DHL Supply Chain has paid $15 million for a fleet of Stretch robots from Boston Dynamics for its North American warehouse operation, making it the company’s first commercial customer. 

Under the multi-year agreement, the 50 pound-capacity robots will be delivered to automate box-moving functions around DHL warehouses. DHL will begin using them for unloading trucks at some of its facilities. 

DHL plans to deploy the Stretch robots this spring and will gradually scale them to complete new tasks over several of its facilities over the next few years.

The company is committed to continuous innovation and digital transformation to optimize the end-to-end supply chain, said Sally Miller, CIO of DHL Supply Chain North America.

“Investing in warehouse automation plays an important role in increasing operational efficiency and improving service for our customers,” she said. “We’re excited to partner with Boston Dynamics to deploy its best-in-class robotics in our warehouses. The Stretch robot addresses complex industry challenges through flexible automation, which we’ll be able to replicate and scale regionally and globally.”