Russian Marketplaces Ramp Up Robotics to Automate Logistics and Fulfillment

Major e-commerce players in Russia, including the Wildberries-Russ group, are betting big on automation—aiming to reduce human error and boost warehouse efficiency.

Russia’s leading online marketplaces are rapidly deploying robotics and automation to modernize their logistics and fulfillment networks. Tatiana Kim, CEO of the newly formed Wildberries-Russ group, said the use of AI in warehouse operations is expected to increase from 30% to 70% over the next two years.

Last year, the company invested 150 billion rubles in logistics and IT infrastructure. In 2025, that figure will double. Robots are tireless, highly accurate, and less expensive to operate than human workers—qualities that make them ideal for 24/7 logistics environments.

But Kim emphasizes that automation doesn’t mean job losses. Instead, she envisions a shift in roles. 'People remain at the center of the economy,' she said, noting that employees will transition into supervisory and operator roles, managing fleets of intelligent machines with a sense of engagement and control.

The popularity of marketplaces in Russia continues to soar. By the end of last year, their combined warehouse footprint had reached parity with that of traditional retail.

Soon, robots will dominate nearly every stage of the delivery chain—from sorting to last-mile logistics—reshaping how goods move across the country.