Method for automatically handling a plurality of product containers (A), 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 (A) 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 (X) parallel to the conveyor device and/or a vertical direction (Z), - 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 (A) 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 (Y) 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 (I), so as to move a container (A) 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 (A) out from the shelving unit by means of said shifting forks and shifting the first container (A) at a first holding area , - extracting a second container (A) out from the conveyor device by means of said shifting forks and shifting the second container (A) at a second holding area , - driving the swivel unit for swivelling the platform , - shifting the first and second containers (A), 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 (A) 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 (X) parallel to the conveyor device and/or a vertical direction (Z), - 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 (A) 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 (Y) 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 (I), so as to move a container (A) 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 (A) out from the shelving unit by means of said shifting forks and shifting the first container (A) at a first holding area , - extracting a second container (A) out from the conveyor device by means of said shifting forks and shifting the second container (A) at a second holding area , - driving the swivel unit for swivelling the platform , - shifting the first and second containers (A), respectively towards the conveyor device and the shelving unit , by means of said shifting forks driven in an extended position. <EOS>