Brownfield Bootcamp – everything you wanted to know about automating manual sites but were afraid to ask

Brownfield Bootcamp: Turning Existing Warehouses into High-Performance Automation Hubs 

Greenfield developments once dominated warehouse automation strategy. But rising construction costs, labour shortages, space constraints and shifting demand have fundamentally changed the landscape. 

In this live webinar, Kevin Price, Logistics Consultant at Dematic, explores why brownfield automation has moved from being an optional upgrade to becoming the primary growth engine of the industry – and how operators can unlock more throughput, storage capacity and efficiency from the facilities they already have.  

Drawing on real-world experience and current market trends, Kevin will break down how the balance has shifted from greenfield expansion to retrofit-first strategies, and what that means for warehouse and supply chain leaders planning investment over the next five years. 

Rather than focusing on technology in isolation, this session will examine the practical realities of modernising live operations – from facility constraints and migration planning to workforce engagement and long-term performance optimisation. 

What you’ll learn: 

• Why brownfield automation is now the dominant strategy for 2026–2030 

• The top 3 reasons why you’d want to automate your brownfield site 

• Which flexible technologies – from cube storage systems to AMRs and pallet shuttle solutions – are most applicable in constrained environments 

• How to implement in phases to minimise disruption and protect continuity 

• The critical role of software integration and system compatibility 

• Why people, process and technology must be aligned for long-term ROI 

• How to measure success post go-live and drive continuous improvement 

Whether you are facing rising labour costs, storage limitations, increasing order volumes or pressure to accelerate fulfilment times, this webinar will provide a practical roadmap for transforming existing assets into scalable, future-ready operations. 

If you are planning automation investment in the next two to three years, this session will help you define the right strategy before committing capital – ensuring faster ROI, lower risk and measurable performance gains.