Less automated "standard" material handling solutions are perfect for new or smaller companies that do not require highly automated DCs. Klaus Wurm, vice president and managing director of Schaefer Systems, discusses the benefits of integrating standard elements to help such companies get their products to market quickly without big investments or lengthy implementations.

Ed Troianello, president of QSSI Software, discusses the features that customers are looking for today in warehouse management systems and strategies for controlling costs during implementation. He also cites common mistakes to avoid.

The right warehouse management system can help companies execute on the heightened service demands of omnichannel retailing. Chuck Fuerst, director of product strategy at HighJump Software, explains which features and capabilities are necessary and how the technology is evolving.

Bill Ferrell, professor of industrial engineering at Clemson and one of the authors of the newly published Material Handling and Logistics Roadmap, discusses the findings of this comprehensive study and what they mean for the industry's future.

Greg Cronin, executive vice president of Intelligrated, and Nyle Morris, vice president of sales at Knighted, discuss the paradigm shift in fulfillment strategies being driven by omnichannel retailing and the type of integrated solutions that these strategies require.

Seasonal events that cause spikes in demand no longer are limited to holidays. Handling these peaks without adding labor requires automation, but companies worry about the cost. Lance Anderson of automation systems manufacturer Beumer Corp. shows how better use of equipment can generate the ROI that companies need.

Customer value and safe operations always comes first at Sunny Delight, but the company also keeps a keen eye on costs. Kevin Singletary discusses steps to the perfect service/cost balance.