Brownfield Logistics Automation with Goods-to-Person Robotics

Fives has signed a strategic agreement with Agorando Technologies GmbH to automate and upgrade an existing brownfield logistics site in Germany, transitioning operations from manual handling to a robotic goods-to-person architecture scheduled for deployment in the third quarter of 2026.

Transition from manual to automated fulfillment
Agorando’s facility modernization focuses on replacing manual order preparation with a smart goods-to-person system designed for higher throughput and operational consistency. The project reflects a broader trend among logistics operators to retrofit existing warehouses rather than build new greenfield sites, driven by space constraints, rising labor costs, and the need to scale e-commerce fulfillment capacity quickly.

The solution is delivered by Fives and combines robotic automation with conventional material handling technologies, enabling incremental modernization without disrupting the existing building structure.

Proven deployment in brownfield environments
The project represents the third deployment of Fives’ Caja goods-to-person robotics solution in Germany. Repeated adoption within the same market indicates that the system has moved beyond pilot-scale innovation toward standardized use in operational environments.

Unlike automation concepts designed primarily for new-build warehouses, the Caja solution is engineered to integrate into constrained and pre-existing layouts. This adaptability is particularly relevant for brownfield facilities where ceiling heights, column grids, and legacy conveyor systems limit automation options.

System architecture and performance scope
The automated system is designed to operate within a 1,500 m² footprint and is tailored to Agorando’s inventory profile and order flow characteristics. Approximately 75% of the operation will be driven by the Caja goods-to-person robotics layer, which handles storage, retrieval, and presentation of items to operators.

The robotic core is integrated with Fives’ conveyor technology and proprietary packaging software, forming a unified intralogistics ecosystem. This end-to-end integration supports continuous material flow from inbound storage through picking and packing to outbound shipping, reducing handover points and system fragmentation.

Goods-to-person operation minimizes walking distances for operators and decouples picking productivity from storage layout. This supports consistent throughput under fluctuating order volumes and varying SKU mixes, which are typical in e-commerce fulfillment.




Enabling strategic business expansion
Historically focused on media logistics, Agorando is using this automation project to support its strategic transition toward general e-commerce fulfillment. Handling a broader product range requires flexible storage, rapid order consolidation, and the ability to scale processing capacity without proportional increases in labor.

The modular nature of the Caja robotics solution allows incremental expansion as order volumes grow, aligning capital investment with demand while preserving operational continuity.

Integration and deployment timeline
Fives acts as system integrator for the project, combining robotics, conveyors, software, and controls into a single coordinated system. This integration role is critical in brownfield contexts, where new automation must interface reliably with existing infrastructure and operational processes.

Deployment is scheduled for Q3 2026, with the phased implementation designed to limit disruption to ongoing fulfillment activities.

Application context
The Agorando project illustrates how goods-to-person robotics can be applied effectively in brownfield logistics facilities to modernize operations, improve picking efficiency, and support business model transformation. For logistics operators facing similar constraints, the project demonstrates that scalable automation is not limited to new-build warehouses but can be engineered into existing sites through integrated system design and flexible robotics architectures.