Warehouse & Yard Live 2026: What Have We Actually Learnt About Warehouse Automation?
Takeaways
- Start with the business challenge, not the technology: Successful warehouse automation begins by clearly defining the operational problem you're trying to solve. Whether the goal is increasing capacity, addressing labour shortages or improving resilience, business objectives should drive every technology decision—not the other way around.
- Automation is only as effective as the processes behind it: Automation won't fix inefficient workflows, poor data or disconnected systems. The greatest long-term value comes from taking a holistic approach that aligns people, processes, software and automation, ensuring the entire operation works together effectively.
- The best automation strategy isn't necessarily the most automated: There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Many organisations are finding that incremental automation, process optimisation and software improvements can deliver greater business value than pursuing full automation. The objective should be maximising operational performance and flexibility, not simply increasing the level of automation.
If there was one message that echoed throughout Warehouse & Yard Live 2026, it was this: warehouse automation has moved beyond the question of whether to automate. Today's challenge is making the right decisions to ensure automation delivers lasting business value.
Over two days, the event brought together warehouse operators, technology providers and industry experts to discuss the practical realities of modernising warehouse operations. From warehouse design and software integration to automation strategy, health and safety and future-proofing facilities, the conversations were refreshingly honest and centred on real operational challenges rather than theoretical solutions.
Dematic was proud to contribute to four speaker sessions across the event, sharing expertise on warehouse planning, brownfield transformation, automation strategy and the future of warehouse operations.
Alongside these sessions, our team met with many customers and visitors to the exhibition to discuss the challenges they're facing today – labour shortages, rising operational costs, increasing customer expectations, ageing facilities, and the need to build greater resilience into their supply chains. Thanks to everyone who dropped by the Dematic stand or listened to one of our panels – your insightful commentary and questions were what made the event such a dynamic and refreshing one!
The industry's biggest shift: Better decisions, not simply more automation
The highlight of the event was Dematic's expert panel discussion, Automation: What Have We Actually Learnt?, chaired by Ian Abbott, Director of Solution Development UK & Ireland.
Rather than showcasing individual technologies, the panel brought together experts from across the warehouse ecosystem to discuss the lessons they've learned from real automation projects. The focus was on helping businesses understand what drives successful transformation, what commonly goes wrong, and how organisations can avoid costly mistakes when planning future investments.
One message emerged consistently throughout the discussion: successful automation starts long before equipment is selected.
Businesses often begin by asking what technology they need, but the more valuable question is what operational challenge they're trying to solve. Whether the objective is increasing capacity, overcoming labour shortages, improving customer service or building resilience, those business outcomes should drive every technology decision.
Technology alone isn't the answer
One of the strongest themes throughout the discussion was that automation can’t compensate for inefficient processes.
The panel agreed that organisations achieve better long-term results when they first understand their existing workflows, data quality and operational processes before deciding where automation will add the greatest value. In many cases, software improvements, process redesign or better operational visibility may deliver significant benefits before any physical automation is introduced.
Equally, automation often exposes issues that already existed within manual operations. Poor data quality, inconsistent processes and disconnected systems can become far more visible once operations are automated, reinforcing the importance of taking a holistic approach to transformation.
Integration matters as much as equipment
Another recurring theme was that warehouse automation projects are increasingly business transformation projects rather than purely engineering exercises.
The success of any solution depends on how effectively equipment, warehouse management software, operational processes and people work together. Integration, change management and operational readiness frequently have a greater impact on project outcomes than the automation technology itself.
For businesses planning new investments, this means thinking beyond equipment specifications and considering how every element of the operation will function together both during implementation and long after go-live.
Brownfield is becoming the new normal
While new-build facilities continue to attract attention, much of the discussion focused on the reality that many organisations are looking to maximise the performance of their existing warehouses.
Introducing automation into live operational environments presents unique challenges. Maintaining customer service, minimising disruption and working within the constraints of an existing building all require careful planning and close collaboration.
Rather than assuming a facility must be replaced, many businesses are finding opportunities to introduce automation incrementally, improving performance while protecting ongoing operations.
Finding the right level of automation
The panel also challenged one of the industry's biggest misconceptions: that more automation is always better.
In reality, every operation is different. Factors such as product mix, order profiles, growth ambitions, available space and budget all influence what the right solution looks like.
For some organisations, full automation may be the right investment. For others, a combination of software improvements, selective automation and process optimisation may deliver greater value with less complexity.
Contrary to popular belief, the goal isn't to maximise automation – it's to maximise business performance.
Looking ahead
As the session drew to a close, panellists reflected on what will define successful warehouse operations over the next few years.
While technologies will continue to evolve, the consensus was that adaptability will become increasingly important. Warehouses need to respond to changing customer expectations, fluctuating volumes, labour availability and ongoing supply chain disruption. The operations that thrive will be those designed to evolve over time rather than those optimised for today's requirements alone.
Dematic’s Ian Abbott finished with a relevant point: "Successful automation isn't about buying technology. It's about understanding your operation, your data, your processes and your future requirements."
Ultimately, the discussion reinforced an important message: successful warehouse transformation isn't about buying technology. It's about understanding your operation, aligning people, processes, software and automation around clear business objectives, and building the flexibility to adapt as those objectives change.
Warehouse automation is evolving rapidly, but the fundamentals remain unchanged. Organisations that start with clear business objectives, embrace collaboration and build flexibility into their operations will be best placed to respond to whatever comes next. Judging by the conversations at Warehouse & Yard Live, the industry is increasingly focused not on chasing the latest technology, but on making smarter, more informed decisions that deliver long-term operational value.
Thank you!
For everyone who joined us at Warehouse & Yard Live, thank you for the engaging conversations and insightful discussions. If you weren't able to attend, we hope these key takeaways provide valuable insight into the conversations shaping the future of warehouse automation – conversations that will continue as businesses look for smarter, more resilient ways to transform their operations.