More than seven in ten Russians expect that online orders will soon reach homes via autonomous robots rather than human couriers, according to a joint study conducted by SberMarket and Rusopros. The findings, reported by DEA News, reflect a growing optimism about robotics reshaping everyday shopping experiences across the country.
Data shows that 71.5% of respondents foresee grocery items being delivered by robots in the near future. Yet only 7.3% believe that mechanical couriers could completely replace human workers. The study highlights a cautious view: automation may transform delivery roles, but many sense that a total handoff to machines is not imminent for all types of orders.
Alongside these expectations, a majority of participants—64.2%—see a blended delivery model taking hold in Russia, where robotic and human delivery methods operate side by side. In contrast, 28.5% anticipate that future logistics will rely solely on couriers, indicating a spectrum of opinions about how fast fully automated systems will mature.
Consumer behavior signals a shift in how people engage with delivery services. Nearly 60% of buyers report changes in the interaction framework with couriers, suggesting that the direct involvement of human delivery personnel may lessen. The trend points toward smoother handoffs and more automated processes that reduce real-time human contact without compromising reliability or speed.
Looking ahead, respondents express interest in new features that would streamline cross-store fulfillment. There is a clear appetite for capabilities that let customers receive single deliveries spanning items from different stores and platforms. Additional requests include real-time visibility into the preparation stage, enabling customers to monitor each step of the picking process for fruits and vegetables and other perishables.
The technological roadmap outlined by industry figures includes a dedicated test zone. In December 2022, Evgeny Dudorov, who serves as the executive director of the Androidnaya Tekhnika nonprofit organization, announced plans to establish a technology park in Bor, situated in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The upcoming facility is slated to host robot and unmanned truck trials, providing a pragmatic environment to validate automation concepts before broader deployment. As these pilots advance, they will help determine how autonomous systems integrate with existing logistics networks and what safeguards are needed to maintain service quality while expanding the reach of robot-assisted deliveries.