Managing director Nick Crewe described automation as a major economic shift
Automation-ready warehouses are rapidly becoming some of the UK’s most valuable logistics assets as businesses race to improve productivity, reduce labour pressures and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Engineering consultancy MBA Consulting Engineers, part of Contollo Group, said the growing shift towards automation is transforming not only warehouse operations, but also the way logistics facilities are financed, designed and constructed.
The company said rising labour costs, staff shortages and mounting pressure on operational efficiency are driving businesses to invest heavily in automated logistics systems capable of delivering faster throughput and lower long-term costs.
Although automation requires significant upfront investment, MBA said businesses are increasingly viewing the costs as worthwhile due to reduced reliance on labour and improved operational performance.
Managing director Nick Crewe described automation as a major economic shift rather than simply a technical upgrade.
“Automation is no longer a technical upgrade, it’s an economic strategy,” he said.
“It changes the cost base of logistics, the risk profile of development, and the performance expectations placed on the built environment.”
Mr Crewe said businesses that adapt quickest would be best placed to remain competitive as market pressures intensify.
MBA said the rise of automation is also reshaping the construction sector, with developers now required to deliver more technically advanced logistics buildings capable of supporting automated systems.
Modern facilities increasingly require higher structural performance, greater ceiling heights, precision-engineered flooring and stronger power resilience to support automated operations.
According to the company, these specifications are becoming an economic necessity rather than simply a design preference, as automated systems can only achieve maximum efficiency when supported by suitable infrastructure.
For logistics operators, automation is increasingly seen as a response to wider economic pressures, including labour shortages, wage inflation and the need for continuous 24-hour operations.
MBA said automated facilities can help businesses improve reliability, increase throughput and reduce long-term fulfilment costs while protecting profit margins in a volatile trading environment.
“Automation is fundamentally about productivity,” Mr Crewe said.
“It allows organisations to scale without being constrained by labour availability or wage inflation.”
The consultancy also highlighted broader economic implications, arguing that automation-ready warehouses are attracting higher-value investment and helping strengthen UK supply chain resilience.
At the same time, construction firms are being pushed to adopt new engineering standards, develop specialist skills and work more closely with automation technology providers.
MBA said sustainability also remains central to the future of automated logistics infrastructure.
The company argued that well-designed automated facilities can help reduce operational carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and cut waste levels.
“Automation and sustainability are not competing priorities,” Mr Crewe said.
“With the right modelling, we can balance embodied carbon, operational efficiency and capital cost in a way that strengthens long term economic value.”
MBA continues to work on major automated logistics projects for companies including Ocado, Amazon, Marks & Spencer and Tesco.
Mr Crewe said automation would play a defining role in shaping the future of both logistics and construction over the next decade.
“Automation will shape the future of logistics and construction,” he said, “but the real economic advantage will come from how organisations use it; not just to cut costs, but to rethink what’s possible.”