The world of warehouse automation is evolving rapidly, but one persistent challenge remains: transparency. Many businesses looking to implement automation solutions struggle with understanding costs, feasibility, and available options. The New Warehouse Podcast covers an innovative solution for addressing automation transparency. Guests Christoph Buchmann, Managing Director at iAutomate, and TJ Fanning, VP of Sales at Kardex, discuss how they make warehouse automation more accessible and efficient.
Breaking Down Barriers to Transparency in Automation
One of the biggest obstacles in warehouse automation is the lack of pricing clarity. End users often struggle to determine the cost of solutions, leading to lengthy procurement cycles and missed opportunities. iAutomate aims to streamline the automation procurement process, acting as a bridge between solution providers and end users. “We’re actually in very exciting times for our industry,” says Buchmann. “We’re going through a huge transformation—AI, data analytics, robotic capabilities—but the real challenge is helping businesses navigate these innovations efficiently.”
“Fundamentally, every integrator thinks their value is in creating something custom,” explains Fanning. “But when you talk to customers, they don’t want a one-off build—they want proven, scalable solutions. And yet, when you ask how much automation costs, the answer is often, ‘We’ll get back to you in six months.’”
iAutomate changes this by providing instant, data-driven insights into warehouse automation solutions. Through an intuitive digital platform, businesses can quickly estimate automation costs, identify suitable technologies, and compare solutions in real-time. “It shouldn’t be that hard to answer the question, ‘Should I be looking at automation?’” says Buchmann. “By empowering businesses with fast, clear answers, we’re accelerating the entire industry.”
How iAutomate and Kardex Empower Decision-Making
In collaboration with Kardex, iAutomate has also integrated its capabilities into the StoreX Calculator, a cutting-edge tool designed to help businesses assess the feasibility of AutoStore solutions. Instead of spending months gathering data and consulting engineers, users can generate a rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate in minutes.
“Our tool can take just eight questions from the user and process over 200 variables in the backend to generate an accurate pricing model,” explains Fanning. “That includes factors like seismic conditions, energy requirements, and even real-time currency exchange rates.”
The StoreX Calculator allows users to input their operational data—such as daily order volume, SKU count, and available space—to generate an estimated ROI, storage capacity, system footprint, and cost savings. This knowledge allows warehouse operators to quickly visualize the potential impact of an automation investment before committing.
“With iAutomate, businesses are not just guessing—they’re making data-backed decisions in minutes instead of months,” says Buchmann.
Key Takeaways on Automation Transparency
- Lack of transparency has long been a challenge in warehouse automation. Solution providers often hesitate to share pricing and feasibility upfront, delaying decision-making.
- iAutomate simplifies automation procurement. Businesses can receive rapid estimates and validate solutions before engaging with vendors.
- The StoreX Calculator enhances AutoStore evaluation. By inputting key operational metrics, businesses can generate 2D and 3D layouts, cost estimates, and projected savings.
- Automation is more accessible than ever. While large-scale solutions dominate marketing, iAutomate and Kardex reveal that many solutions are scalable and affordable for smaller businesses.
- Solution providers benefit, too. By filtering high-probability leads faster, iAutomate allows sales teams to focus on serious buyers rather than spending time on unqualified inquiries.
