Covid-19, Warehouse Automation and National Security
/One big takeaway from Covid-19, is that we have learned the lengths people will go to for a roll of toilet paper, hand sanitizer or pasta, and even gluten-free pasta. Shoppers behaving badly was mildly amusing, albeit a little sad as panic buying emptied store shelves quicker then they could be restocked. Grocery stores and supply chains in general were wildly unprepared for a pandemic and the sudden surge in demand for certain products.
So, what would have happened if the food supply chain had been seriously compromised? What if we all collectively had to go into survival mode to provide for our loved ones? Would we find ourselves battling in a Max Max Thunderdome situation?
Companies like Amazon, with their 400,000 warehouse workers, could argue that it is imperative to national security to make the supply chain as “pandemic proof” as possible to ensure the integrity of food supply chains so we don’t have to battle in the Thunderdome for toilet paper and rice. When it comes to warehouses, “pandemic-proof” means less or no humans and more robots and automation. It’s crazy to think that in a matter of a few months, the case for warehouse automation has been bolstered significantly. Pre Covid-19, warehouse automation was about reducing costs and doing more with less human labor. A legitimate case can be made that it’s not just about reducing costs anymore, it’s about national security. The question of human labor versus automation in warehouses has now permanently shifted in automation’s favor.
