Robots Aren't Done Reshaping Warehouses

It's unclear just how much the efficiency gains of robotics will affect the overall demand for warehouse space. Symbotic, for instance, claims it can deliver the same amount as a traditional warehouse operation in half the space. A human and robot tend to take up a similar amount of space on the warehouse floor, but only one needs a break room. A bigger challenge is the industry's aging spaces: A third of warehouses are more than 50 years old, with 70 percent constructed before the 21st century, according to a report from the real estate services firm Newmark. Landlords aren't typically making these investments themselves; tenants and big retailers tend to finance the robotics and automation improvements.