We can admit it.
2025 happened to all of us. Between AI-driven automation becoming "the key digital investment" while 77% of operations still haven't integrated it, tariff chaos forcing more than 70% of retailers to rework their inventory strategies, and trade shows so packed we had to expand into every hall at MODEX, it was… a year.
And as integrators working alongside OEMs, material handling suppliers, and end users every single day, we've had a front-row seat to all of it.
So as we stare down 2026 (which MHEDA's Executive Committee has kindly identified as bringing 15 major business trends we should probably worry about), let's talk New Year's resolutions.
Not the aspirational ones. The realistic ones. The ones we might actually keep.
Resolution #1: We Will Stop Pretending AI Is Still "Coming Soon"
You know all the speakers who have been saying for three years that AI will "revolutionize everything next year"?
Yeah. That ship has sailed.
AI isn't coming. It's already here, covering nearly one-third of supply chain management work according to RILA's latest findings. Today, 234 supply-chain-related tasks are being performed by nearly 4,000 AI systems.
Four. Thousand.
That's not the "future of work." That's just… Tuesday.
What to actually do in 2026: Stop sitting through "AI 101" webinars and start implementing AI where it actually makes sense. Admit we don't all understand machine learning, and hire or partner with people who do. And please, for everyone's sanity, stop calling Excel macros "AI" on spec sheets.
We all know better. Or at least, we should by now.
Resolution #2: Accept That Software Is the Heart of Warehouse Automation (And Treat WES Like It Actually Matters)
Hardware gets the attention. Software determines whether it actually works.
From where we sit as integrators, the difference between a high-performing operation and a very expensive frustration almost always comes down to software orchestration, not conveyor speed or robot count.
Warehouse Execution Systems (WES) have become the connective tissue of modern automation. They're the layer that makes robots, sortation, picking, labor, and inventory work together in real time. Without it, even the best equipment becomes siloed, inefficient, and hard to scale.
What to actually do in 2026: Stop treating WES as an afterthought and start designing automation around it. Invest in software that can adapt as operations change, not just software that looks good in a demo. And most importantly, align WES decisions with real operational goals, not just vendor roadmaps.
Because automation without orchestration isn't automation. It's just motion.
Resolution #3: Stop Calling Every Robot a "Collaborative Solution" (When It's Clearly Doing Jimmy's Job)
Let's be honest.
That AMR that will be demoed at MODEX? The one described as a "collaborative workspace enhancement"? It's doing exactly what Jimmy in receiving used to do, except it doesn't need breaks, doesn't call out sick, and doesn't complain about their back hurting.
The workforce landscape is rapidly evolving as AI-driven technologies automate processes, says MHEDA's trend report. Translation: some tasks are absolutely being automated, and pretending otherwise doesn't help anyone.
Here's the thing though. Labor shortages across all job classifications continue, maybe Jimmy already quit to drive for a food delivery app anyway. The robots aren't stealing jobs so much as filling vacancies we couldn't staff in the first place.
What to actually do in 2026: Be honest about automation and its impact on labor. Invest in training so Jimmy becomes the system expert instead of being replaced by it. And stop pretending robots are "teammates" in the same way Amanda from accounting is.
They're tools. Very expensive. Very impressive. But tools.
Resolution #4: Remember That Humans Still Work in Warehouses
Right after we talk robots, we need to talk people.
MHEDA continues to highlight how difficult it is to find and retain skilled labor across all sectors. Yet somehow, facilities are still being designed beautifully in CAD… and painfully in real life.
That $10 million automated system that no one fully understands? The one operated by a stressed-out supervisor who learned everything from YouTube? We've seen it. More than once.
What to actually do in 2026: Design systems with humans in mind. Invest in real training, not just quick handoffs. Utilize your integrator for ongoing training and support. Prioritize ergonomics so people can actually perform at a high level without injury.
And we need to pay and support people well enough that they stick around long enough to become experts.
Resolution #5: Stop Saying "Sustainability" and Start Doing It
Every trade show OEM: "Our solution is sustainable."
Every attendee: "Great. Does it improve throughput? Deliver on ROI?"
Retailers are prioritizing sustainability goals, and the Retail Climate Action Blueprint is now a real thing. MHEDA also notes that customers increasingly want phased automation strategies with measurable ROI, including sustainability metrics.
But let's be honest. We're still shipping air, running systems nonstop, and calling one solar panel a strategy.
What to actually do in 2026: Right-size packaging automation. Invest in energy-efficient equipment. Measure actual impact instead of just talking about it. Integrate systems that deliver real, measurable results instead of green-washing marketing claims.
Sustainability should show up in performance metrics, not just slide decks.
Resolution #6: Actually Show Up to Trade Shows With a Plan (Not Just for Free Squishies)
Trade shows are valuable. How we use them… less so.
Too often, we wander aisles collecting swag, eating questionable convention-center food, and snapping photos of equipment we'll never buy. Then head home with a stack of business cards and no follow-up plan.
What to actually do in 2026: Read the session agendas. MODEX 2026 features Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a keynote, which, as someone based in Charlotte (home of NASCAR – I have the need for speed ya'll), we'll absolutely be attending this talk. However, don't forget, there are 200+ free educational sessions on real operational challenges.
Another great event in Q1 - RILA's LINK Conference (Feb 1–4, 2026 in Orlando) facilitated over 1,100 hosted meetings in 2025!! That's real networking. Real conversations. Real progress. Be there - we will be.
Tradeshows still offer vital face-to-face discussions. We need to be there but we are determined book meetings before every show. We will also wear wear comfortable shoes but we will skip the squishies - remember that sustainability resolution!!
Resolution #7: Acknowledge That Cybersecurity Is a Real Problem (Not Just IT's Problem)
Here's a stat worth losing sleep over: The global annual cost of software supply chain attacks is expected to hit $138 billion by 2031, up from $60 billion in 2025. Oof.
MHEDA reports that cybersecurity risks are directly impacting customer trust and operational stability. Yet many facilities are still relying on outdated systems and weak access controls.
What to actually do in 2026: Take cybersecurity seriously. Attend the training sessions. Implement multi-factor authentication. Perform regular risk assessments. Update systems before something breaks, not after.
It's not just an IT issue anymore. It's an operational one.
Resolution #8: Choose Integration Partners Who Know What They're Doing (And Who Are In It for the Long Haul)
Time to get serious.
You can buy the best robots, the fastest sorters, and the smartest WES on the market. But if those systems don't talk to each other, don't align with your operation, or aren't implemented correctly, you've just bought yourself a very expensive problem.
Experience matters. Methodology matters. And commitment matters.
Many integrators today are owned by large conglomerates driven primarily by quarterly financials. That doesn't automatically make them bad partners, but it does make it critical to ask: Do they have a real stake in your long-term success?
What to actually do in 2026: Stop choosing integration partners solely on price. Look for teams with proven execution experience, disciplined processes, and a history of standing behind their work. Partners who understand that your success is tied directly to theirs, not just to closing the project.
Good integration takes time, collaboration, and trust. There are no shortcuts.
Resolution #9: Be Ready Before You Automate (And Know What You Need to Know Up Front)
Automation projects succeed or fail long before the first piece of equipment arrives.
From our perspective, the smoothest implementations always start with the right questions, the right data, and a clear understanding of readiness. That means knowing volumes, constraints, labor realities, growth plans, and operational pain points before selecting solutions.
This is where tools like a Warehouse Automation Readiness Guide actually matter. Not as marketing content, but as a framework to ensure decisions are grounded in reality.
What we'll actually do in 2026: Get our data in order before starting automation. Understand what success looks like. Use readiness assessments to identify gaps early. Partner with integrators who provide structured guidance, not just equipment recommendations.
When you know what you need going in, everything downstream goes smoother. Every time.
Resolution #10: Stop Pretending We Can Predict Everything
Here's the truth: 2026 will surprise us. Again.
RILA notes congestion risks and rising volumes. Geopolitical tensions continue reshaping supply chains. Technology keeps accelerating. None of that is slowing down.
We can't control the chaos. But we can control how prepared we are.
What we'll actually do in 2026: Design flexibility into operations. Invest in modular systems. Maintain multiple supplier and partner relationships. Build resilience instead of betting everything on a single scenario.
And when we don't know the answer, we'll ask for help from people who've been there before.
The Real Resolution: Be Better Than 2025
Look, the material handling and supply chain world isn't getting any easier. MHEDA's 2026 Business Trends identified 15 major challenges we're facing. Supply Chain Brain says 2026 will separate those who can prove ROI from those who cannot.
But this industry has always been about problem-solving.
REMINDER: we kept supply chains moving through a global pandemic!!
So yes, 2026 will be challenging. But we also have:
- Better technology than ever
- Strong industry associations and trade shows (MHI, MHEDA, RILA, WERC)
- Experienced integrators who've solved these problems before
- A workforce with incredible potential (once we actually train and support them)
We've got this. We just need to stop operating like it's still 2019 and start acting like it's 2026.
Now if you'll excuse us, we need to finalize our MODEX floorplan, schedule our RILA meetings, update our WMS passwords, and shout from the rooftops to download our guides before automating!!
Key Industry Resources:
- RILA LINK Conference 2026 - February 1-4, 2026, Orlando, FL
- MODEX 2026 - April 13-16, 2026, Atlanta, GA
- MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association)
- MHI (Material Handling Industry)
- RILA (Retail Industry Leaders Association)
- Retail Climate Action Blueprint
- MHI Annual Industry Report
