Warehouse Automation Rollout That Works: Align Teams, Focus on Workflows, Skip the Feature Trap

Automation is rapidly gaining momentum in the warehouse and logistics world, but meaningful, scalable success remains elusive. While the technology is reliable and the benefits are clear, a mere 20% of warehouses in North America have implemented any type of automation, according to a 2024 McKinsey report. While the majority of logistics and supply chain leaders surveyed—70% of a group of 65 executives—intend to allocate close to $100 million toward automation initiatives over the next few years, actual adoption remains far behind intent. The result is a landscape where many organizations remain stuck between pilot projects and a full automation rollout.

So, with investment plans accelerating but adoption still lagging, what does it really take to move beyond the pilot phase and scale automation across an entire network, confidently and effectively?

In the premiere episode of Robot vs. Wild, presented by Vecna Robotics, host and Chief Marketing Officer Josh Kivenko teams up with Industry Solutions Manager Mick Clarke to explore how organizations can execute automation rollouts that succeed not just in theory, but in real-world conditions.. Drawing from Vecna’s extensive deployment experience, the conversation zeroes in on proven strategies, common pitfalls, and the cultural and organizational frameworks needed for sustainable growth.

The key topics of discussion are…

• Think in workflows, not warehouses: The fastest path to scale is to replicate a successful workflow across multiple sites, not to aim for full-facility automation all at once.
• Build alignment across the organization: From corporate to site-level teams and labor on the ground, shared goals and open communication are essential for scaling automation effectively.
• Avoid the feature trap: Waiting for a perfect or overly customized solution delays ROI—start with what works now, and expand based on proven functionality.

Mick Clarke is a seasoned supply chain automation and robotics strategy expert with a strong background in engineering, sales, and operations across growth-stage robotics startups. He has led successful go-to-market strategies, revenue generation, and solution development for companies like Vecna Robotics, ForwardX Robotics, and E80 Group, focusing on AMR and AGV systems in CPG, food & beverage, and manufacturing. His expertise includes consultative selling, ROI analysis, and cross-functional alignment to drive scalable automation solutions across enterprise environments.