Japan embraces robot takeover, thanks to worsening labour supply

A Geek+ Inc. Eve robot moves through the Acca International Co. warehouse in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. Tokyo-based Acca introduced 30 robots similar to those used by Amazon.com Inc. but made by China’s Geek+. The machines, which cost about 5 million yen apiece, have helped to triple each worker’s package output, and the company plans to increase the fleet to 100 by spring. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

While people fret about robots taking human jobs, machines in Japan are stepping in to fill vacancies amid the worst labour shortage in more than 40 years. 

That’s creating an opportunity for up-and-coming startups focused on automating warehouse tasks.