Mercado Libre, Latin America’s largest commerce and fintech ecosystem, has signed a commercial agreement with Agility Robotics to deploy the Digit humanoid robot in its logistics operations. The partnership marks one of the first uses of commercially deployed humanoid robots in large-scale e-commerce fulfillment tied to Latin American operations. Initial deployment will take place at a Mercado Libre facility in San Antonio, Texas.
The companies say the collaboration is aimed at exploring how humanoid robots can support fulfillment workflows, improve workplace ergonomics, and address labor shortages in logistics. While the first deployment is limited to a U.S. site, both sides plan to evaluate broader use cases across Mercado Libre’s warehouse network in Latin America.
Digit Enters Live Commerce Operations
Digit is a human-scale bipedal robot designed to walk through existing warehouse aisles, lift and carry totes, and operate alongside human workers without requiring major infrastructure changes. Agility Robotics says Digit is already commercially deployed and has moved more than 100,000 totes in live commerce environments, demonstrating reliability in production settings.
At Mercado Libre, Digit will initially focus on tasks that support order fulfillment. These include repetitive and physically demanding activities that are often difficult to staff consistently. By automating such roles, the companies aim to reduce injury risk and free human workers for higher-value tasks.
“At Mercado Libre, we are constantly exploring how emerging technologies can elevate our operations and improve the experience for our employees and millions of users,” said Agustin Costa, Senior Vice President of Shipping at Mercado Libre. “Our partnership with Agility Robotics and the deployment of Digit in our facilities is a significant step forward in our vision to create a safer, more efficient, and adaptable logistics network.”
Costa added that the company is particularly interested in how humanoid robots can complement existing teams rather than replace them. The goal, he said, is to test how robotics can drive the next evolution of commerce logistics in the region.
Automation, AI, and Labor Challenges
Digit is designed to fill high-turnover roles using a combination of onboard autonomy and cloud-based fleet management. The robot leverages artificial intelligence to learn tasks, adapt to new workflows, and operate continuously in structured warehouse environments. Agility Robotics pairs Digit with Agility ARC, its cloud automation platform for deploying and managing fleets of robots.
Through this platform, Digit can coordinate with other automated systems such as autonomous mobile robots, conveyor belts, and warehouse management software. This approach allows companies to add humanoid robots to existing operations without disrupting current automation investments.
Agility Robotics positions Digit as a response to chronic labor shortages in logistics and manufacturing, where repetitive manual tasks often struggle to attract long-term workers. By handling physically taxing work, the company argues, humanoid robots can help stabilize throughput while improving safety and consistency.
“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Mercado Libre to support their workforce and operations through the deployment of Agility’s humanoid robot Digit,” said Daniel Diez, Chief Business Officer of Agility Robotics. “Mercado Libre has demonstrated that it is a true innovator in both commerce and fintech, and we are excited to integrate our autonomous humanoid robots capable of performing meaningful work and delivering real value into their facilities.”
A Growing Market for Humanoid Robots
Mercado Libre joins a growing list of companies deploying Agility’s humanoid robots, including logistics provider GXO, German industrial manufacturer Schaeffler, and Amazon. These deployments signal increasing confidence that humanoid robots are moving beyond research and pilot programs into real-world industrial use.
While the current agreement focuses on evaluation and early deployment, the companies suggest the partnership could expand if results meet operational and economic expectations. For Mercado Libre, the project offers a way to test advanced automation while maintaining flexibility across a geographically diverse logistics network.
The deployment underscores a broader trend in robotics, where humanoid form factors are being tested not as novelties but as practical tools designed to work within human-built environments. As large logistics operators seek scalable solutions to labor and efficiency challenges, commercially deployed humanoid robots like Digit may play an increasingly visible role.
