European online multi-brand fashion and lifestyle retailer Zalando has selected Polish firm Nomagic to provide AI-powered robotics for its fulfilment centres, supporting employees with daily tasks.

The collaboration builds on a track record of Nomagic’s AI-powered robots delivering efficiency gains and reliability across existing deployments.

The robots (named Richard) carry out item-level picking, scanning and induction to automated pocket sorters. Following a pilot project that achieved an average of 10 000 picks per day, Zalando will roll out more Nomagic systems.

A total of nine robots will be live in 2025, with a double-digit number planned for deployment in 2026. Zalando has also made a minority investment in Nomagic as part of its previously announced $44m series B round.

“At Zalando, we are continuously developing and testing the automation of work processes in logistics, both to make the work of employees easier and to provide customers with first-class service,” said Marcus Daute, vice president at Zalando. “Nomagic’s technology has demonstrated clear, measurable value in our operations. Their AI-driven offerings allow us to scale automation quickly while maintaining the high service levels our customers expect.”

Nomagic’s computer vision and machine-learning capabilities enable robots to handle an ever-wider variety of products, learn continuously and adapt to changing inventory. This can be critical in handling a large assortment of fashion and lifestyle products, such as those fulfilled by Zalando in its warehouses.

Intelligent automation company Nomagic (www.nomagic.ai) was established eight years ago by a team of experts from Google, academics, AI experts and warehouse specialists, with a goal of using AI to understand and solve problems in the physical world. Nomagic works closely with customers, developing tailored options that transform their warehouse operations and lead to sustainable, scalable and evolving partnerships.

“The partnership between Nomagic and Zalando will bring our technology to more fulfilment centres across Europe,” said Kacper Nowicki, CEO of Nomagic. “Together, we’re proving that AI and robotics can drive real operational improvements at scale.”

Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando (corporate.zalando.com) is building a pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle ecommerce. Early this year, Zalando merged with Hamburg-based About You.