This study was conducted by IDC France with 206 private sector companies with at least 1,000 employees.

Amazon could build a stake of almost a third in warehouse robotics firm Balyo in the next seven years, as part of a deal that could boost sales of the French company's technology for self-driving forklift trucks. Warehouse automation is a key element in efforts by Amazon to cut costs and speed up deliveries. The world's biggest online retailer currently uses robots developed by Kiva Systems, a company it bought for $775 million in 2012. Amazon could build a stake of almost a third in warehouse robotics firm Balyo in the next seven years as part of the new deal. 'This agreement ... represents an unprecedented opportunity for Balyo to grow its business and supports the soundness of our investments over the years to perfect our robotic solutions,' Balyo Chief Executive Fabien Bardinet said on Thursday.