2025 Warehousing Survey
Cisco-Eagle's survey: what are warehouse operators' driving concerns this year?
It started with a simple question: What’s your biggest operational challenge?
We didn’t expect leaders in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution to respond with such clarity, but they did. And what we heard wasn’t vague. It was precise, urgent, and reflective of a sector that’s evolving in real time.
Leaders told us what’s driving their priorities in 2025. Here’s what they said, and what it means for the future of your facility
You gave us a front-row seat to the pressures shaping your work. The stressors. The hopes. The vision. And beneath all of it? A message that’s loud and clear: Operations leaders are under pressure—intense pressure—to solve complex, interconnected problems…with fewer resources, less time, and often, not enough people.
Let’s unpack what you told us.
The Top Challenge of 2024: Labor. Again.
We asked, “What was your biggest operational challenge last year?” More than a third of you (33.76%) answered: “Labor: shortages, quality, or other issues.”
Hiring is hard. Retention is harder. Training is nonstop. And many of you added that when you do find people, the ramp-up takes time, and turnover erases progress. This isn’t new—but it’s not getting better either.
In fact, if our survey had an emotional undertone, it would be this: “We’re tired of running uphill while building the hill.”
Other challenges weren’t far behind:
- Supply chain disruptions – 21.37% of respondents
- Facility constraints (space, location) – 15.81%
- Equipment issues (maintenance, upgrades) – 12.39%
- Safety & ergonomics – 8.55%
- “Other” issues – 8.12% (many of which circled back to labor and cost pressures)
In your own words, we heard things like:
“We can’t grow without better people.”
“Space is maxed out.”
“Equipment is aging fast—and downtime is killing us.”
“We want to automate more, but leadership is hesitant to invest.”
Read more: Ways to optimize industrial labor
Looking Ahead: Where Focus Shifts in 2025
When we asked what you’ll prioritize in 2025, the rankings told a new story. Here’s how you scored the top focus areas:
Let’s break that down.
You’re still investing in automation but with a sharpened lens on cost efficiency, safety, and accuracy. The era of automation for automation’s sake is over. You want systems that pay for themselves—not sci-fi prototypes that look cool but break budgets. And while expansion was a bigger issue in 2024, it’s now less urgent than fixing what’s inside the walls. First comes optimization. Then growth.
This theme repeats across the board: Make what we already have better—safer, leaner, and smarter—before asking for more.
Read more: Automation: It’s not all or nothing
The Human Factor: Still the X-Factor
In the optional open-ended responses, one word appeared more than any other: “People.”
- “We need employees who care.”
- “Training is a constant struggle.”
- “Labor is a challenge, and automation only works when people are engaged.”
Several respondents mentioned the frustration of hiring, onboarding, and retaining talent in roles that are demanding—and too often underappreciated. Others talked about improving ergonomics, reducing fatigue, and building safer environments to keep the people they already have.
The subtext? Automation won’t replace people—it needs to empower them.
Read more: Recruitment & retention for warehouses and manufacturing facilities
What This Means for 2025 (and You)
We see five big takeaways in this year’s survey:
- Labor pain isn’t going away – If anything, it’s intensifying. Solutions that reduce dependency on manual labor—or make those roles more desirable—are going to win.
- Efficiency is the new currency – You’re not chasing growth for the sake of it. You’re chasing smart growth. Systems that improve throughput, reduce rework, or cut unnecessary steps are the new gold standard.
- Automation is still hot, but only when it’s coldly effective – Leaders want ROI, not robotics for the sake of buzzwords
- Safety isn’t a compliance checkbox, it’s strategic – The best operations know when people feel safe, they perform better. Full stop.
- Leaders want partners, not vendors – That came through loud and clear in the comments. You’re not looking for someone to sell you equipment. You’re looking for someone who understands your operation, thinks strategically, and delivers solutions that actually work
So, what now?
If 2024 was about reacting to pressure, 2025 is about making smarter, more intentional moves under it.
Operations leaders aren’t waiting for the labor market to improve or for supply chains to stabilize, they’re tightening processes, automating with purpose, and designing safer, more resilient facilities.
Efficiency has become a non-negotiable. Every wasted motion, idle moment, or inefficient layout is under scrutiny. And while automation remains a key focus, leaders are past the hype phase. It’s no longer about what’s cutting-edge—it’s about what works, integrates, and pays for itself.
What’s clear is that the future belongs to companies that move deliberately, prioritize their people, and stay relentlessly focused on continuous improvement. That’s the playbook for 2025, and it’s already being written.
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Evan Fleishacker