Short answer: In September 2026, one humanoid robot pilot is running in a European shop, and it restocks shelves at night in Denmark. The robots that already work in shops at scale are wheeled and do one job, like scanning shelves. Humanoids are cheaper than ever to buy. What holds shops back is the risk of committing to one machine for years, and the paperwork that comes with putting it to work.
This guide covers what is running, what it costs, and the three ways a shop can get a humanoid robot today.
Most robot news is about factories and warehouses. Shops are further behind, and the gap is worth knowing before you talk to anyone selling robots.
| Where | What | Robot type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| føtex, Denmark | Overnight shelf restocking | Humanoid | Pilot, multi-year partnership announced March 2026 (HIVE Robots) |
| Albert, Czechia (350 stores) | Shelf scanning: gaps, price labels, misplaced products | Wheeled | Rolling out after a pilot above 90% recognition (Retail Optimiser, May 2026) |
| Tesco, UK | Shelf scanning | Wheeled | Trial in one store, more planned (Retail Gazette, July 2026) |
| Morrisons, UK | Shelf scanning | Wheeled | Trial in three stores (same source) |
Outside shops, the best-known humanoid at work is Agility's Digit. It has moved more than 100.000 totes at a GXO warehouse in the United States (Agility Robotics, November 2025). That is one job, done again and again, in a building designed for it.
What this means for a shop: a humanoid in a shop today is an early installation, not a proven product. Anyone who tells you otherwise will be found out on the first site visit.
A wheeled scanner is cheaper if all you need is scanning. The case for a humanoid is different: one robot that covers several jobs in the same shop.
Whether that adds up depends on your shop. It is the question a site visit should answer, and "no" is a valid answer.
Prices have fallen fast, led by Chinese makers such as Unitree. European and American humanoids still cost several times more.
The purchase price is only the start. A working robot in a shop also needs:
That is why ovibot prices a humanoid per month, all in, from €3.958 a month (illustrative). See what a humanoid robot costs per month.
| Route | What you get | What you carry |
|---|---|---|
| Buy from the maker | The robot, and usually a warranty | Installation, safety paperwork, service, and the resale risk. Nobody knows yet what a used humanoid is worth. |
| Hire a robot integrator | Someone who chooses, installs and connects the robot | You still own the robot, or rent one model for the whole term |
| Rent from ovibot, your humanoid integrator | A humanoid from any maker, installed, certified and serviced | One monthly fee. You can swap to another model at month 12 or 24, and buy it at the end for a price set on day one. |
From 20 January 2027 the EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 applies to every new robot installation. Someone has to check the installation and sign for it. If the robot is later changed, moved or updated in a way that changes the risk, that can count as a new installation that needs signing again.
For a shop owner, the practical question is simple: who signs, and who signs again when the robot changes? On an ovibot contract, we check and sign the safety paperwork for the whole contract term, including after a swap. More on humanoid integration for shops.
Are humanoid robots working in European shops yet? One humanoid pilot is running in Danish supermarkets as of September 2026. Wheeled shelf-scanning robots are more widespread, including at Albert in Czechia and in trials at Tesco and Morrisons in the UK.
How much does a humanoid robot cost? Purchase prices have fallen fast, led by Chinese makers such as Unitree. Installed, certified, insured and serviced in a shop, ovibot rents one from €3.958 a month (illustrative).
Can I rent a humanoid robot for my shop? Yes. ovibot rents humanoids from any maker to shops on a 36-month contract, with the right to swap models at month 12 or 24.
Do humanoid robots need certification in the EU? From 20 January 2027, every new robot installation falls under the EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 and needs a signed safety assessment. ovibot handles this for the whole contract term.
Want to know if a humanoid would pay for itself in your shop? Get a free shop check. One visit. One straight answer.
Sources: HIVE Robots (March 2026); Retail Optimiser (May 2026); Retail Gazette (July 2026); Agility Robotics (November 2025); Regulation (EU) 2023/1230.
We come and watch a shift, then tell you which job would pay for itself first. If none would, we say so.
No sales deck. No hard sell.