In the wake of a worker shortage, DHL is ramping up the use of robotics

DHL, with a global hub at the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, is spending $100 million on robotics to increase productivity and aid in a workforce shortage.

The logistics company emphasizes it is augmenting, not replacing workers.

“I see robots working side-by-side, because of the complexity of the tasks in most of the cases," says Klaus Dohrmann, VP of Innovations Europe. "For long-haul transportation, we see much more augmentation, supporting drivers and planners with technology like artificial intelligence; like virtual reality for drivers and so on.”

During a virtual and in-person presentation at its Chicago Innovation Center, DHL showed off its newest robot, the DoraSorter. She can sort 1,000 packages weighing up to 15 lbs. in one hour, an average of 3.6 seconds.