What if your automated application requires moving large and/or heavy materials between floor levels? Try using VRCs.

Learn the signs you're ready for an automated warehouse, why clean processes come first, & how a phased approach cuts risk.

Setting the Stage: Why 2026 Feels DifferentAccording to a recent study cited by a robotics-provider blog, “at least 76% of supply chainand logistics operations are experiencing notable workforce shortages,” with more thanhalf of warehouses reporting shortages. Additionally, a 2025 survey of warehouseoperators notes that “e-commerce demands, labor shortages and the need for spaceoptimization are driving demand for more warehouse automation.” Another articlesummarizing 2025 trends emphasizes how labor uncertainty, aging workforce, and highturnover make hiring/retention a persistent challenge for warehouses — pushing firmstoward automation & robotics adoption.There is clear, recent evidence that labor challenges and rising demand are fuelingautomation investments.Key Takeaways:• Persistent labor shortages that aren’t easing• Unpredictable demand patterns• E-commerce fulfillment still accelerating• Sustainability showing up in RFPs and purchasing criteria• A push toward flexibility rather than fixed infrastructureThe Automation Wave: What’s Actually Changing on the Floor.The global market for warehouse automation is estimated at USD 29.9 billion in 2025, withforecasts projecting ~USD 63.4 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~16.2%). Also, a closely relatedmarket — “material handling robotics” — is valued at USD 26.8 billion in 2025, with aprojected increase to USD 55.0 billion by 2032.  A forecast for “AI robotics inwarehousing” reports a 2025 value of USD 15.3 billion and projects a huge expansion to~USD 100 billion by 2034 (CAGR ~23.2%). Industry sources describe a shift in 2025: whatonce was a “competitive advantage” is becoming a “critical necessity”. In a study byPMMI, 25% of warehouses are projected to have “some form of automation” by 2027 — upfrom 14% in 2017 and 18% at the end of 2021.The scale and growth rate of automation investments and the automation adoption — inconveyors, robotics, AMRs/AGVs, AS/RS, sortation systems, etc. — is accelerating sharply.Key takeaways:• AMRs/AGVs replacing long walking routes• Robotic pick stations and assisted picking• Conveyor upgrades and smarter sortation• Sensors, software, and data-driven flow decisionsThe Overlooked Piece: Mobility HardwareCasters may not headline budget meetings, but they shape everything from safety tothroughput. They determine how smoothly mobile workstations hand off to AMRs. Whethercarts track straight during autonomous towing. How vibration affects sensors, weld robots,or precision assembly. Whether floors wear prematurely under heavy dynamic loads. Inenvironments where robots and people coexist, even small mobility issues compound:Misalignment becomes a collision risk. Drift becomes a lost load. Vibration becomesa cycle-time penalty.It’s no exaggeration to say: automation works only as well as its mechanical interface withthe floor.Key Take aways:• Why mobile workstations, carts, fixtures, and tooling still need reliable casters• Where automation increases stress on wheels: directional shifts, dynamic loading,floor imperfections• How small mobility issues can derail a large automation investment (alignment,noise, vibration, drift, safety)Looking for the right caster solution for your application?ICWM connects you with the expertise, standards, and member companies to get it right.Explore more: https://www.mhi.org/icwm