McKinsey Talks Operations The robotics revolution: Scaling beyond the pilot phase
Jun 24, 2025
Ani Kelkar, a Partner at McKinsey & Company based in Boston, discusses the transformative impact of robotics and automation on industry. He and industry experts tackle challenges like integration hurdles and the perception of risk, while highlighting innovations such as AI and digital twins that facilitate scalable solutions. They emphasize the importance of strategic investments in robotics, the critical role of workforce development, and how automation can enhance productivity without diminishing human roles.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Surging Interest But Scaling Challenges
- Robotics interest has surged five to six fold in the last 12 to 18 months due to advancing technology.
- Nonetheless, scaling beyond pilot programs remains challenging because of integration complexity and uncertain ROI.
Productivity Stalls Drive Robotics Need
- Industrial productivity has stagnated while labor shortages and skills gaps increase the need for robotics.
- New robots are more capable, flexible, and easier to program than earlier fixed-function automation.
Key Challenges for General Robots
- Achieving general-purpose robots requires mastering navigation, semantic understanding, and manipulation.
- Boston Dynamics has made strong advances in navigation but still works on understanding and manipulation challenges.