Warehouse operators are accelerating automation as wages rise and consumers demand faster deliveries, writes Liz Young of the WSJ Logistics Report. North American companies ordered almost 18,000 robots worth about $1.2 billion in the first half of this year, a 2% rise in units and a 7% jump in value compared to the same period last year, according to the Association for Advancing Automation. Last year, firms purchased more than 36,700 robots, the highest number of orders since 2022. The trend reflects the sector’s push to keep costs down while meeting the growing need for rapid fulfillment.

Although the growth is modest, it signals a steady shift toward automated storage and retrieval systems in logistics hubs across the continent. Companies are investing in robotics to improve accuracy, reduce labor reliance, and scale operations in response to the fast‑paced e‑commerce market.

The data also highlight how automation is becoming an essential strategy for warehouses to remain competitive and meet the expectations of today’s consumers.