Adaptive automation reshaping warehouse performance with scalable, human-guided robotics.
Erik, you’ve spent decades shaping the robotics industry before founding Plus One Robotics. What personal motivations or industry gaps led you to launch the company?
During my time at Yaskawa, I noticed a recurring challenge in logistics: while robots could handle structured, repetitive tasks in manufacturing, warehouses dealing with mixed parcels and unpredictable volumes struggled. I wanted to create a solution that didn’t just automate a single task but could adapt to real-world variability. It was about building technology that enhances human capability. Helping people work smarter, not replacing them.
Warehouses and e-commerce operations face constant pressure from returns, reroutes, and delivery delays. How do you see these challenges reshaping logistics strategies today?
Returns, sometimes referred to as reverse logistics, and delivery delays are forcing warehouses to rethink how they operate. Companies can’t just optimize for efficiency anymore; they require adaptability. AI-driven robotics, paired with humans handling exceptions, allows operations to scale without bottlenecks. The focus is shifting from static processes to dynamic systems that can respond in real time to disruptions.
How does Plus One’s human-in-the-loop approach make warehouse operations more effective than relying only on automation or human labor?
Machines are fast, precise, and ideal for high-volume, repetitive tasks. But they aren’t naturally adaptable when something unexpected happens, like a crushed box, a double label, or an oddly shaped parcel. Humans, on the other hand, are versatile problem-solvers, but they’re slower on repetitive tasks. By combining the two, we create a system that leverages the strengths of both. Robots handle the predictable, high-volume work, while humans intervene only when exceptions arise.
This approach is designed to be flexible and scalable. Even during global shipping disruptions or unexpected bottlenecks, human oversight can be applied remotely or across multiple systems, ensuring that operations continue smoothly without slowing throughput or adding on-site labor. Essentially, it’s a partnership: humans focus on problem-solving and judgment, while machines handle repetitive processing. The result is a more efficient and adaptable operation capable of handling the real-world complexity of modern logistics.
Robots can process parcels at incredible speed, yet exceptions like damaged boxes or irregular packages still require intervention. How does your human-in-the-loop model resolve these scenarios without disrupting throughput?
Exceptions will always happen. But when customers are leveraging robots as part of their day-to-day operations and relying on them to hit KPIs, they truly cannot afford to be stalled with the frequent exceptions that are common in the material handling space. Yonder is the solution to that.
Too many clients have deployed robots and dealt with this downtime in very costly ways, leading to poor experiences and inability to rely on automation…we keep the human in the loop to ensure that is not the case when someone deploys Plus One Robotics.
Many fear that automation displaces workers. How do you explain the role of robotics in shifting staff toward higher-value tasks rather than eliminating jobs?
Automation frees humans from repetitive, physically demanding work, allowing them to focus on problem-solving and oversight. Many warehouse operators struggle to hire enough workers to meet demand, with 73% reporting they cannot source sufficient labor. In this context, a single human can now supervise multiple robotic systems, stepping in only when exceptions occur. This not only makes operations more efficient but also creates higher-value roles, reduces physical strain, and allows staff to contribute their expertise in meaningful ways. Essentially, people move from performing repetitive tasks to guiding and improving the system, leveraging human judgment where it matters most.
Accuracy is as important as speed in logistics. How does blending human oversight with AI-driven robotics reduce costly errors across the supply chain?
Humans act as a real-time check on AI decisions. Even the most sophisticated vision systems can misinterpret a package or make a suboptimal pick. Our human-in-the-loop model allows staff to verify exceptions and correct errors instantly. This creates a feedback loop where AI learns from human interventions, steadily improving performance and minimizing downstream mistakes. Over time, it reduces errors while keeping throughput high.
Scaling automation requires trust from operators and clients. What steps has Plus One taken to ensure both usability and reliability in real-world warehouse environments?
Trust today leads to scale tomorrow. No one will roll out more robots if they don’t trust the first ones to do the job. The trust that operations is looking for is built on a couple of elements. First, is the robot reliable? Meaning, does it keep running or is it often down for maintenance or alarms? The best way to ensure reliability is to deploy standard pre-engineered machines and avoid bespoke custom systems. Second, is it easy to start up/recover the system? You will want to ensure the system has an easy HMI and a human-in-the-loop for exception handling. Third, trust comes from strong in-person support when the need arises. Pick a partner that has sufficient footprint and experience to show up when you need them.With fluctuations and unpredictability in parcel volumes worldwide, how do you see AI and robotics evolving to handle the increasing complexity of fulfillment and returns?
I expect AI vision to continue advancing, handling increasingly unstructured environments with precision. We’ll see more hybrid human-robot workflows, where robots manage scale and humans focus on nuance. Additionally, middle-mile automation, like self-driving trucks, will reduce bottlenecks and allow warehouses to operate more dynamically. Adaptability is key. Robots will need to learn and react in real time to maintain efficiency as complexity grows.
You’ve worked extensively in robotics policy and industry leadership. How do you see regulations and standards shaping the next phase of warehouse automation?
Standards ensure safety, interoperability and trust. Clear guidelines around AI ethics and human-robot collaboration will accelerate adoption while keeping operations responsible. Companies can innovate faster when regulation and technology progress together.
What excites me most is the growing sophistication of human-robot teams. We’re entering a phase where robots aren’t just tools; they’re collaborators, capable of handling variability and complexity while humans provide judgment and creativity. At Plus One, we want to lead this transformation, building systems that are flexible, scalable, and human-centered, so warehouses can meet rising demands without sacrificing accuracy or workforce engagement.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of robotics in logistics, and how do you envision Plus One Robotics contributing to that transformation?
What excites me most is the growing sophistication of human-robot teams. We’re entering a phase where robots aren’t just tools; they’re collaborators, capable of handling variability and complexity while humans provide judgment and creativity. At Plus One, we want to lead this transformation, building systems that are flexible, scalable, and human-centered, so warehouses can meet rising demands without sacrificing accuracy or workforce engagement.
Erik Nieves
CEO and co-founder, Plus One Robotics
Erik Nieves is co-founder and CEO of Plus One Robotics, a software company developing 3D and AI-powered vision software for robots in logistics automation. Prior to Plus One, Erik was Technology Director for Yaskawa Motoman Robotics where he was responsible for the technology roadmap and emerging applications. During his 25+ year tenure at Yaskawa, Erik held a variety of leadership positions in the U.S. and abroad. Erik serves on the board at Robotics Industries Association (RIA) and is a frequent speaker and contributor to public policy on robotics.
