Why 90% of Warehouses Are Still Manual

Everything is Logistics

Warehouse robotics is evolving fast, yet 90% of warehouses still don’t use automation. Why?

Despite the rise of AI, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and drone-based inventory tracking, most operations remain stuck in outdated, manual processes. The real challenge isn’t just cost—it’s about knowledge gaps, change management, and finding the right tech fit.

In this episode of Everything is Logistics, host Blythe Brumleve sits down with Kevin Lawton, host of The New Warehouse Podcast, to break down the biggest barriers preventing robotics adoption in warehousing. From entry-level automation solutions to practical strategies for integrating AI-driven robotics, we explore what’s next for warehouses that want to scale.

Key Topics Covered:

• The real reasons why 90% of warehouses haven’t adopted robotics.
• Entry-level automation solutions that are accessible right now.
• How poor warehouse processes can sabotage automation efforts.
• Robots as co-workers: addressing change management challenges.
• Hummingbird Systems’ drone picking technology—is this the future?

"If you automate a bad process, you're just making that bad process happen faster." – Kevin Lawton

LINKS:

• Kevin's LinkedIn
• The New Warehouse Website

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE

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Chapters

1. Why 90% of Warehouses Are Still Manual (00:00:00)

2. The Reality of Warehouse Robotics (00:04:26)

3. Optimizing Before Automating (00:08:36)

4. The Rise of Inventory Drones (00:14:06)

5. Entry-Level Automation for Warehouses (00:16:15)

6. Drone-Based Picking: The Next Big Thing? (00:23:57)

7. Robotics as a Workforce Partner (00:26:36)