AutoStore is one of the most visible robotic storage technologies of recent years: robots that run across a three-dimensional grid, retrieving stacked bins. Traditional ASRS — stacker cranes, MiniLoad, shuttles — has been on the market for decades, with reference installations worldwide. Which one is better? It depends entirely on your operation. This comparison isn't trying to sell you either one: it aims to give you the technical data to decide which technology best fits your warehouse and your budget.
Technical architecture: how each system works
AutoStore uses a three-dimensional metal grid in which bins are stacked vertically. Compact robots move across the top layer of the grid, lower a gripper to pick up the right bin, and deliver it to port stations at the operator's level. Density is extreme: bins are stacked with no space between them. Traditional ASRS use racking with individual cells and stacker cranes or robots that navigate within the aisle or channel. Each storage unit is directly accessible without moving any others. The key difference: AutoStore stacks bins (sequential access), while traditional ASRS offers direct random access to every cell.
Storage density: who wins?
AutoStore wins on volumetric density: bins stacked with no aisle space allow 4 to 5 times more units per cubic meter than conventional racking. A double-deep MiniLoad ASRS reaches 2 to 3 times the density of conventional racking. However, AutoStore's density comes at a cost: when you need to retrieve a bin sitting at the bottom of a stack, the robot must first move every bin above it (overhead movement). In operations with high SKU variability, this overhead can significantly degrade effective throughput.
Throughput: which one moves more units per hour
AutoStore throughput depends on the number of robots and the number of output ports. A system of 100 robots and 10 ports can reach 1,000 bins/hour under optimal conditions. A 2-aisle DELIE MiniLoad running 400 bins/hour/aisle reaches 800 bins/hour. Similar in raw throughput. The difference lies in consistency: AutoStore can degrade its throughput when the most-requested bins are buried under many less-requested ones (the burial effect). The MiniLoad ASRS keeps its throughput constant regardless of where a bin is stored, because access is always direct.
Cost, scalability and availability in Argentina
AutoStore is significantly more expensive than an equivalent traditional ASRS: the metal grid and the robots carry a higher cost per storage position than the racking of a MiniLoad. On top of that, AutoStore is a proprietary brand with active patents and exclusive distributors: in Argentina, the availability of local technical support is limited or dependent on agreements with international distributors. The DELIE ASRS systems represented by STOKA offer full local technical support, spare parts held in Argentina, and competitive pricing across the Latin American market. For operations above 20,000 storage positions, AutoStore may be technically superior; below that threshold, traditional ASRS delivers a better price/performance ratio in the Argentine market.
AutoStore or ASRS: the right technology depends on your scale and operation
AutoStore is an excellent technology for large-scale e-commerce operations with many small-format SKUs. For industrial warehouses handling pallets, medium-sized cases, or a mix of volumes, traditional ASRS — stacker crane, shuttle, or MiniLoad — is more suitable, more cost-effective, and better supported locally in Argentina and Chile. If you're evaluating AutoStore vs. DELIE for your operation, STOKA can run the comparative analysis using your real data.
Frequently asked questions
Does AutoStore have distributors in Argentina?
AutoStore operates through authorized distributors. In Argentina, the availability of local AutoStore technical support is limited compared with markets like Europe or the US. DELIE stacker cranes and MiniLoad systems have full local technical support through STOKA.
What kind of operation is AutoStore best suited for?
AutoStore is best suited for e-commerce operations with many small-format SKUs (electronics, pharmaceuticals, accessories), high order variability, and a need for extreme density in very limited space. For pallets, medium-sized cases, and mixed volumes, traditional ASRS is technically superior.
Which one has higher operational availability (uptime)?
Both systems have a theoretical uptime above 99%. The practical difference lies in local support: an AutoStore robot that fails in Argentina can take weeks to source a spare part. A DELIE stacker crane with STOKA on the ground is repaired in hours, using spare-parts stock held in Argentina.
Is it possible to migrate from AutoStore to traditional ASRS or vice versa?
A full migration requires dismantling the existing system and a new installation. In expansions, however, you can keep the existing system for one zone and add complementary technology for growth. The initial technology decision matters because it shapes decades of operation.