AutoStore releases a new benchmark report that features insights from more than 300 business leaders and senior executives in the warehouse management and order fulfillment space.

Survey respondents, executives from North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, identified the top three challenges facing businesses as rising energy costs (32%), increasing labor costs (27%), and supply chain and shipping constraints (26%).

“There is a need to operate more efficiently, which may be why nearly 9 in 10 organizations have, or plan to install, automation technology in their warehouse by 2023,” said Ellen Brune, Global Strategic Account Manager at AutoStore.

Technology for growth and efficiency

According to industry leaders, the most important areas of focus for 2023 are improving customer satisfaction (34%), investing in automation technologies (31%), sustainable solutions (31%), improving workforce efficiency (31%) and delivering goods to people faster (30%).

A large majority of respondents (88%) said they would implement an automated storage and retrieval system by 2024. 32% have already implemented automation technology and 56% plan to deploy it in the next 12 months.

Space optimization

The report shows that around one in three business leaders in the sector cite sustainability as a key priority for 2023. Energy efficiency (55%), waste reduction (46%), employee wellbeing (43%), reducing storage footprint (39%) and recycling (36%) are the most important initiatives.

Conversely, when asked what brands are looking for from AS/RS suppliers, the priority for sustainability decreases (13%).

The report Warehouse Automation State of the Market Report 2023 can be viewed on the Autostore website.

Logistics Strategies