Patryk Szubiczuk Of Linker Cloud On The Future Of Robotics Over the Next Few Years
An Interview With David Leichner
The future is much closer than we think — so we need to be interested in what is going to be implemented in the technology industry, because sooner or later, it will affect us in one area or another of our personal lives or work. It is therefore essential to keep an eye on the pulse and read articles on IT and robotics. Expanding your technological horizons is always important and allows you to stay up to date with all the upcoming business novelties.
With the shortage of labor, companies are now looking at how robots can replace some of the lost labor force. See here for example. The truth is that this is not really a novel idea, as companies like Amazon have been using robots for a while now. What can we expect to see in the robotics industry over the next few years? How will robots be used? What kinds of robots are being produced? To what extent can robots help address the shortage of labor? Which jobs can robots replace, and which jobs need humans? In our series called “The Future Of Robotics Over The Next Few Years” we are talking to leaders of Robotics companies, AI companies, and Hi-Tech Manufacturing companies who can address these questions and share insights from their experience. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Patryk Szubiczuk.
Patryk Szubiczuk is a Head of Fulfillment in the Linker Cloud company. Expert with 14 years of experience in the logistics sector, understanding all stages and challenges of fulfillment. Well-versed in the eCommerce world, creator of operational solutions.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started in robotics?
Because of the work that I do on a daily basis, robotization has always been in the area of my professional interests — it allows for optimization of logistics in many ways, which is very important in everyday work and in the need to scale the business further.
In the logistics sector in general, robotics entered the market a little bit later than in the factories and production market; but the sector is developing much more dynamically. For me personally, a breakthrough moment was one of the Polish startup congresses in 2018, when I had the pleasure to talk to engineers producing transport drones — at that moment, the supply chain got the ability to get fully serviceable by autonomous robots. I admit that for the time, this technology was truly impressive.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Probably the most interesting thing that happened to me was a tour of the port of Rotterdam and the opportunity to see how a highly automated port functions.
What impressed me most was the automatic unloading of containers from ships to storage areas and the precise automatic loading of containers onto container trailers. Now Rotterdam got subsidies for zero-emission and autonomous barges to take the ships to unloading. You have to admit, there is a lot to admire in the industry when you look at this bright port example.
However, robotics is only part of my job. I think the most important thing that is happening right now not is the need of modeling of our business environment, which consists of many cultures from many countries trying to reach a common goal. The more cultures and approaches — the greater the challenge. Given the dynamic development of the industry, I also know that there are still many challenges to meet. I have to say that I am looking forward to them — so I believe that the most interesting stories are still ahead of me ;)
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
For me, the most important quote is Never judge a book by its cover — always check what the other party precisely meant by a particular thing and whether you really understand each other. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve witnessed people making assumptions based on their own (wrong) expectations based on certain perceptions of the person concerned.
Whether I am working with my team or with a client, I always check what is behind the decisions and whether we understand the intentions and the common aim. Life has shown me many times that despite common goals, bad communication is the cause of many failures. There is a lot of talk about the typical hard technical skills, but what is really missing in the industry are the soft competencies — and for example the ability to actively listen. In addition, many people are afraid to ask questions and clarify incomprehensible topics in order not to appear incompetent — and this situation only causes problems to fester.
Ok wonderful. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Can you tell our readers about the most interesting projects you are working on now?
In my daily work I deal with fulfillment in logistics — to put it simply, a service that takes the logistics out of the shoulders of D2C and ecommerce business owners, in all of its aspects: from shipping, through storage and delivery, to returns handling. We take care of all these logistics issues as a company ourselves, so the retailers can meanwhile focus on their further growth. As you can probably guess, we don’t do this manually — it’s a process that requires high-end automation and state of the art software.
It’s a pleasure to be part of this project — both in terms of working on our platform and making our customers’ lives easier.
In addition to this, I also have the distinct enjoyment of observing logistics more widely. The sector starts to bet on robotics and automation in warehouses (there are already some that do not need human operators at all, and are almost fully operated by specialized machines). Of course, robotics is also part of the shipping process itself — you have probably already heard about the first drones deliveries.
Generally, looking at the industry, an interesting conclusion emerges — we are heading in a direction in which there will be more people employed in robotics and IT in logistics than, for example, warehouse workers.
How do you think this might change the world?
The basic change is definitely a positive one: logistics will be more efficient, less expensive and somewhat more environmentally friendly (drone delivery or deliveries using electric vehicles are really positive aspects of the change). There will also be fewer mistakes — people are only humans at the end of the day, and software performs better and more efficient (at least in repetitive, typical jobs).
It is also worth emphasizing another extremely important aspect: robotics and automation in logistics are in fact a guarantee of greater safety for both staff and loads — thanks to them we can avoid damage to goods which occurs during manual handling and prevent accidents which endanger the safety of workers.
I would like to mention two more additional benefits that are typical of logistics: the provision of precise, real-time inventory control and maximum utilization of available storage space — without robotics and automation, this would not be possible to achieve.
As far as the disadvantages of progressive robotization are concerned: of course, this means that some people working in the industry (mainly manual workers) will have look for another job — but that’s the way things are. However, given the many advantages of using machine assistance, the technological advance is definitely worth the price.
Keeping “Black Mirror” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?
Firstly, I would like to emphasize that progress is never just about the positive side — as indeed are all the measures we take.
In addition to the aforementioned need for change, a major challenge will be to ensure the ongoing interconnection of IT and its maintenance and to safeguard possible energy shortages (companies from Japan and gravity-based maintenance systems are coming to the fore). Increased automation and robotization will create and standardize new professions that will support the correct work of robots and drones.
And here we have a bit of Black Mirror flow — just in the topic of legal regulations on such services as long-distance transportation done by drone. Nowadays, it would be very problematic to claim responsibility if such a drone, used for business purposes, fell on a house or a playground (a drone weighs about 70 kg and is carrying a load weighing max. 50 kg). The damage would be really significant — and the investigation of who in theory (and in practice) is responsible for the accident would take a really long time and I myself am not quite sure what the outcome would be.
Another serious problem is the fact that currently, it costs tens of thousands of euros to stop an automated or even semi-automated warehouse for an hour. And let’s face it, robots are not infallible. If a worker falls ill, it is relatively easy to replace him. A broken machine with a serious malfunction will require at least several hours of repair.
What are the three things that most excite you about the robotics industry? Why?
Obviously, because of the work I do, I am most interested in things related to logistics: warehouse automation, the use of AI, drones deliveries, etc. These are probably the most general topics that come to the mind of the statistical blacksmith on the subject of the robotization of logistics.
Looking little bit deeper, I’d like to see progress in such aspects as the automation of the flow of goods (installation of pallet or container conveyors allows you to improve the flow of goods between different areas of the warehouse, and even between different facilities), automation of picking process (implementation of semi-automatic systems such as pick-by-light or devices for voice picking pick-by-voice, which support warehouse workers in the process of preparing orders, indicating, for example, the number of goods to be picked) or order dispatching automation (installation of equipment sorting goods by carrier or equipping docks with a system for automatic loading and unloading of goods enhanced with the installation of devices sorting goods by carrier or equipping docks with a system for automatic loading and unloading of goods).
What are the three things that concern you about the robotics industry? Why?
The process of replacing people with robots will be a big challenge for everyone, as it may cause temporary economic problems in many regions of the world. The transition is also a process that takes time, and some people do not like to leave their comfort zone — which will increase the number of challenges in this process.
Let’s also remember that at the moment robots can only replace simple activities and in most cases are not able to move further and do things completely autonomously. A simple example from logistics: robots can handle goods placed on high shelves in the warehouse, but they have problems with collecting pallets from places located on the floor.
Moreover, the cost of implementing robots is still very high, which makes the amortization period longer than the business would like.
Besides, the legal regulations for increasingly autonomous units are also not transparent and easy to analyze: what happens if an autonomous robot crashes into a human being? Who is responsible for it? Who will pay for the damages? There are many more questions and still not enough answers.
As you know, there is an ongoing debate between prominent scientists, (personified as a debate between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg,) about whether advanced AI has the potential to pose a danger to humanity in the future. What is your position about this?
There is actually a lot of talk about the use of AI and the recommendations that this technology makes. Examples: AMAZON’s Big Data and its’ data collection and analysis. Did you know that by using Kindle and scrolling through the text, you profile yourself? All selected text elements are analyzed and compared with thousands of other books, and then promoted as the first on your profile on AMAZON.
At first glance, it seems harmless, but on the other hand: have you heard of the story of the teenage girl and the technology which figured out she was pregnant before her father did? If AI knows so much about us, the question is what its creators will do with this knowledge.
However, I would not be too harsh in my judgments and preemptively negative on the subject. We are always afraid of what is unknown to us. Technological progress is a future that is happening today, right before our eyes. Of course, there are always risks that cannot be underestimated, but if we are to weigh up the benefits of new technologies, I think it is not worth tearing our hair out over this issue and blocking change at all costs.
Let me give you what I think is an interesting example: there are a lot of people these days who are wondering about the safety of automated vehicles. People are discussing for hours who will be responsible in the event of a crash. As I have already mentioned, this problem also directly affects the logistics industry and drones deliveries, so in a way it also affects me professionally.
Similar discussions and doubts have arisen… when the normal cars that are now on the roads were introduced to the public. The displacement of horse-drawn transport was no less exciting then than automated vehicles are today — if you want to find out more, take a look at this article. However, today we are already able to determine who was at fault in the case of a car accident — I think that the question of legal regulation of ever more far-reaching automation is only a matter of time.
My expertise is in product security, so I’m particularly interested in this question. In today’s environment, hackers break into the software running the robotics, for ransomware, to damage brands or for other malicious purposes. Based on your experience, what should manufacturing companies do to uncover vulnerabilities in the development process to safeguard their robotics?
This is a very good question — and a very important one to raise. I recently had a meeting with a software house that makes software and applications for medical devices, including making robots. They told me one interesting story: a medical device manufacturer came to them and wanted to produce an application that works continuously with medical devices offered by his company.
After receiving a quote, he wanted to reduce the price, because in his view the cost of creating ordered application was far too high. The producer, let’s call him the business side, said that in his opinion such an app could be written by a student in 2 weeks and in general he did not understand the amount of the quote written in a contract.
And now the most important thing. The point: he was told that probably to a certain extent he is right, but in addition to the application itself is needed documentation, security and maintenance. He may have the application — but he also need extra knowledge and support to know how to properly maintain and develop the app.
It seems to me that just as in logistics the most important thing is the delivery of the product, so in robotics the most important thing is the proper implementation of the process. Dear business departments — please remember that savings at the beginning of the road to robotics success often cause costs at a later stage of the process. Note, that high costs are just one side of the coin — and lost customer trust resulting from a non-functioning app causing further business costs is another (and more important one). What’s more, trust can’t always be regained — and a dissatisfied customer will certainly give you a bad name in the market.
Given the cost and resources that it takes to develop robotics, how do you safeguard your intellectual property during development and also once the robot is deployed in industry?
Basically, the State and European Patent and Registration Offices, such as e.g. EPO, are there to help us protect our intellectual property. It should also be borne in mind that in addition to the handling robotic units itself, there is also the software, which should always be protected by dedicated patents as well.
I personally recommend outsourcing cooperation with patent offices to an external law firms, which has broad experience in both the filing and verification of patents. It is definitely worth relying on experts in such important business aspects.
Fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Robotics Industry?
The future is much closer than we think — so we need to be interested in what is going to be implemented in the technology industry, because sooner or later, it will affect us in one area or another of our personal lives or work. It is therefore essential to keep an eye on the pulse and read articles on IT and robotics. Expanding your technological horizons is always important and allows you to stay up to date with all the upcoming business novelties.
I think the key to success is to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you are — it sounds trivial but it actually works in many areas of both business and life. You often work in teams of business professionals or create them from scratch; I’d like to highlight that working with people who are creative and knowledgeable in their field allows to constantly develop yourself and to grow your company. That’s what’s key in robotics at the end of the day — improvement and development pushes this field of technological art towards a brighter future.
It’s also important to get together in a broader group and share knowledge and ideas. In the course of my work, I have learned that it’s really worth to look for inspiration in many, sometimes not obvious, places — when going to a logistics congress you can find people working on drones, and at a medical meetup — you can find insights on applications or software.
In areas closer to my heart, i.e. business, logistics or fulfillment, I would like there to be more openness to technological novelties and fewer barriers to entry for new technologies. This would allow for quick verification of these, and for much quicker improvement of operations and production.
Nowadays, when thinking about robotics, one cannot limit oneself to the aspect of robot construction and engineering, but it is a very interconnected chain of relationships which we sometimes do not realize. I would like to encourage you to have some broader perspective. We can’t just focus on the product — and forget about e.g. the software related legal guidelines which I mentioned before. Robotics and automation, like any industry, is a kind of interconnected system — and when one element fails, the rest has a problem.
As you know, there are not that many women in this industry. Can you advise what is needed to engage more women in the robotics industry?
As you’ve already pointed out, the statistics are sad — not many women choose to enter the (seemingly) masculine world of not only robotics, but the whole automation, technology and IT sector. The situation is similar (although slightly better) in the logistics sector.
It is a pity — I am convinced that many of you girls have a lot to offer the industry. I myself meet many wonderful women with a great deal of technical knowledge every day — also employed by us at Linker Cloud. They are really top-class specialists whose work is outstanding — and gender is not an issue here.
I think that the problem of the involvement of women in these sectors lies deeper: I would look for its roots in cultural conditioning and its propagation in the process of socialization and education. I am a father of a daughter — and I see how well she finds her way in technical games as well, and not only in playing with dolls to “run the house”. I think that all of us as a society stifle girls a bit in the upbringing process by pointing them to “alternative” gendered paths — instead of showing them that robotics, AI and IT are interesting areas where women also excel. Just think of Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper or Radia Perlman. They are truly great examples of women who have made a real contribution to the industry.
A second reason that may contribute to this situation is the need to adapt the market to women’s needs — combining parenting responsibilities with being a mum is a challenge (as is being a dad). I think we should work towards a more equal share of the workload — for example, by emphasizing that parental leave should be shared between partners, rather than shifting most of the workload onto women. This applies to every sector, not just robotics.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I know that I will not be original, but recently I was at the European Economic Congress, where I had the pleasure of talking to many prominent representatives of strategic industries about the economies of European countries.
In addition to the need to improve and provide the basic necessities of life for less developed countries, they have often mentioned the problems related to the supply chain, so I would like to wish myself and everyone that there will be no disruption to the above-mentioned supply chain — whether we are talking about the supply of flour or the processor elements needed in every appliance.
At the same time, there is a lot of talk about moving life to the Internet, but still, over 45% of people on earth do not have access to it.
It seems to me that if we combine these two problems, as the old wise proverb says, we could give a nice fishing line and not just fish itself -and in the long term perspective, this type of aid makes much more sense.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can easily find me on LinkedIn — and on the Linker Cloud company blog, where I am happy to share my knowledge of fulfillment and logistics.
Thank you so much for the time you spent doing this interview. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success.
Thank you for the conversation — I hope it will be interesting for the readers ;)
About The Interviewer: David Leichner is a veteran of the Israeli high-tech industry with significant experience in the areas of cyber and security, enterprise software and communications. At Cybellum, a leading provider of Product Security Lifecycle Management, David is responsible for creating and executing the marketing strategy and managing the global marketing team that forms the foundation for Cybellum’s product and market penetration. Prior to Cybellum, David was CMO at SQream and VP Sales and Marketing at endpoint protection vendor, Cynet. David is the Chairman of the Friends of Israel and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Technology College. He holds a BA in Information Systems Management and an MBA in International Business from the City University of New York.
