Exclusive: Warehouse Automation Becomes Essential as MENA Logistics Demand Surges

Warehouse automation is no longer a distant prospect but an immediate necessity for supply chain and logistics leaders in the MENA region. Efficient inventory management, strategic storage, and the rapid movement of goods are critical to remaining competitive. Yet many warehouses across the region still rely on manual processes or limited automation, severely impacting their ability to respond to growing demand and rising customer expectations.

by Rami Younes – General Manager and Head of Sales, Swisslog Middle East

AutoStore has released its annual State of Warehouse Management and Fulfilment 2025 report, identifying warehouse priorities globally and benchmarking the adoption of automation. The report highlights the crucial role of warehouse execution and automation control software in driving operational efficiency. In a logistics market forecast to double in size this year since 2020, and with growing pressure for faster, more accurate order fulfilment, warehouse automation has become indispensable.

Risks of Delayed Automation

Manual operations inherently struggle to scale, making it difficult to keep pace with business growth and shifting consumer expectations. Some 87% of logistics leaders believe that failing to invest in technology will leave them unable to achieve their business objectives, underlining the urgency to automate. Warehouses dependent on manual processes are especially exposed during demand surges, lacking the agility to swiftly adjust storage density and operational speed. With the region’s e-commerce market projected to surpass US$50 billion by 2025, these limitations become even more pressing.

AutoStore’s report also reveals that companies now track performance across as many as 20 metrics — including orders processed per hour, on-time despatch rates, order-picking accuracy, and labour productivity — areas where automation consistently delivers substantial gains.

Maximising Efficiency Through Automation

With automation, warehouses can shift from reactive management to proactive, data-led decision-making. AI-driven analytics identify slow-moving stock, optimise picking routes, and forecast demand fluctuations, markedly improving productivity.

Automated systems manage repetitive tasks — such as picking — swiftly, safely, and with high accuracy, freeing human workers to focus on strategic responsibilities. Robots can carry heavier loads at greater speeds, reducing injury risks and cutting time lost walking the warehouse floor. Such systems regularly achieve picking accuracy rates exceeding 99%, with a single automated picker matching the productivity of up to five manual operators. Storage capacity can increase by as much as four times compared with traditional methods, while storage density improves by up to 150%, enabling warehouses to handle more SKUs without compromising operational speed.

According to the report, improving throughput performance rose to the fourth-highest operational priority in 2025. Automation not only enhances throughput but also enables the dynamic prioritisation of high-demand products, ensuring rapid retrieval during peak trading periods. For example, AutoStore systems can improve bin retrieval speeds by up to 20%.

The Power of Integrated Software

The foundation of successful warehouse automation lies in sophisticated software and fully integrated control systems. As businesses scale their levels of automation to drive productivity and throughput, they risk becoming encumbered by multiple, disconnected software solutions, introducing operational complexity and reducing the ability to harness data and analytics for ongoing improvement.

A unified software platform streamlines operations by integrating disparate automated systems into a single, seamless control interface. This enhances operational resilience, allowing businesses to respond rapidly to changing demand or unforeseen disruptions.

Achieving Sustainable ROI

The financial case for warehouse automation is compelling, with many systems delivering a return on investment within three to five years. This is largely driven by labour cost savings, enhanced operational accuracy, and better space utilisation. In addition, businesses can extend the operational life of existing warehouse facilities, avoiding higher leasing costs, new developments, or the expense and disruption of relocation. These measurable outcomes demonstrate automation’s transformative potential for operational performance and long-term profitability.

The case for warehouse automation in the MENA region is both urgent and clear. As logistics leaders strive to secure a competitive advantage, adopting advanced automated solutions is no longer optional — it is essential. By embracing these technologies, MENA warehouses can significantly improve operational resilience, efficiency, and fulfilment capabilities, better positioning themselves to succeed in a fast-evolving e-commerce market.