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Automation is Inevitable in the Logistics Revolution
WRITTEN BY DAN MILLAR, CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER AT MISTYWEST
We are living in a technological revolution where AI and automation promise to increase efficiency, tackle long-standing bottlenecks, and streamline logistics operations–but implementing these technologies at scale comes with significant challenges (and concerns).
To gain perspective on what the future holds for global supply chain technology, we hosted a Vancouver Hardware Meetup on The Tech Driving Modern Logistics, where MistyWest CEO Taylor Cooper asked a panel of experts about innovation, automation, and regulation.
Our panelists—with industry experience in logistics, aerospace, rail, and manufacturing—shared their insights on what’s next and how businesses can prepare for the changing landscape of supply chain technology.
Left to Right: Panelists Mark Roth, Adam Nori and Chonchol Gupta
The elephant in the room: supply chains still can’t keep up
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 sent e-commerce demand skyrocketing and overwhelmed existing infrastructure. Fulfillment centers struggled with labor retention, and high turnover rates forced companies to increase wages, offer incentives, and implement automation solutions faster than anticipated.
5 years later, supply chains still can’t keep up – wages haven’t kept pace with inflation or the increased cost of living, and warehouse workers are leaving for better-paying or less strenuous jobs.
“Labor shortages aren’t going away,” noted Mark Roth, Head of the Advanced Design Center at Avery Dennison. “Businesses that fail to integrate automation into their logistics strategy will struggle to stay competitive.”
But the panel agreed that supply chains won’t “fix themselves” with technology alone. While AI, robotics, and automation can improve efficiency, addressing workforce gaps and modernizing infrastructure will create more resilience against disruptions.
The future requires human-AI collaboration
A common concern surrounding automation is the fear that robots will replace human workers. Many longshore unions are strongly opposed to automation, fearing job losses and reduced bargaining power, and have been pushing back against new technologies.
However, the panelists emphasized that the goal is augmentation, not replacement. Automation isn’t about replacing jobs, but filling critical labor gaps. Warehouses, ports, and rail industries struggle with worker shortages, and AI/robotics help meet demand where humans aren’t available.
Ports have been slow to adopt new technology due to pushback from longshore unions
Co-founder of Glīd Technologies Kevin Damoa discussed how they are tackling automation in logistics, particularly in rail and freight transportation, by developing autonomous, road-to-rail vehicles that increase operational efficiency while creating new job opportunities in port-adjacent communities.
“We don’t want to displace people—we want to retrain and upskill them,” Damoa explained. “The future of logistics isn’t about fewer workers; it’s about smarter, tech-enabled teams who can manage and optimize automated systems.”
The human workforce is going to evolve, and there will be increased demand for technical skills and AI-driven decision-making. The ideal future is one of hybrid automation, where AI and robotics handle repetitive, dangerous, or high-precision tasks while human workers focus on supervision, troubleshooting, and higher-value decision-making.
Left to Right: Panelists Chonchol Gupta, Kevin Damoa, and Moderator Taylor Cooper
Freight trains are moving at a snail’s pace
Despite its central role in global logistics, the rail industry has been slow to adopt modern technology.
“The way we track rail shipments today is basically still in the rotary phone era, while the rest of the world has moved on to iPhones,” shared Adam Nori, President of Pacific Alpine Rail Advisors. “There’s little real-time visibility, and customers are left guessing where their shipments are. We need to modernize these systems to match the pace of innovation happening elsewhere.”
Outdated infrastructure has long been a bottleneck in supply chain efficiency, and technological innovations are critical to modernizing industries that still rely on decades-old systems. Nori is working on bringing data-driven solutions with real-time visibility to rail movements through RailState, which provides businesses with accurate insights into where their cargo is, when it will arrive, and how to optimize routes.
Rail logistics are still in their rotary phone era
AI adoption requires major policy updates
You’ve heard this from us before: while automation and AI promise massive improvements in logistics, regulatory hurdles can slow down adoption.
“Regulations weren’t written with autonomous logistics in mind,” shared Damoa on his experience navigating these challenges with Glīd. “It’s a long process to prove that these technologies aren’t just innovative but also safe, reliable, and worth the investment.”
An audience member asks our panel a question during our lively Q&A
In sectors like rail, trucking, and warehousing, businesses must work alongside regulators to update policies that allow for wider adoption of AI-driven automation. Ports, however, are uniquely complex environments, and the introduction of automation without workforce integration can lead to strikes, political pushback, and operational delays.
The best way to accelerate adoption is through small-scale pilots that demonstrate clear value before widespread implementation. By working with private sector partners and governments, companies can create evidence-based case studies that support gradual, data-driven automation efforts rather than abrupt shifts that disrupt port operations.
Automation is inevitable
The panelists agreed that collaboration between human expertise and emerging technologies will define the future of logistics, with Rebirth Analytics CEO Chonchol Gupta adding that predictive analytics and AI can help companies anticipate supply chain disruptions and adjust strategies before crises occur.
“Supply chain disruptions may seem unpredictable, but AI lets us turn uncertainty into foresight,” Gupta explained. “Companies that embrace predictive risk intelligence can prevent costly delays, optimize routes, and mitigate disruptions before they happen.”
But even with the blue sky promises of AI and automation, there is still skepticism around the narrative of “automation creating new jobs” when companies often prioritize cost savings over workforce expansion. Businesses adopt automation because it boosts efficiency and reduces costs—they rarely invest in workforce upskilling unless there’s government funding, tax breaks, or labor agreements.
The core takeaway is that automation is inevitable, and its impact on jobs depends on incentives and corporate responsibility. To maximize productivity without eroding job markets, there will need to be strategic reinvestment in training and upskilling, or else the workforce risks being left behind in the race toward AI-driven supply chains.