Swedish Robotics Firm Rebl Signs RaaS Deals With H&M, IKEA
Swedish robotics firm Rebl Industries has secured pivotal Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) agreements with global retail giants H&M and IKEA, signaling a significant push to integrate advanced automation into their worldwide supply chains. The landmark deals will see Rebl’s AI-powered robots deployed under comprehensive framework agreements, expanding their reach across the international retail landscape.
Rebl Industries, founded in 2018 and backed by the Pulsen Group since 2021, has carved a niche in the automation sector by offering a disruptive RaaS model. Unlike traditional automation, Rebl’s approach allows customers to pay for the work performed by the robots rather than requiring a substantial upfront investment in hardware. This innovative model aims to make robotic automation more accessible, faster, and more cost-effective, with robots becoming operational within weeks. Their AI-powered machines are equipped with proprietary software and advanced sensors, enabling them to identify, pick, move, and load unsorted goods of varying sizes and packaging in real time. These robots are specifically designed to automate arduous and repetitive tasks such as sorting, palletizing, and depalletizing, thereby relieving human warehouse staff from physically demanding work and enhancing overall efficiency and precision.
H&M has already been leveraging Rebl’s robotic solutions, with their AI-powered robots deployed in its Nordics online sales warehouse in Sweden since the summer of 2024. This initial implementation has yielded positive results, improving production predictability and efficiency, and the fashion retailer is now planning to expand their use to additional locations. H&M has a documented history of embracing automation and AI to optimize its supply chain, having previously utilized robotic fulfillment systems from providers like GreyOrange for omnichannel order fulfillment, picking, and sorting. The company has also invested in warehouse automation, RFID technology, and AI-driven analytics to enhance demand forecasting, streamline inventory management, and boost sustainability across its operations.
Similarly, IKEA has long been at the forefront of implementing advanced logistics and automation. The Swedish furniture behemoth has invested significantly in technology to enhance its warehousing and distribution strategies, employing automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and predictive analytics to manage high volumes of orders with speed and accuracy. Previous initiatives include piloting automated drone solutions for warehouse inventory checks with Verity and modernizing facilities with automated systems from Mecalux to achieve high order picking rates. The partnership with Rebl Industries marks a natural progression in IKEA’s ongoing commitment to a highly automated and efficient global supply chain.
These agreements underscore a broader industry trend where AI and robotics are rapidly transforming retail logistics and warehousing. The global supply chain management market, projected to reach $30.91 billion by 2026, is witnessing increased investment in technologies that optimize every link in the chain. AI-powered solutions are revolutionizing warehouse operations by improving inventory movement, reducing labor costs, and increasing throughput, while RaaS models are democratizing access to these sophisticated tools for companies of all sizes. By automating routine and physically taxing duties, robots not only boost operational efficiency but also create safer and more ergonomic workplaces for human employees, allowing them to focus on more strategic and value-adding tasks.
To spearhead its global expansion, Rebl Industries has appointed Nicholas Tengelin as its first external CEO, tasked with industrializing and scaling the company’s solutions worldwide. As retailers continue to navigate complex global supply chains and rising consumer expectations for faster, more reliable deliveries, the strategic adoption of AI-powered robotics through flexible RaaS models is becoming an imperative, reshaping the future of retail logistics.