Staff shortages, physically demanding work and the wish to produce more flexibly: for many European business owners these are everyday concerns. Humanoid robots are often mentioned as a solution. But what can they really do in a business today, and when is a humanoid the right choice? This article looks at current applications and offers a step-by-step plan to prepare.
Where are humanoids already in use?
In 2026, most deployments are still at the stage of pilots and first commercial contracts, mainly at large companies in logistics and manufacturing. A few examples that have been made public:
- Logistics. In June 2024, logistics provider GXO signed a multi-year robots-as-a-service agreement with Agility Robotics for the Digit humanoid, which moves totes from robots onto conveyors. Both companies described it at the time as the first formal commercial deployment of humanoids, according to GXO.
- Aerospace. In January 2026, Airbus bought UBTech's Walker S2 to explore applications in aircraft manufacturing, Invest in China reports.
- Automotive. Boston Dynamics is supplying the new Atlas in 2026 to Hyundai's application centre and to Google DeepMind; deployment in Hyundai's Georgia plant is planned from 2028, according to the Korea Herald. BMW plans to trial humanoids at its Leipzig plant, Euronews reports.
- The Netherlands. In July 2026 the Humanoid Application Centre (HAC) opened at the Mechatronics Innovation Campus in Schiedam. Its founding partners include Dura Vermeer, VolkerWessels, GOM and Eurocaps. As a first use case, Dura Vermeer is piloting humanoids for paving work.
What stands out: almost every case involves well-defined, repetitive tasks in an environment that has been (partly) prepared. In a press release from May 2026, the IFR notes that real production use remains limited to demonstrators and pilot projects for now.
When does a humanoid make sense, and when not?
A humanoid is not automatically the best robot. Proven alternatives have existed for years for many tasks:
- Robot arm or cobot: for fixed tasks in one place, such as packing, palletising or machine tending.
- Autonomous mobile robot (AMR): for moving goods across flat floors.
- Dedicated machinery: for high volumes of a single product.
A humanoid becomes interesting when several of these apply:
- The task takes place in an environment designed for people (stairs, doors, narrow aisles, existing workbenches) that you cannot or do not want to modify.
- The robot needs to perform different tasks in different places.
- The work is physically demanding, monotonous or unhealthy, and hard to staff.
- You are willing to invest in a learning process, because the technology is still developing rapidly.
What does it cost?
Prices are still moving fast. As a guide:
- Smaller research and development platforms such as the Unitree G1 start at US$13,500, excluding tax and shipping. At German resellers, prices in 2026 ranged from roughly €18,000 to €27,000 depending on configuration, MonsterDealz reports.
- Germany's NEURA Robotics is taking reservations for the 4NE1; the price is reported at around €98,000, with deliveries planned from the end of 2026.
- Industrial models from UBTech, Agility, Boston Dynamics and others are usually offered on quotation or as a service (robots-as-a-service).
The purchase price is only part of the cost. Also budget for integration, workplace modifications, safety measures, training, maintenance, software licences and your own staff's time.
Step-by-step: how to prepare
1. Map your tasks
List tasks that are physically demanding, monotonous or hard to staff. For each task, describe how often it occurs, which objects are involved (weight, shape, fragility), the environment and the tolerance for errors. The more concrete, the better you can later judge whether a robot can handle it.
2. Compare with existing automation
For each task, ask honestly whether a cobot, AMR or a simple process change would be faster and cheaper. A humanoid is mainly worthwhile where those alternatives fall short.
3. Start with a pilot
Choose one well-defined task and test it in a controlled zone. Decide in advance what counts as success: uptime, cycle time, error rate, required human intervention. A test environment such as the HAC in Schiedam can help you experiment outside your own premises first.
4. Arrange safety and compliance
Request the EU declaration of conformity, carry out a workplace risk assessment and involve your health and safety officer. Factor in the Machinery Regulation, which applies from 20 January 2027, and the AI Act. Our insights cover both in more detail.
5. Involve your employees
Robots work alongside people. Explain why you are testing, which tasks the robot will take over and what that means for roles. Employees who know the work are often the first to see where a robot gets stuck.
6. Pay attention to data and cybersecurity
A humanoid collects camera images and sensor data. Agree where that data is stored, who has access and how updates are handled. Note: under the Cyber Resilience Act, manufacturers have had to report serious vulnerabilities since 11 September 2026.
7. Look at funding
Many EU countries and regions offer schemes for SME digitalisation and robotisation; in the Netherlands, for example, the regional scheme run by SNN for Groningen and Emmen. Conditions and application windows differ by scheme and change regularly. Always check current information with the administering body or seek advice.
Today, in development, later
- Today: pilots and first commercial deployments at large companies, mainly moving totes and parts. Development platforms are available for businesses that want to experiment.
- In development: longer operation without human intervention, better hands, safety standards for balancing robots and service models that are affordable for smaller businesses too.
- Later: humanoids that switch flexibly between tasks and work alongside people without fencing. That still requires technical and standardisation steps.
In closing
For most SMEs, 2026 is a year to explore, map tasks and perhaps test on a small scale, not to invest heavily. Those who prepare well now will be able to choose faster and more wisely later. Our ZETTA Business page explains how we approach business applications. Want to share your ideas or stay informed? Sign up for Early Access.
Sources
- https://investors.gxo.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gxo-signs-industry-first-multi-year-agreement-agility-robotics
- https://investinchina.chinaservicesinfo.com/s/202601/26/WS6977061e498e36855033a2b6/chinas-ubtech-expands-overseas-reach-with-airbus-robot-deal.html
- https://bostondynamics.com/blog/boston-dynamics-unveils-new-atlas-robot-to-revolutionize-industry/
- https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10649929
- https://euronews.com/2026/03/05/is-europe-losing-the-robotics-race-to-china-and-does-it-matter
- https://www.roboticstomorrow.com/news/2026/07/02/first-humanoid-application-centre-in-the-netherlands-opened-at-mics-humanoid-robots-from-demo-to-practical-application-/26800/
- https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/china-makes-ai-powered-robots-core-of-national-strategy
- https://www.unitree.com/g1
- https://www.monsterdealz.de/magazin/humanoide-roboter-kaufen
- https://neura-robotics.com/product/4ne1-reservation/
- https://www.snn.nl/sites/default/files/documents/Subsidieregeling%20Mkb%20digitalisering%20en%20robotisering%202.0%20%28JTF%29.pdf
- https://www.mccannfitzgerald.com/knowledge/data-privacy-and-cyber-risk/cyber-resilience-act-reporting-obligations-apply-from-11-september-2026
This article is based on public sources and reflects the situation on the date of publication. It is not advice on any specific purchase.