When the Artemis II crew pushed further into space than any humans before them, they reminded the world that curiosity and a willingness to try something new can take you further than you ever imagined. At IKEA Helsingborg, Sweden, a small team had a similar thought – just a little closer to the ground.
It started simply. A co-worker spotted an advert for a pair of robotic boots called Moonwalkers. They ordered a pair. They tried them on. And then they walked – up to two times faster than normal. The early results at IKEA Helsingborg have been encouraging, with overall picking productivity per hour rising by 16 percent.
Moonwalkers are robotic boots that fit over regular footwear and use adaptive AI technology to match each person’s natural walking style. For co-workers picking orders across large fulfilment areas, that speed makes a real difference: more ground covered, more orders fulfilled, and a smarter way to work.
“Our co-workers have responded really positively — and so have our customers,” says Sebastian Carlius, Fulfilment Operations Manager at IKEA Helsingborg. “There’s a genuine sense of excitement. People see something new, something that works, and it sparks curiosity. That energy is what drives us to keep looking for better ways of doing things.”
What makes this story particularly IKEA is how it started: not from a top-down directive, but from a team that saw a possibility and decided to explore it. That spirit – curious, hands-on, and a willingness to take responsibility and try – is when IKEA works at its best.
David McCabe, Global Fulfilment & Core Services Manager, Ingka Group
“At IKEA, we believe the best ideas often come from the people closest to the work. What the team in Helsingborg has done is a great example of that — taking initiative, testing something new, and sharing what they’ve learned. That’s how we improve, together.”
As Neil Armstrong said, standing on the moon on 20 July 1969: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” At IKEA Helsingborg, they’d probably just call it a good idea worth trying.
Good ideas come in all shapes and sizes
Moonwalkers are used at IKEA Helsingborg as part of a broader commitment to investing in tools that make work smarter – not harder. It sits alongside more than 40 automated solutions, including AI and robotics, already supporting co-workers across IKEA units worldwide.
About Ingka Group
With IKEA retail operations in 32 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents 87% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on Ingka.com.
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