The term "fast fashion" has taken on a whole new meaning today.

The west’s leading economic think tank has warned its members that they are failing to prepare workers for an automation revolution that will leave 66 million people at risk of being replaced by machines in the coming years.

Is there still a place for humans in the automated warehouse of the future?

Technologies that were previously considered futuristic, overly complex, and unable to be financially justified are becoming mainstream. This is no longer "emerging technology" -- it is here, it works, and it is now being implemented, changing the supply chain. Warehouses, distribution centers and fulfillment centers are accelerating their adoption of newer technology solutions. It is time for executives to reevaluate their initial assumptions across material handling and technology solutions. -David Meyers, Principal, Tompkins International

A common question warehouse operators often ask themselves is: "what can we do to further increase productivity and efficiency?" For a while, this challenge has been met with Six Sigma methodologies to identify and eliminate waste in the process. However, one of the biggest sources of waste remains non-value-adding movement and material handling. A new breed of robot has recently emerged that tackles this challenge and is helping warehouses to reach next level productivity and efficiency. -John Santagate, Research Director, IDC

To satisfy customers, businesses need an operations strategy which stays in front of ever-changing consumer expectations. The key to an operations strategy is combining fulfillment and distribution into an integrated flow requiring more advanced capabilities in greater numbers of facilities. Fortunately, developments in robotics are providing opportunities to automate economically throughout the network. Picking solutions reduce operator travel and sorting solutions enabling all facilities to use more efficient batch pick and process flows. -Mike Futch, Executive Vice President – Robotic Systems, Tompkins International

Emerging technologies are offering new ways to solve today's distribution challenges—disruptions caused by a shortage of labor, higher customer expectations and the shift to smaller, more frequent, just-in-time orders that are driving more each picking in the distribution center. These innovations are making it possible to increase productivity and efficiency, reduce dependence on labor and provide greater flexibility to scale operations up or down as the needs of the business change. -Roger Counihan, Emerging Technologies Strategist, Fortna

Increased visibility across the supply chain is a growing demand from businesses and customers alike. Businesses need to rapidly detect and react to supply chain disruptions to meet service levels, and customers want real-time knowledge of order status. This demand for visibility is also penetrating the walls of the warehouse. A connected environment and emerging technology will enable this sought-after visibility. -Rick Kaminska, Vice President of Product Management, SensorThink