What’s Next for Warehousing? Discover the 2025 Trends Shaping Fulfillment

Automation & Technology

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Q: What percentage of warehouses are automated in 2025?

A: 97% of respondents use some form of automation, and 50% have automated at least half of their operations. Only 3% report no automation at all.

Q: Which automation systems are considered most effective?

A: Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Cube Storage systems are rated highest for optimizing throughput and efficiency. Unit-load and Multi-load systems are seen as less effective.

Q: What’s driving the push for automation?

A: Rising labor costs, workforce shortages, and the need for higher throughput are key drivers. Automation also supports ESG goals by improving energy efficiency and reducing waste.

Workforce & Labor

Q: What are the top workforce challenges in 2025?

A: The top two challenges are workforce shortages (39%) and rising labor/resource costs (37%). These are consistent across regions and industries.

Q: Are companies tracking employee retention?

A: Surprisingly, no. While labor efficiency is the most tracked metric, employee retention ranks 16th out of 20 metrics—indicating a major blind spot.

Q: How can automation improve workforce conditions?

A: Automation reduces the risk of injury by handling dangerous tasks and enables remote management roles, improving safety and flexibility for employees.

Supply Chain Resilience

Q: Are supply chain delays still a major issue?

A: Yes. 36% of respondents cite delays and shipping constraints as a top challenge—up from 14% last year. Manufacturing is the most affected sector.

Q: What strategies are companies using to improve supply chain agility?

A: Businesses are investing in scenario planning, increasing supplier diversity, and near-shoring operations to reduce dependencies and improve responsiveness.

Q: How important is interoperability in supply chain tech?

A: Very. Integrating systems and data through APIs enables real-time visibility and futureproofs operations against disruptions.

Sustainability & ESG

Q: What are the top ESG priorities for warehouses in 2025?

A: The top three are:

1. Increasing energy efficiency (55%)
2. Reducing waste from damaged/perishable goods (51%)
3. Integrating renewable energy solutions (38%)

Q: Are companies taking advantage of ESG incentives?

A: Many are starting to. There are over 1,850 global ESG incentives available, including tax breaks for low-carbon innovations and renewable energy adoption.

Q: How can automation support sustainability goals?

A: Automated systems can reduce energy use by up to 75%, increase storage density by 4X, and enable lights-off operations—cutting both emissions and costs.