Sereact Robots Automate Zalando Returns Processing at Logistics Facilities in Germany and Poland

Physical AI company Sereact, online retailer Zalando and CEVA Logistics have announced the launch of AI-powered automated returns processing across key fulfillment facilities in Germany (Greven) and Poland (Świebodzin).

Powered by Cortex, Sereact’s physical AI platform, the dual-arm robotic systems have entered live operations to autonomously process returned fashion items, marking the initial phase of a broader initiative to scale returns automation across Europe.

Returns management remains one of the most complex operations in fashion e-commerce logistics. Returned items often arrive poorly packed and disheveled. The uniqueness of the state of the returned items defies conventional robotic pre-programming.

Sereact’s Cortex platform groups previously unseen objects – identifying, grasping and sorting items dynamically without requiring article-specific training or pre-determined article sets.

Delivered as a Robotics-as-a-Service model, the deployment represents the first operational milestone of the strategic collaboration.

In July, Zalando joined Sereact’s Series B round as a strategic investor, and the partners are actively collaborating to scale intelligent automation across their shared European logistics footprint.

The technology is designed to work alongside humans. By taking on highly repetitive handling, the robotic system reduces physical strain on employees, allowing them to upskill into higher-value roles where human expertise and judgement are required.

Masood Choudhry, SVP logistics, Zalando, says: “At the heart of our collaboration with Sereact and CEVA is a fundamental belief: true innovation happens when technology and human potential advance together.

“By solving the most complex challenges in modern fulfilment today, we are actively shaping the future of e-commerce logistics for fashion and lifestyle.”

Chris Walton, SVP contract logistics, CEVA Logistics, says: “One of the toughest challenges is returns handling, due to its extreme operational nature and scale, unpredictable volumes, manual quality checks, seasonality, value decay, and a disproportionately high cost per unit.

“Our Robotics-as-a-Service model classifies items faster, reduces manual touchpoints, and delivers consistent, predictable quality on a large scale. For our customers, this transforms returns from a cost driver into a controlled, high‑performance service.”

Dr Ralf Gulde, CEO and co-founder, Sereact, says: “Returns are the hardest manipulation problem in fashion logistics.

“If a system only works on articles it has seen before, it does not work in a returns operation at all. Running this in production with CEVA at Zalando volumes is the strongest proof point we have.”