MIT’s Warehouse of the Future Initiative develops research on highly automated, interconnected warehouses. This work highlights five major disruptions—cyberattacks, outages, sabotage, technology failures, and accidents—along with 26 vulnerabilities that threaten highly automated warehouse operations. Reliance on cloud-based systems and Robotics-as-a-Service expands the cyberattack surface, while advanced hardware like Autonomous Mobile Robots introduces new safety and operational complexities. To build resilience, businesses should develop robust cybersecurity measures, enhance workforce training, and create effective risk mitigation strategies. This includes improving technology evaluation, vendor management, and system integration, supported by strong security standards that guard against attacks on suppliers.
Equally important is ensuring redundancy and high availability for critical systems such as Warehouse Management Systems, as well as multiple network and power access points. Manual back-to-manual procedures are crucial for maintaining continuity when technology fails. Finally, the study stresses the need for broader collaboration among stakeholders—including government institutions, reliable vendors, and fellow industry players—to address shared vulnerabilities and sustain innovation. By balancing automation with robust safeguards, warehouses can remain flexible, resilient, and poised to meet the demands of future supply chains.
Download the full report here.
Download the 3-page executive summary here.
About the MIT Omnichannel Supply Chain Lab
The MIT Omnichannel Supply Chain Lab is developing new insight into how omnichannel fulfillment transforms supply chains through cutting-edge research with innovative companies.
- The rapid growth of mobile technology and e-commerce has dramatically changed customer behaviors and the needs of the different supply chain actors that support these behaviors.
- Our research identifies key challenges in responding to omnichannel market demands and develops strategies to face these challenges.
- The goal is to help companies identify new capabilities and technologies that will unlock new opportunities for growth and efficiency in omnichannel distribution networks.
- Our core areas of expertise include fulfillment strategies, trends in warehouse automation, omnichannel returns, and the role of AI in omnichannel and e-commerce.