The future of warehouse automation will depend not only on how many robots companies deploy but also on how effectively those machines work together. As warehouses and manufacturing facilities increasingly combine autonomous robots, automated guided vehicles and traditional industrial trucks, coordinating different systems is becoming a major operational challenge. German industrial technology group Körber is addressing this opportunity by acquiring a stake in NAiSE, a software company specialising in vendor independent fleet management, through a strategic partnership designed to advance industrial automation worldwide.
Strategic Investment to Accelerate Growth
Körber is investing in NAiSE to strengthen their existing collaboration and support the software company’s next phase of growth. The partnership will combine Körber’s expertise in supply chain technology and warehouse solutions with NAiSE’s platform for coordinating mixed vehicle fleets.
The two companies aim to help customers manage increasingly complex warehouse and production environments through a unified approach to automation. By connecting different vehicle types and systems, they intend to improve operational visibility, efficiency and scalability.
The investment also creates opportunities to deepen the integration between NAiSE’s technology and Körber’s existing warehouse solutions, allowing customers to develop more connected automation strategies.
Making Different Robots Work Together
Founded in 2017, NAiSE has developed Fleet Management Software designed to coordinate vehicles and robots from multiple manufacturers. The company has been self funded since its establishment.
Its platform brings automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots and manually operated industrial trucks together under a shared control layer. This allows businesses to coordinate different types of vehicles without depending on a single manufacturer’s technology.
As industrial automation expands, companies often introduce equipment from several vendors to meet different operational requirements. However, these systems can operate independently, creating fragmented workflows and limiting the ability to coordinate activities across an entire facility.
NAiSE addresses this challenge by connecting vehicles and systems through a standardised integration layer. Its software can be configured using integrated tools, regardless of the warehouse management system, warehouse execution system or warehouse control system operating in the background.
This vendor independent approach gives businesses greater flexibility when introducing new equipment or expanding existing automation infrastructure.
Combining Software With Industrial Expertise
Körber brings industrial experience, warehouse automation capabilities and an international customer network to the partnership. By combining these strengths with NAiSE’s fleet management technology, the companies aim to deliver more comprehensive automation solutions.
According to Körber Executive Board Member Helena Garriga, NAiSE offers a standardised and field tested approach to managing mixed fleets, addressing a growing requirement among industrial customers.
The partnership is intended to help customers coordinate their automation systems more effectively while simplifying the integration of equipment from different manufacturers.
For NAiSE, access to Körber’s international reach could support expansion into additional markets and help bring its technology to a wider customer base.
Independence Remains Central to NAiSE
Despite the investment, NAiSE will continue developing its platform for production logistics and related applications. The company will also maintain its existing relationships with autonomous mobile robot manufacturers, automated guided vehicle providers and other industry partners.
Co founder and CEO Kai Przybysz Herz said the company deliberately selected a partner that could support international growth while respecting its independence.
The founders, Kai Przybysz Herz, Robert Libert and Raphael Kusumoto, will remain responsible for operational management.
NAiSE will continue working with existing and new customers and partners, including additional system integrators and vehicle manufacturers. This approach preserves the company’s vendor independent business model.
Exploring the Next Generation of Robotics
Beyond current warehouse automation applications, Körber and NAiSE plan to explore new intralogistics use cases, including humanoid robotics.
As robotics technology advances, warehouses may increasingly combine conventional automated vehicles with more sophisticated robotic systems. Coordinating these different technologies through a common platform could become increasingly important for businesses seeking flexible and scalable operations.
The partnership positions both companies to participate in this evolution by combining established industrial infrastructure with adaptable fleet management software.
What Comes Next?
Körber’s investment marks a significant step in NAiSE’s development, providing strategic support for its international ambitions while preserving its independence.
As manufacturers and warehouse operators pursue greater automation, the ability to coordinate equipment across different vendors is becoming increasingly important. Through their partnership, Körber and NAiSE aim to make mixed fleet management more accessible and help businesses build more connected, flexible and efficient industrial operations.