Warehouse robot buyer's checklist
A free, printable guide for warehouse ops and procurement teams evaluating AMRs, AGVs, pick-assist, or pallet movers — before the first vendor demo.
Last updated August 2026
When to use this checklist
- Before scheduling vendor demos or sending an RFP
- When shortlisting AMR vs AGV vs pick-assist for a specific workflow
- When planning a 60–90 day pilot or comparing buy, lease, and RaaS
PickTheRobot is buyer-side research — not a dealer, integrator, or deployment consultant. We help you shortlist robot types and vendors; always confirm pricing, safety requirements, and deployment scope on site.
Warehouse robot buyer's checklist
Use this before vendor demos. Each step links to a deeper guide on PickTheRobot — print or share with ops and procurement.
Define the workflow problem
Start from pain — transport vs picking vs pallet moves — not from a vendor catalog.
Measure volume and floor size
Orders per day, picks per day, and facility area drive ROI and fleet sizing.
Shortlist robot types
AMR, AGV, pick-assist, and pallet movers solve different layout and load profiles.
Check layout stability
Changing pick paths favor AMRs; fixed pallet lanes may favor AGVs or pallet movers.
Confirm WMS / integration readiness
Pick-assist and fleet software need a clear WMS or middleware path before scale.
Choose buy, lease, or RaaS
Match acquisition model to capex appetite, utilization certainty, and pilot risk.
Budget beyond hardware
Include mapping, charging, integration, training, and first-year software renewals.
Shortlist 3–5 vendors
Compare vendors on the same robot type and acquisition model before demos.
Plan a 60–90 day pilot
One workflow, measurable KPIs: travel time, picks per hour, uptime, and incident rate.
Run the matcher
Sanity-check fit scores and vendor matches from your operational inputs.
Quick decision tree
A starting point before vendor demos — validate with the matcher and a site walkthrough.
Layout changes frequently? → Often AMR for dynamic transport
Fixed, repetitive pallet lane? → Often AGV or pallet mover
Picking / walking is the bottleneck? → Consider pick-assist
Unproven utilization or tight capex? → Pilot with RaaS first
Questions to ask vendors on the first call
Copy these into your RFP or discovery notes — they surface fit, mapping, and total cost early.
- Which reference sites match our order volume, layout, and WMS stack?
- What robot type do you recommend for our primary pain point — and what would you rule out?
- What is the all-in first-year cost (hardware, software, integration, training)?
- What WMS or middleware integrations are included vs billable?
- What does a 60–90 day pilot include — fleet size, SLA, swap units, and success metrics?
- How do buy, lease, and RaaS quotes compare for our utilization profile?
- What aisle widths, Wi-Fi, and charging infrastructure do you require?
- Who owns safety sign-off, traffic rules, and operator training on our site?
- What uptime and response-time SLA applies after go-live?
- What happens at contract end — buyout, refresh, or fleet return terms?
What this checklist does not cover
- Site-specific safety sign-off, traffic rules, and union or labor agreements
- Detailed integration quotes, electrical work, and facility modifications
- Vendor-specific SLAs and performance guarantees — validate in writing on every deal
Related guides
Warehouse robot checklist FAQs
AMR or AGV for a warehouse?
AMRs fit dynamic transport when layouts or pick paths change. AGVs or pallet movers often fit fixed, repetitive pallet lanes. Compare robot types before comparing brands — see our AMR vs AGV guide.
How long does a warehouse robot pilot take?
Many AMR pilots target 60–90 days on one workflow. AGV or infrastructure-heavy projects often take longer. Integration depth and WMS connectivity usually drive the timeline more than robot count.
What should I ask vendors on the first call?
Use the ten questions in this checklist — reference sites, workflow fit, WMS path, pilot terms, and all-in first-year cost matter more than unit list price alone.
Is RaaS better for a first warehouse robot pilot?
RaaS or lease often lowers upfront risk when utilization is unproven. Purchase can win on stable, high-utilization fleets — compare both with the same utilization assumptions.