Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsAutoStore stores inventory in bins stacked inside a compact grid. When an order needs an item, robots travel on rails across the grid, retrieve the required bin and bring it to a fixed workstation, where an operator picks or replenishes stock. The bin then returns to storage. This is goods-to-person automation: inventory moves to the worker, rather than the worker walking through storage aisles to find it.
How an AutoStore system handles an order
- Inventory is stored in bins. Bins sit in vertical columns inside a cube-shaped grid. Robots move along rails on the grid’s upper surface; they do not roam open warehouse aisles. AutoStore describes the grid, robots and bins as the core storage and retrieval arrangement in its system overview and 2025 annual report.
- Software identifies the bin or bins to retrieve. An order and inventory data inform the request. The controller coordinates bin traffic and the system database, while warehouse software and its integration with the wider operation connect inventory requests to order processing.
- A robot accesses the requested bin. It travels across the grid to the relevant location and retrieves the bin. Because bins are stacked, reaching a bin lower in a column can require moving bins above it first. The exact movements depend on the request and installation.
- The robot delivers the bin to a port. A port is a fixed workstation where an operator can pick items into an order or replenish stock. Depending on the design, ports may also support tasks such as tagging, packing or dispatch-related handling.
- The bin returns to storage. After the workstation task, the robot returns the bin to the grid so the system can handle another request. Station layout, order batching and links to equipment such as conveyors vary by installation.
What the system is made of
| Component | What it does |
|---|---|
| Grid | An aluminum framework that holds bins in vertical stacks, with rails on top for robot travel. |
| Bins | Containers for stored inventory. AutoStore lists bin heights of 220 mm, 330 mm and 425 mm in its system overview. Toyota Automated Logistics describes capacity of up to 30 kg per bin; that figure is specific to Toyota’s description and should not be assumed for every configuration: Toyota Automated Logistics’ AutoStore overview. |
| Robots | Travel over the grid to retrieve and move bins. AutoStore lists four models—R5, R5+, R5 Pro and R5+ Pro—but does not make a model-by-model throughput comparison in the cited overview. |
| Ports | Fixed workstations for picking, replenishment and other configured handling. The operator stays at the station while bins are presented. |
| Controller and software | Coordinate robot and bin movements and connect system activity with inventory and warehouse order workflows. |
How layout and software shape the workflow
AutoStore is a storage-and-retrieval system, not a complete warehouse operation by itself. The number and placement of ports, how orders are grouped, how replenishment is scheduled, and how the system connects to warehouse management software and other material-handling equipment all affect how work proceeds.
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TTI’s central pick-tunnel example
In a customer case, TTI used a central tunnel beneath the grid, allowing robots to reach picking areas from either side rather than travel across the full installation. Pick ports were placed on both sides of the tunnel, while putaway ports sat at the grid perimeter. TTI’s bins could be subdivided to hold multiple SKUs, supporting additional order consolidation. Swisslog integrated the system with SynQ software and TTI’s warehouse management system; the case says SynQ supported bin retrieval as well as order allocation, prioritization, grouping and release. These are choices in TTI’s installation, not standard features of every AutoStore site. See AutoStore’s TTI case study.
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Other possible integrations
AutoStore describes configurations involving mezzanines, BinLifts, conveyors and picking technologies. These are examples of ways to design a wider warehouse workflow, not equipment included in every system. The installation’s interfaces and surrounding equipment depend on the site: AutoStore’s integration overview.
What published performance figures do—and do not—show
AutoStore’s 2025 annual report gives these figures for its systems: 99.7% worldwide uptime, 99.9% picking accuracy, throughput of 650 bin presentations per hour multiplied by the number of ports, and a fourfold space reduction versus conventional storage. These are company-reported figures, not guaranteed results for an individual facility. In particular, the throughput figure is stated as a rate per port multiplied by port count; it is not a promise of completed customer orders per hour.
TTI’s case study reports a 50% improvement in picking speed compared with TTI’s previous goods-to-person system. That is a customer-reported result for TTI’s comparison, not an industry-wide estimate for AutoStore or a forecast for another warehouse. The available figures do not establish a controlled, independent comparison across sites or competing systems.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to compare when evaluating a system
For a warehouse considering AutoStore or another fulfilment approach, compare the design against its own inventory, orders and building constraints. A headline throughput or density figure cannot substitute for that site-specific assessment.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- Required throughput for the actual order profile, including the number and type of ports needed.
- Storage density, usable building height, SKU characteristics and whether items fit the selected bins.
- Picking, replenishment and order-consolidation workflows, including workstation ergonomics.
- Warehouse software integration and how orders are allocated, prioritized, grouped and released.
- How the installation can expand, what disruption installation causes, and how it connects to conveyors or other equipment.
- Total project and lifecycle economics. The cited sources do not establish independent, audited ROI for a specific site.
The available material does not support a quantitative independent ranking of AutoStore against other AS/RS technologies. A fair comparison needs requirements and evidence for the particular facility rather than a universal winner.
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