From chaos to control

Breda, 14 May 2025

How laboratory automation and warehouse logistics strengthen each other.

When you think of laboratory automation, warehouse logistics probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind—and the reverse is even less likely. Yet these two worlds share more common ground than you might expect. In fact, not only can they learn a lot from each other, they actually need one another to function at their best.

Both environments revolve around control and efficiency. Consider the tightly coordinated processes in a warehouse: receiving goods, assigning storage locations, processing orders, picking items, shipping, and invoicing. Everything follows a logical sequence, often driven by ERP systems, ensuring nothing is lost and the right goods are in the right place at the right time. The same kind of logic applies to an automated laboratory. There too, the goal is to work as quickly and accurately as possible—for instance, transporting samples to the appropriate devices following a workflow that’s been optimized for efficiency.

What truly connects both processes is the critical importance of precision. In a warehouse, it's essential that the correct items are received and processed. Even a small error in quantity or storage location can have significant repercussions throughout the entire supply chain. The same is true in a lab: robots and devices must work together seamlessly to produce reliable research results.Another striking similarity is the flow of incoming and outgoing materials. In a warehouse, items are delivered, stored, and eventually shipped out. In a lab, samples come in, are analyzed, and exit the process—albeit accompanied by important data. Every step must be registered and monitored.

Storage and location management is yet another shared challenge. Warehouses are constantly working to organize space as efficiently as possible—a continuous puzzle of shifting and adjusting. Laboratories face a similar issue: how do you store samples under the right conditions without wasting space, while still ensuring maximum accessibility?

It becomes clear that laboratory automation and warehouse logistics not only have the potential to learn from one another—they’re increasingly interdependent. Think of automated signals between systems that trigger restocking of consumables or request new samples. Or shared infrastructures that provide real-time information access to both lab staff and logistics teams.

The line between these two domains is steadily blurring. Where once there were separate systems and departments, today we see them moving forward together toward a shared mission: gaining control over processes, minimizing waste, and reaching valuable insights faster.

In short, moving from chaos to control becomes much more achievable when the warehouse and the lab work hand in hand.