Pio: Small-Scale Goods-to-Person Automation, Big Impact

Sean Struve | 26 March 2025

E-commerce and retail are evolving fast, and small to medium-sized businesses are at the center of that growth. The U.S. alone is home to nearly 14 million e-commerce sites, accounting for 53% of all online retail sites globally. As more businesses move online, the competition to fulfill orders quickly and efficiently intensifies. In fact, small and medium-sized businesses expect their e-commerce sales to grow year-over-year.

With growth comes challenges: How do you fulfill rising order volumes quickly and accurately without adding more labor or expanding physical space?

Large-scale warehouse automation has long been the answer for enterprise operations, but for smaller businesses, automation has often felt out of reach—too complex, too expensive, and too overwhelming.

That’s changing.

Goods-to-person automation is one of the most efficient ways to optimize fulfillment. Instead of employees walking aisles to locate products, automated robots directly retrieve and deliver items from automated storage to workstations. This speeds up order processing, improves accuracy, and maximizes storage efficiency—all critical for small-scale e-commerce, retail backrooms, and in-store inventory management.

Designed for small-scale automation, Pio is a compact, flexible system that removes the traditional barriers to automation. For retailers, in-store fulfillment centers, and small distribution hubs, Pio provides a way to improve efficiency without overhauling existing infrastructure.

Whether you're a growing e-commerce business managing an influx of online orders or a retail store looking to optimize backroom inventory, Pio makes automation accessible, scalable, and cost-effective.

Meet Pio: Small-Scale Material Handling Automation for Warehouses and Distribution Centers

AutoStore systems are a well-established goods-to-person automation solution for helping large-scale distribution centers optimize space, speed up order fulfillment and improve accuracy. For smaller businesses—those managing retail backrooms, in-store fulfillment or compact distribution hubs—a full-scale AutoStore system might exceed their current needs.

Pio is a scaled-down, more accessible version of AutoStore, developed by AutoStore, designed specifically for small-scale automation. It delivers the same core benefits, such as automated storage, fast retrieval, and space efficiency, without requiring a massive upfront CapEx expenditure or a major infrastructure overhaul.

How Pio Works for Growing E-commerce and Retail Businesses

• Compact, Modular Design: Pio’s cube-based system maximizes storage in small spaces, making it ideal for businesses with limited warehouse or backroom capacity.
• Flexible Purchasing Options: Available as a capital expenditure (CapEx) investment for the grid and storage bins and through an Automation-as-a-Service (AaaS) model paid monthly, allowing businesses to lease bots as needed and scale up or down for peak seasons.
• Seamless Integration: Quick interface API set up via Shopify and ShipStation. Like a traditional AutoStore, other types of material handling automation like conveyors and AMRs can further be used to enhance the operation.
• Faster Order Fulfillment: By reducing manual picking and walking time, Pio helps small e-commerce retailers and fulfillment centers process more orders with greater accuracy—even with a lean workforce.

Who Should Invest in Small-Scale Warehouse Automation?

With Pio’s scalable warehouse automation, businesses of all sizes can streamline fulfillment, reduce manual labor, and improve inventory management. Whether you’re an online retailer scaling up operations or a brick-and-mortar store optimizing in-store inventory, Pio brings high-efficiency warehouse automation to businesses that need it most.

Pio is a Smart Investment for:

Growing Businesses & Small-to-Midsized Operations

• Retail, apparel, e-commerce, small parts distribution, and industrial supply chains can all benefit from a more efficient way to manage inventory and fulfill orders.
• For small businesses competing in a fast-paced market, Pio helps bridge the gap between manual operations and full-scale automation.

Businesses with Basic Infrastructure

• Many smaller warehouses still rely on static racking, shelving, or basic conveyor systems. Pio integrates seamlessly, adding automation without requiring a complete facility redesign.

Companies with Seasonal Fluctuations

• Need to scale up during peak seasons? Pio’s Automation-as-a-Service (AaaS) model lets businesses lease additional bots as demand increases—and return them when order volumes drop.
• This flexibility suits holiday sales, promotional events or industries with cyclical demand.

Operations with Limited Space & In-Store Inventory Management

• Pio’s compact footprint and standard sizing options is perfect for backroom inventory storage, in-store fulfillment and micro-fulfillment centers.
• Retailers can manage online order fulfillment, stock replenishment and customer pickup areas more efficiently—without cluttering sales floors or expanding storage areas.

Why Work with a Materials Handling Automation Integrator for Pio?

Pio makes warehouse automation more accessible, but getting the most out of your investment requires the proper setup and strategy. A materials handling automation integrator ensures Pio is optimized for your business needs. Whether you’re integrating with existing systems like conveyors and warehouse software or planning for future scalability, an integrator helps you implement automation the right way from day one.

The Value of an Integrator:

• Seamless integration with existing infrastructure like conveyors, robotic picking and WMS.
• Customization to match your order profiles, workflows and peak season needs.
• Scalable implementation allows you to start small and expand as business grows.
• Ongoing support to ensure automation continues delivering value over time.

An experienced materials handling integrator helps you turn automation into a long-term advantage for your operation.

Small Investment, Big Impact: Is Pio Right for You?

Automation no longer requires a massive investment for businesses looking to streamline fulfillment, improve inventory management, and scale efficiently. Pio offers a flexible, cost-effective way to bring goods-to-person automation into your operation.

With affordable purchasing options, businesses can start small and expand as demand grows. Less manual handling, faster order fulfillment, and better inventory accuracy add to a more efficient operation that keeps pace with changing business needs. And because Pio can integrate with larger automation systems over time, it’s a solution that grows with you.

As a leading material handling automation integrator, Bastian Solutions helps businesses implement Pio effectively, ensuring seamless integration, scalability, and long-term success. Our expertise in warehouse automation, distribution automation, and scalable material handling solutions means your investment in Pio will be optimized for maximum impact.

Author: Sean Struve