08-13-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

5 lessons to scale warehouse automation

When rolling out automation technology across multiple sites, follow these steps to reap the benefits.

[Photo: Getty Images]

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of top leaders and experts who pay dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership, and more.

The constant drumbeat of increasing consumer expectations has created an economy where warehouse automation is now a must-have. Accenture found that while the median autonomy maturity across supply chain activities is 16%, it’s expected to reach 42% within the next five to 10 years.

But while the end goal is smooth operations, the implementation process, if not executed precisely, is anything but. Companies often underestimate the organizational, cultural, and operational disruption that accompanies automation. Gartner found that 76% of logistics initiatives never fully succeed, failing to stay on budget, keep to a timeline, or meet KPIs. Perhaps the chosen solution wasn’t the right fit for the facility’s particular complexity, or the employees are reluctant to buy in, slowing the training process.

No matter the issue, these challenges are also prone to multiply for companies launching a multi-site automation project. A single hiccup at one facility could require retooling the project across others simultaneously. That’s why it’s critical to enter the project with the right mindset, and get ahead of any potential disruption the minute new hardware or software is installed.

UNDERSTAND MULTI-SITE ROLLOUTS RISKS

Among automation’s most important benefits is its ability to reduce risk. Work is completed faster, at higher volumes, and with fewer mistakes, by following a repetitive process assisted or even directed by the automated tool.

There’s still an........

© Fast Company