What a year it was. In 2023, materials handling operations worked smarter than ever as consumers began returning to brick-and-mortar stores. For many brands this was a year of reflection marked by an effort to understand at a more granular level the normalizations of consumer behavior and buying preferences that evolved. Many used this time to try to understand not only where growth will occur and what it means for their business, but also how they can make their materials handling and fulfillment operations even more effective. Simultaneously, several trends emerged – or one could argue remained – as top-of-mind concerns for warehouse operators and executives. With that in mind, here are some thoughts on the trends that shaped 2023 and predictions for what will remain particularly prescient in the year to come. (....)