Warehouse automation is reshaping global supply chains, delivering striking gains in efficiency—processing speeds up by 167%, order accuracy up 35%, and workplace injuries down 78.4%. Yet this transformation is not purely technical; it profoundly affects the people who keep logistics running. Drawing on findings from a multi‑country study across 57 distribution centers and 1,783 workers, this session explores the complex workforce impact behind automation. After deployment, headcount reductions averaged 38.4%, with entry‑level roles seeing displacement rates above 60%. Only 21.3% of displaced workers qualified for new technical roles, intensifying wage gaps as technical positions rose to $38.20/hour while manual wages stagnated.

For the Linux and open‑source community driving many of these systems, the challenge is designing automation that elevates rather than excludes. Case studies show that collaborative human‑robot systems can boost throughput by 41.7% while reducing walking distance by 67.3%. Workforce training programs of 160+ hours yielded $4.23 ROI per dollar and cut turnover by 58.4%. Regions coupling these initiatives with tiered benefits, tax incentives, and educational reforms achieved 41.7% higher career transition rates and 73.6% job placements within 120 days.

Join this talk to see how inclusive design, open innovation, and thoughtful policy can guide the next wave of warehouse automation toward sustainable, human‑centered growth.