A retail warehouse has many tasks that repeat all day: moving pallets from the dock to staging, from the end of the packing line to dispatch lanes, from staging into racks. They consume many driving hours but need little judgement. When forklift drivers are hard to recruit and peak season needs extra shifts, an automated forklift for retail keeps the warehouse rhythm steady and frees staff for checking, picking and handling exceptions.
Which retail and wholesale stages should be automated first?
- Truck loading: labour-intensive, concentrated in short time windows, with many standardised pallets.
- Repetitive horizontal transport: dock to staging, packing to dispatch, over fixed distances.
- Put-away and transfer stations: taking pallets into racks or to the handover point for VNA trucks.
- Multi-shift warehouses: night shifts are hard to staff while goods keep flowing.
Conditions for automated trucks to pay off
Automation works best with stable flows, uniform pallets and standardised processes. Most retail goods already travel on standard pallets, but damaged pallets, shifted loads or loose stretch film will stop the truck. The site also needs clearly defined areas where automated trucks share space with people and manual forklifts. Starting with one simple route, measuring results and then expanding is usually safer than automating the whole warehouse at once.
Suitable STILL iGo models
STILL AXL iGo: automated truck loading
The STILL AXL iGo is an automated low-lift pallet truck that STILL names for fulfilment, food, retail and industry. It moves both in the pre-loading staging area and inside the truck body without fixed safety infrastructure at the dock ramp. According to STILL, two units working in parallel can load 30 pallets in about 35 minutes, with loads up to 1,500 kg. It integrates with the warehouse management system.
STILL AXV 12 iGo: the entry point to automation
The STILL AXV 12 iGo is a compact automated stacker needing a working aisle of only 2480 mm, suited to simple horizontal transport in goods-in and goods-out areas. Best-fit packages and plug-and-play commissioning with iGo easy make it easy for sites without automation experience to start.
STILL EXV iGo and EXV-CB iGo: staging and handover
The STILL EXV iGo lifts up to 1,600 kg at a top speed of 7.2 km/h, and STILL names it for staging areas, block storage and automated order preparation. 360° pedestrian protection supports mixed operation with people. The STILL EXV-CB iGo has cantilever forks, lifts 1,400 kg to 3.8 metres and handles standard pallets as well as special load carriers – useful when goods arrive from many suppliers.
STILL FM-X iGo: automated put-away into racks
The STILL FM-X iGo is an automated reach truck lifting up to 2,300 kg to storage heights of up to 10 metres, with a working aisle under 3 metres. The PPS pallet positioning system lets it work in wide-aisle racking, flow racking, conveyors and VNA transfer stations. Its safety system meets ISO 3691-4.
Automated truck selection by stage
| Stage | Type/model | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Truck loading | STILL AXL iGo | Drives into the truck body, no fixed ramp infrastructure |
| Simple horizontal transport | STILL AXV 12 iGo | Compact, plug-and-play iGo easy |
| Staging, block storage | STILL EXV iGo | 1,600 kg, 360° pedestrian protection |
| Mixed pallet types on receipt | STILL EXV-CB iGo | Cantilever forks, special load carriers |
| Put-away, transfer stations | STILL FM-X iGo | Up to 10 m, PPS pallet positioning |
Deployment tips
- Pick one repetitive flow and measure trips per shift before and after automation.
- Standardise pallet quality and stretch wrapping from goods-in onwards.
- Keep manual trucks for exceptions and peak season.
- Read autonomous forklifts AGV/AMR: when to automate and see the automated trucks category.
The matching manual options are on the retail & wholesale solutions page.
Frequently asked questions
Can automated trucks work alongside people?
iGo trucks have multi-level safety systems with laser scanners and sensors. The site should still separate traffic and train staff on working near automated trucks.
Should a small retail warehouse automate?
A small site can start with one truck such as the AXV 12 iGo on a fixed route, using iGo easy standalone without a warehouse management system connection.
Can it integrate with the warehouse management system?
Yes. iGo easy supports standalone operation or WMS connection, and the software scales as the fleet grows.
Want to assess which warehouse stage to automate? Send a request on the quote page or call 0902 63 79 70.