"Companies are continually looking for ways to take costs out of their operation. A forklift operator accounts for nearly 70% of the operating costs over the life of a vehicle. By deploying Seegrid's flexible AGVs, you can drastically reduce labor costs in your operations. Seegrid robots transport products throughout a warehouse or manufacturing facility for as little as $2.24 per hour. A fully burdened forklift operator can cost a company anywhere from $20-35 per hour. Flexible AGVs cut operating costs while increasing safety and improving operational productivity.
Forklifts require an operator to move product from point A to point B—flexible AGVs do not. Manned forklifts are unpredictable and can cause product and facility damage—flexible AGVs do not. Forklift operators take breaks, eat lunch, talk to their co-workers, take vacation, and get sick—flexible AGVs do not. Instead of utilizing forklift operators to perform non-value-added travel, deploy robotic industrial trucks and utilize operators in value-added roles."
This is from Seegrid (AGV creator) Corporation's website. This pretty much sums up the advantages of a AGV over a manually operated forklift. I know they're trying to put on a nice show so take it as you will.
There's also a lot of positive feedback from various businesses on why they use this product (It includes Cabelas and a few other commercial companies.) Again they're trying to put on a good show so take it as you will.
http://www.seegrid.com/knowledge_center/testimonials
