WELCOMING MARCH
As we welcome March, I am happy with the progress the ACWI team has achieved, starting the new year off on
the right track. We attended Manifest 2026 and Food Shippers in Las Vegas and Orlando. Our team is emailing the shippers at both conferences, building our database. We picked up some amazing 3PL warehouse companies that joined ACWI.
The strength of the organization is our
members. We are updating our website and hope to have the relaunch completed very soon. We are celebrating our 115th anniversary every month with an entertaining video.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can do anything for our members.
Thank you,
Chris
Enclosed is a link to some good economic data presented at FSA for our members who didn’t attend.
www.FTRintel.com/FSA
ACWI QUARTERLY MEMBER CONFERENCE CALL
APRIL 21 , 2026
4:00PM EST
WAREHOUSING RECOVERY
After two challenging years marked by high financing
costs, oversupply in some markets, and geopolitical uncertainty, the U.S. warehousing sector is entering
2026 is in recovery mode. Companies are moving past short-term disruptions and beginning to plan longer-
term facility investments, with growing demand for
specialized warehouses such as grocery distribution
and Foreign-Trade Zone facilities. However, new development still faces hurdles, including land
competition, energy demands from data centers, and
community resistance to new projects.
SUPPLY CHAIN TRENDS 2026
According to KPMG, supply chains in 2026 will shift beyond simply building resilience and instead focus on delivering
“Total Value, ”integrating cost efficiency, risk management, sustainability, and customer performance across the enterprise. Artificial intelligence and automation are expected to move from pilot programs into core operational systems, supporting procurement, planning, and risk management. At the same time, leaders must navigate ongoing trade disruptions, cybersecurity concerns, and the need for greater visibility and coordination across increasingly complex global supply networks.
LEASE MONETIZATION STRATEGY
Some 3PL operators are exploring real estate lease
monetization strategies as a way to unlock capital from
their warehouse facilities while continuing to operate within them. By restructuring or selling leasehold interests, companies can free up funds for growth initiatives such as technology investment, network expansion, or acquisitions, while maintaining operational control of their logistics footprint.
| What You Can Expect |
MANIFEST 2026 RECAP |
WELCOMING MARCH |
WAREHOUSING RECOVERY |
SUPPLY CHAIN TRENDS 2026 |
LEASE MONETIZATION STRATEGY |
SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE |
COST VS. PERFORMANCE |
INVENTORY ACCURACY RISKS |
3PL LONGEVITY |
COLD CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE GAP |
FLOW VS. STORAGE |
WAREHOUSE INTEGRATION GAP & AUTOMATION TRENDS 2026 |
SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE
Modern supply chains are increasingly being designed with resilience as a competitive advantage, allowing companies to respond more effectively to disruptions such as geopolitical events, economic volatility, and shifting demand. Research shows that while most organizations recognize the financial value of resilient supply networks, many still lack the integrated digital infrastructure needed for full visibility and flexibility. As a result, companies are investing in more connected, technology-driven systems to strengthen agility and long-term performance.
COST VS. PERFORMANCE
Warehouse projects that focus too heavily on minimizing upfront costs can create long-term operational problems once the facility is running. Decisions that seem like small savings during design often lead to inefficiencies in workflow, throughput, and daily operations when forklifts, inventory, and workers are actually moving through the space. Successful projects balance cost control with thoughtful engineering and operational planning to avoid expensive corrections later.
INVENTORY ACCURACY RISKS
Poor inventory accuracy can quietly drive major operational costs when systems show parts in stock but they cannot actually be located. This often leads to downtime, expedited shipping, and duplicate purchases as teams scramble to replace missing items, especially
in complex or remote operations. Improving visibility, cycle counting, and inventory discipline can significantly reduce these hidden costs and improve overall warehouse efficiency.
3PL LONGEVITY
As the average lifespan of large companies continues to shrink, many third-party logistics providers have managed to survive and grow for decades—sometimes even centuries—by constantly evolving their services and technology. Industry leaders emphasize that long- term success comes from continuously adapting to market disruptions, expanding into complementary services, and keeping customer needs at the center of operations. Investing in people, partnerships, and innovation remains key for logistics companies that
want to stay competitive across generations.
COLD CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE GAP
Much of the U.S. cold chain logistics infrastructure was built decades ago for
predictable retail distribution and pallet-based shipping, not today’s complex environment of expanding SKUs, smaller orders, and direct-to-consumer delivery. As demand for faster shipping of temperature-controlled goods grows, many networks are struggling to keep up, creating higher costs, operational workarounds, and service risks. Industry experts say modern cold chain systems must focus on flexible networks, better technology visibility, and distributed inventory closer to end customers.
FLOW VS. STORAGE
Cross-docking highlights a shift in logistics thinking: distribution centers can function as flow-through coordination points rather than long-term storage locations. Instead of holding inventory for extended periods, shipments arrive, are quickly sorted, and move
outbound within hours, reducing the concentration of stock and improving responsiveness. The concept emphasizes designing supply chains around the continuous movement
of goods rather than the accumulation of inventory.
WAREHOUSE INTEGRATION GAP
Industry research shows that while 75% of warehouse leaders say system integration
is essential, the majority of facilities have yet to implement meaningful automation.
In fact, 63% of warehouses still operate fully manually, with only a small percentage
reporting highly automated or fully integrated systems. Many operations rely on
software tools but lack the physical automation equipment needed to build a truly
connected warehouse environment.
WAREHOUSE AUTOMATION TRENDS 2026
Industry experts say warehouse automation in 2026 will be shaped by the growing use of AI-driven robotics, smarter fulfillment systems, and integrated orchestration platforms that coordinate labor, inventory, and equipment in real time. Rather than simply adding more machines, leading operations are focusing on systems that combine robotics, analytics,
and software to improve productivity, accuracy, and scalability across fulfillment networks. The shift reflects a broader move toward data-driven, highly connected warehouses designed to support faster and more flexible supply chains.
MANIFEST 2026 RECAP
A recent podcast recap from The Robot Report highlights key takeaways from the Manifest 2026 supply chain and logistics conference in Las Vegas, where leaders discussed the rapid rise of warehouse robotics and automation. The episode features conversations with executives from robotics companies focused on AI-driven inventory scanning, autonomous material handling, and next-generation warehouse systems that aim to improve efficiency and visibility across logistics operations.
