The Material Handling Blog

Automation is not all or nothing. Many businesses start small, expand over time, or implement larger systems when the volume and complexity of their operations require it. The key is to choose the level of automation that aligns with your goals, growth plans and available resources. Automation technologies are used to automate tasks such as inventory management, order fulfillment and material handling, reducing manual intervention and errors.

E-commerce and retail are evolving fast, and small to medium-sized businesses are at the center of that growth. The U.S. alone is home to nearly 14 million e-commerce sites, accounting for 53% of all online retail sites globally. As more businesses move online, the competition to fulfill orders quickly and efficiently intensifies. In fact, small and medium-sized businesses expect their e-commerce sales to grow year-over-year. With growth comes challenges: How do you fulfill rising order volumes quickly and accurately without adding more labor or expanding physical space? Large-scale warehouse automation has long been the answer for enterprise operations, but for smaller businesses, automation has often felt out of reach—too complex, too expensive, and too overwhelming. That’s changing.

Automation in material handling is often celebrated for its ability to increase speed, accuracy and efficiency while reducing operational costs. However, one crucial factor determining the success of automation projects is often overlooked: employee adoption. Implementing new systems isn't just about integrating technology; it's about ensuring the people impacted by these changes understand, accept and embrace them. When executed well, change management bridges this gap, driving both operational success and a positive work culture.

“Let’s look at this thing from a standpoint of status. What do we got on the spacecraft that’s good? “ –Gene Kranz (Ed Harris), “Apollo 13.” There’s a lot of genius in that simple question. If you haven’t watched the movie, it’s worth a few hours of your time. The quick summary is that the mission was in serious trouble, Gene Kranz had just put on the flight director vest, and he was beginning the process of recovering not just the equipment, but most importantly, the crew of the Apollo 13 spacecraft. The genius in the question is recognizing that you have no ability to reach an endpoint if you don’t know where you are at the beginning.

“The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.” Bill Gates This quote highlights a fundamental truth: the success of automation hinges not just on the technology itself but on the underlying efficiency of the processes it aims to enhance. This means that strategic planning and process optimization are essential prerequisites for reaping the full benefits of automation in warehouse operations.

Distribution centers are increasingly at the mercy of fluctuating demand, a challenge amplified by clear seasonal and ecommerce trends. As consumer behavior shifts and online shopping events gain traction, these facilities must adjust to significant peaks and valleys in product flow. This unpredictability can strain resources and complicate warehouse logistics.