Exotec

ATLANTA – October 29, 2026 -- One in four supply chain leaders wish they had chosen a different automation path, and 94% say switching providers would be prohibitively expensive, according to a survey of 250 North American decision-makers released by warehouse robotics provider Exotec. Most buyers are therefore locked into their chosen system for 10 to 15 years.

Larger companies report more underperformance, not less

Companies with more than $1 billion in revenue were more likely than smaller firms to say their most significant automation investment underperformed (21% vs. 13%). Exotec traces regret to three pre-implementation decisions: underestimating lifetime ownership cost, leaving accountability for issue resolution unclear, and automating before the operation was ready.