Early predictions envisioning fully automated “dark warehouses” — with minimal or no human intervention — have largely failed to materialize. While technologies like robotics and AI continue to gain traction, nearly 80% of warehouses still depend on manual processes.
Rather than full automation, the industry is embracing a more nuanced approach where technology augments human capabilities, creating hybrid workplaces where workers are upskilled to work alongside and manage robotic systems.
Today’s modular and scalable automation solutions enable incremental modernization, allowing logistics providers to start small, prove ROI, and gradually expand their automated operations while maintaining market adaptability.
In the market map below, we identify 275+ companies addressing warehouse automation across 22 different markets. We organized markets around the lifecycle of goods moving in and out of the warehouse:
- Yard management: Coordinates the movement of trucks and trailers in the warehouse yard, including scheduling arrivals/departures and managing dock assignments to ensure smooth loading and unloading operations.
- Receiving & shipping: Handles the inbound receipt of goods from suppliers and outbound dispatch of orders to customers, including unloading, checking, documentation, and loading processes.
- Storing & inventory management: Organizes the placement and tracking of goods within the warehouse, including maintaining accurate inventory counts, managing storage locations, and ensuring efficient use of space.
- Picking & packing: Retrieves ordered items from their storage locations and prepares them for shipment, including selecting correct quantities, combining multi-item orders, and packaging items.
- Back-office: Manages the administrative and planning functions that keep the warehouse running, including inventory planning, workforce scheduling, documentation, and performance tracking.
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