Lucas Systems has published a market study suggesting that 51% of US supply chain executives said their automation systems are unprepared to deal with unforeseen changes.
The statistically-significant study, conducted in partnership with Wakefield Research, polled 114 US-based supply chain executives to examine the nature of their automation adaptability.
Additionally, Lucas Systems leveraged its experience as a distribution centre technology provider that distributes software to workers in more than 400 warehouses worldwide to create a comprehensive review.
Utilising that experience, the study sought to gain insight from the sector – specifically in the US – to deem whether the industry was built to handle automation changes.
In the study, Lucas Systems reported that warehouses haven’t done what it takes to be adaptable as 77% of respondents admit that at least half of their hardware or software systems are too rigid to meet need for responding to unplanned disruptions.
Additionally, 60% of supply chain executives who reported rigidity say they’ve incurred between 11%-25% additional operating costs or losses from lack of automation adaptability when dealing with disruptions or new requirements.
Disruptions such as system downtime, equipment failure, labour shortages and unexpected demand spikes can paralyse a warehouse.
The rate of these disruptions does not appear to be slowing down. The study showed that 85% of respondents experienced up to 10 significant, unplanned disruptions in just the past year, while another 7% experienced more than 10 of these disruptions.
Lastly, about 51% of the study’s respondents report more unplanned operational disruptions than three years ago in the aftermath of COVID.
Lucas Systems chief marketing officer, Ken Ramoutar, said: “Unplanned warehouse disruptions are on the rise since the Covid pandemic.
“If your automation can’t quickly adapt to in-the-moment shifts, then your warehouses are at a real disadvantage.”
Lucas Systems will be exhibiting at IntraLogistex on the 18th and 19th March at Stand 330.
is moving to Dallas in 2026, bringing the industry’s leading trade show & conference to one of North America’s most important logistics hubs.
