Michael Rentz

Warehousing historically hasn’t been a particularly exciting topic. But times have changed. Thanks to technological innovations, warehouse automation has made the receiving, housing, and distributing of goods truly fascinating stuff. At Supply Chain Now, we spotlight companies doing exciting things throughout the industry. In modern warehousing, the innovations garnering attention include systems integrations involving robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI); the use of optical character recognition (OCR) technology in yard management; an “elegant” automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS); and a solution called Chuck. Warehousing at a Crossroads: Innovation for Efficiency “The warehousing industry is experiencing a technological revolution, with advancements in automation, robotics, IoT, AI, and data analytics transforming operations and driving efficiency. These innovations are not just enhancing operational capabilities but are also paving the way for smarter, more connected, and efficient warehouse environments,” an October report by Taiwan-based logistics property developer ALP said. ALP said AS/RSs, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and robotics “are at the forefront of the smart warehousing revolution. These systems enhance efficiency, reduce labor costs, and improve accuracy.” AI and Robotics: A New Frontier for Modern Warehousing A Forbes Council post in November said that “one of the most visible impacts of AI and…

At MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, Scott Luton sat down with Christine Barnhart, Head of Industry Engagement & Alliances at Miebach. She is known by many across industry as “The Supply Chain Whisperer.” Their conversation covered everything from AI and supply chain maturity to workforce evolution and the importance of practical execution. Through it all, Barnhart offered a grounded perspective shaped by years of operational leadership and transformation work. And if there’s one central takeaway from the discussion, it’s this: the companies that succeed won’t be the ones chasing hype. But they WILL be the ones building resilient, executable supply chains.   There Is No “Normal” Anymore Supply chain leaders have spent years navigating disruption, but Barnhart believes the industry has finally reached an important realization. “People have finally come to this conclusion that there is no such thing as normal anymore,” she explains. That mindset shift is changing how organizations think about planning, investment, and agility. Network design exercises that once happened every three to five years are now being revisited continuously. Companies are investing in tools that shorten decision cycles and improve responsiveness in near real time. The old approach that focused on “design once, optimize later” – –…