Notes on data, AI, IT
and security
No marketing fog. The way I think about real problems with founders and managers.
Humanoid robots on the factory floor: 2025 pilots and the real status
Several companies have launched humanoid robot pilots in manufacturing. I break down what this means for managers thinking about automation.
Physical automation: the gap between pilot and production
Why robotic pilots look convincing but scaling hits a wall - and how to think about this before making an investment decision.
Humanoid robots in 2023: where the industry actually stands
A sober look at the state of humanoid robotics by the end of 2023: what is genuinely ready, what remains demonstration, and what to track.
RPA and industrial robots: why they get confused and how they differ
The word 'robot' means different things in IT and in manufacturing. I explain the difference between software robots and physical ones, and why that matters for decision-making.
Mobile robots in warehouse logistics: economics for managers
AMRs and AGVs are no longer only for large logistics centres. A breakdown of how to think about the economics of warehouse automation for mid-size companies.
Where RPA breaks: the process complexity ceiling
Robotic process automation delivers fast wins on simple, stable workflows. When processes have exceptions, it starts to cost more than it saves.
Warehouse automation: what is behind pick rate numbers
How to think through the economics of warehouse automation and why picking speed is not the main metric.
Cobots for small manufacturers: a realistic entry point into automation
Collaborative robots have changed the economics of factory automation for small and mid-size production companies. What is realistic to expect - and what the common mistakes are.
Robots kept running: what the pandemic tells us about automation
While factories shut down due to COVID-19 outbreaks among workers, automated lines kept operating. What this says about the case for robotics.
Autonomous mobile robots in the warehouse: running the economics
AMRs are no longer a future concept - they are a working tool. I look at when they pay off and when buying a robot turns out to be an expensive mistake.
Autonomous mobile robots in the warehouse: when it makes sense and when it does not
How to assess warehouse readiness for AMR deployment - without the marketing simplifications that robots will fix everything.
Cobots in mid-size manufacturing: economics and realistic expectations
What a manufacturing company executive should know before considering collaborative robots as an automation tool.