# Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS)

*Last updated: 2026-06-16*

> When a picking order arrives, the storage/retrieval machine travels autonomously to the assigned rack location, collects the goods, and delivers them to a packing or transfer station – that is the operating principle of an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS).

When a picking order arrives, the storage/retrieval machine travels autonomously to the assigned rack location, collects the goods, and delivers them to a packing or transfer station – that is the operating principle of an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS). ASRS installations maximise vertical cube utilisation, maintain high storage density, and achieve throughput rates well beyond conventional manual warehousing. Typical applications include e-commerce fulfilment centres, pharmaceutical distribution, and cold-store logistics, where speed, traceability, or space constraints are decisive. Capital investment is significant, and the business case generally requires medium to high annual throughput volumes. Unlike automated picking systems, which target individual item retrieval, ASRS primarily handles complete load units or totes.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_storage_and_retrieval_system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_storage_and_retrieval_system)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 112 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-16 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_storage_and_retrieval_system |

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