David Scheffrahn, vice president of sales North America with Ocado, tells us how warehouses can balance scale and resiliency in a world of uncertainty.

Warehouse operators are continuing to invest in automation despite ongoing uncertainty around tariffs and trade policy, but they’re placing more of an emphasis on flexibility than they ever have.

As Scheffrahn notes, companies still need the productivity and efficiency benefits that automation can provide. But at the same time, they’re looking for solutions that allow them to adjust course as market conditions evolve.

"You've got a three-to-five-year plan, or maybe a 10-year plan, but you need to reassess that plan every six months, every 12 months,” he explains. 

Warehouse operators can no longer rely on long-term forecasts with the same level of confidence they once could, Scheffrahn adds. Instead, businesses are looking for automation investments that can be expanded, reduced or repurposed as supply chains and customer demand shift.

That need for flexibility is also changing how companies think about balancing growth and risk. Rather than choosing between scale and resilience, organizations need both, Scheffrahn asserts. Resilience allows operations to respond to disruptions and unexpected events, while scalable systems position companies to capitalize on growth opportunities when they emerge.

Ultimately, the most valuable automation solutions are those that can evolve alongside a company's changing network and operational needs.

"You've got to be able to build a resilient system,” Scheffrahn says.