The Future of Storage

Pio is created by AutoStore, the pioneer behind cube storage technology used by global enterprises. Now, that same technology is being explored in a completely different setting: everyday living.

Instead of warehouses and distribution centers, it is now being tested in residential buildings and shared spaces. The question is simple: can compact, cube storage automation improve how residents store, access, and share their belongings?

Two guest parking spaces in the basement are being transformed into a live test area. Here, we will explore how robotic cube storage can support modern residential needs, including safe and accessible storage, package handling, sharing services, and perhaps functions we have not yet imagined.

“This is the first time AutoStore is testing the technology in a real residential environment, close to real people, real everyday lives, and real logistics needs. That makes the findings especially exciting for both them and us.”

Daniel Silva
Project Manager at OBOS Living Lab

What We Will Test

In the first phase, the project aims to answer:

• How does robotic storage function as part of a residential offering?

• What types of items do residents want to store, share, or retrieve?

• How can the system be integrated into everyday logistics, from package handling and seasonal storage to hobby equipment, tools, or sharing services?

• How user-friendly is the technology when the users are residents rather than professional operators?

• What new needs arise when such a service is located directly in the building basement?

As the project plan and supporting materials are finalized, we will share more detailed deliverables, hypotheses, and methodology.

A Seamless Everyday Life

At a time when people live more compactly and expect more from shared solutions, technology that was previously reserved for logistics giants can now provide real benefits for individual residents:

• More space in their homes

• Better organization of items that would otherwise be difficult to store

• A smarter way to handle packages, seasonal items, and shared belongings

• A more seamless everyday life with fewer small logistical challenges

• Safe and accessible technology that makes daily life easier

“Even though I know the app is still an MVP (an early test version), we already prefer using the Pio system over traditional storage cages. The system is very neat.”

Early user and resident at OBOS Living Lab

This is the kind of innovation you feel, not just see.

“We are actively exploring ways to apply our technology beyond warehousing, and we see strong potential in residential real estate. Tenants benefit from a far better user experience than traditional manual storage, while OBOS gains meaningful space savings that can reduce construction costs.

We chose the Pio suite for this project because its intuitive interface is well‑suited for residential users. In the coming months, we’ll closely observe how tenants interact with the system to refine our understanding of its value in future developments.

Introducing our technology to real estate has the potential to change how projects are planned, and how people experience their daily lives.”

Margherita Carrozzo
Director Product Strategy & Ops at AutoStore

A Smarter Future

For OBOS, this is a rare and important test project. What happens when world-leading robotics technology moves into a residential building?

The project can provide insights that influence how homes, communities, and services are developed in the future, both in new developments and existing buildings. It could create ripple effects such as:

• New service offerings that make OBOS homes more attractive

• A meaningful addition to smart living that genuinely improves quality of life
• More sustainable sharing and storage solutions
• Increased safety and smoother everyday logistics
• New approaches to compact and space-efficient urban development
• A better understanding of how technology can create value close to where people live

From everyday practical value to long-term positioning for OBOS as a housing developer.
This project becomes a living experiment in how technology can improve the way we live. Through close dialogue between residents, OBOS, and AutoStore, we have the opportunity to discover needs, challenges, and possibilities none of us could have predicted in advance.

And that is exactly what OBOS Living Lab is for: testing new solutions in real life so we can build better homes and smarter communities for the future.

Modern storage designed for simpler operations.

Explore how smarter solutions can help you get more out of your space.

Talk to an expert