Warehousing is suffering from an acute shortfall of labor. Is automation the answer?

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+.

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.

Automation can help warehouses address problems of labor scarcity and rising inflation, but is it cost-effective enough to justify the effort? Jan Bednar, chief executive officer of Shipmonk, offers a perspective.

Oliver Hedgepeth, professor of logistics with American Public University System online, offers guidance on what warehouse employers and workers must do to adjust to the new age of automation.

Robots offer a solution to both short- and long-term challenges that arise with the growth of e-commerce fulfillment, says Lior Elazary, chief executive officer and co-founder of inVia Robotics.