As of 2019, the global warehouse automation market — that is, programmable machines that pick, sort, and return goods to their shelves, as well as sensor- and AI-based tools that simplify tasks for warehouse workers — was worth about $15 billion. That number is expected to double within the next four years, with supply chain leaders in an internal Accenture survey citing warehouse automation as one of their top three priorities for digital investment. Clearly, the industry has huge growth potential. But what does this mean for the millions of workers who currently work in warehouses around the world?
Research: How Do Warehouse Workers Feel About Automation?
Interviews with workers from around the world shed light on their hopes and concerns.
February 11, 2022
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Summary.
Automated tools that help to lift, sort, and move goods around warehouses can substantially improve efficiency and quality. But how do the millions of workers employed in warehouses around the world feel about these changes? The authors conducted a series of interviews with on-the-ground workers and identified several common hopes and concerns. Based on these trends, they offer three strategies to help employers both address workers’ fears and build on their optimism: Emphasizing growth opportunities for entry-level workers, providing effective training to help workers learn to use automated tools, and investing in systems to ensure workers’ health and safety.