of successful collaboration and reflects our growing role in shaping the future of automation in logistics.

Our new partnership emphasizes co-development. We will work together to develop, test, and scale robotic solutions in real-world logistics environments. With our industry insights and experience, Boston Dynamics can develop solutions tailored to real logistics challenges.

This partnership model is part of our overall automation strategy, which aims to develop tailor-made solutions with new and established robotics partners rather than rely solely on off-the-shelf technologies.

This milestone builds on a collaboration that began in 2018 when we introduced “Stretch” into our DHL Supply Chain operations in North America. Designed to quickly and efficiently unload trucks or containers, Stretch can handle up to 700 boxes per hour, reducing physical strain for teams and boosting operational efficiency. 

The new agreement paves the way for the global deployment of more than 1,000 additional Stretch units. But more importantly, it marks a shift toward collaborative innovation where we play an active role in developing smarter solutions that address the unique challenges we face.

One key focus area will be case picking, which is one of the most labor-intensive supply chain tasks. This process involves selecting and moving entire cases of products, for example, to fulfill customer orders. Enhancing Stretch’s capabilities beyond unloading could make it the first true multi-use warehouse robot in the industry.

Over the past three years, DHL Group has invested over €1 billion in automation in our contract logistics operations alone. Today, over 7,500 robots, 200,00 smart handheld devices, and nearly 800,000 IoT sensors are in use across our global network. More than 90% of our warehouses feature at least one automated solution. These innovations not only enhance operations and working conditions, but they also deliver measurable value for our customers.

This latest agreement with Boston Dynamics is part of our broader strategy to scale robotics and automation across all business units and set new standards for smarter, more efficient logistics.