Method for automatically handling a plurality of product containers, comprising: - providing at least one container shifting apparatus interposed between a shelving unit and a conveyor device, - wherein the container shifting apparatus comprises at least one platform provided for automatically receiving containers from the shelving unit and/or the conveyor device, - moving the platform alongside the conveyor device and the shelving unit along a first horizontal direction parallel to the conveyor device and/or a vertical direction, - stopping the platform at a selected position in which the platform is substantially coplanar with the conveyor device and a determined compartment holding surface of the shelving unit, - driving shifting means associated with the platform for shifting containers from the conveyor device to the shelving unit and vice-versa, via the platform, - wherein the shifting means comprise shifting forks movably mounted along a second horizontal direction perpendicular to said conveyor device, - wherein said shifting means comprise a swivel unit associated with said platform, provided for swivelling the platform around the vertical axis, so as to move a container positioned onboard the platform from a first position adjacent to the shelving unit to a second position adjacent to the conveyor device, and vice-versa, - extracting a first container out from the shelving unit by means of said shifting forks and shifting the first container at a first holding area, - extracting a second container out from the conveyor device by means of said shifting forks and shifting the second container at a second holding area, - driving the swivel unit for swivelling the platform, - shifting the first and second containers, respectively towards the conveyor device and the shelving unit, by means of said shifting forks driven in an extended position. - providing at least one container shifting apparatus interposed between a shelving unit and a conveyor device, - wherein the container shifting apparatus comprises at least one platform provided for automatically receiving containers from the shelving unit and/or the conveyor device, - moving the platform alongside the conveyor device and the shelving unit along a first horizontal direction parallel to the conveyor device and/or a vertical direction, - stopping the platform at a selected position in which the platform is substantially coplanar with the conveyor device and a determined compartment holding surface of the shelving unit, - driving shifting means associated with the platform for shifting containers from the conveyor device to the shelving unit and vice-versa, via the platform, - wherein the shifting means comprise shifting forks movably mounted along a second horizontal direction perpendicular to said conveyor device, - wherein said shifting means comprise a swivel unit associated with said platform, provided for swivelling the platform around the vertical axis, so as to move a container positioned onboard the platform from a first position adjacent to the shelving unit to a second position adjacent to the conveyor device, and vice-versa, - extracting a first container out from the shelving unit by means of said shifting forks and shifting the first container at a first holding area, - extracting a second container out from the conveyor device by means of said shifting forks and shifting the second container at a second holding area, - driving the swivel unit for swivelling the platform, - shifting the first and second containers, respectively towards the conveyor device and the shelving unit, by means of said shifting forks driven in an extended position.