What are robots really being used for in distribution facilities today? Craig Henry, U.S. industry manager with Siemens Industry, provides a status report — and a look at the future.

Autonomous trucks might be here sooner than expected, but getting the driver out of the cab is only the first step in realizing the technology's promise, says Wiley Deck, vice president of government affairs and public policy with Plus.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have transformed all aspects of the warehouse, says Mike Larsson, executive vice president for the Americas Region with Dematic.

Customers are turning to robotics in the warehouse because of the technology's modularity and scalability, says Romain Moulin, chief executive officer and co-founder of Exotec Inc.

Yesterday's automation consisted of fixed infrastructure that couldn't be adjusted to meet changing needs. Not anymore, says Rick DeFiesta, executive vice president of sales and solutions Americas with Geek+.

Taking a holistic view, executives are looking to implement technology and processes that enable resilience not only to address the current supply chain landscape, but to future-proof for the next set of challenges.

Technologies are coming online that can allow companies with a smaller footprint, or with workflows in tighter spaces, to reap the benefits of robotics and automation without having to write a giant check.

Avi Barkay, executive vice president and general manager for North America with Caja Robotics, offers a vision of robotics technology over the next five years.

Artificial intelligence can predict future demand, improve automation and increase transportation efficiency, giving supply chain managers deeper insight and control over every aspect of the chain. But it's not a magic fix.