Implementation of collaborative robots in warehouse operations: a review, process framework and future research directions

Purpose Amid the swift integration of collaborative robots (cobots) in operations management, our study offers an overarching perspective of their transformative role in warehousing. Design/methodology/approach We conduct a bibliometric-based systematic review of 80 articles using VOSviewer to map keyword co-occurrence and thematic clusters in a conceptual way. Findings Four thematic clusters are identified and mapped to sensing (strategic orientation, organizational drivers and moderators), seizing (adoption decisions and human–cobot operational design) and transforming (implementation mechanisms, enablers and barriers) to realize value through practices and outcomes. The resulting framework integrates 10 interdependent building blocks, explaining how capability alignment rather than technology deployment alone drives sustained operational performance. Practical implications Managers can employ this proposed framework, including its 10 blocks as a feasible roadmap to facilitate transitions toward efficient cobot-enabled warehouse automation. Originality/value This study contributes a structured synthesis of a fragmented literature, articulates a staged process logic for cobot adoption in warehousing and integrates operational, organizational and contextual factors into a unified framework.