Swisslog Urges Warehouse Operators To Prioritise Design Over Equipment Selection

Australian businesses investing in warehouse automation should focus on the quality of solution design rather than leading with equipment selection, according to logistics automation provider, Swisslog.

The company argues that while it can be tempting to start by evaluating specific robots, storage systems or picking solutions, the more critical question is how chosen technology will function as part of the broader operation, both now and as the business evolves.

Data Before Equipment

The Director of Sales for Swisslog Australia and New Zealand, Steve Dimitrovski, contends that the design process should begin with operational data rather than technology choices.

“Automation is a significant investment, so businesses need to look beyond what the system can deliver on day one,” Dimitrovski noted.

“The design process needs to consider the operational data, peak demand, future growth, changing SKU profiles and how all the different technologies will work together. That is where the long-term value of an automation project is established.”

Swisslog recommends that a robust automation design should draw on historical order profiles, SKU velocities, inventory levels and replenishment patterns to build an accurate picture of how a system needs to perform across both normal and peak conditions.

“Designing around an average day can give you a very different result from designing around the reality of your operation,” Dimitrovski explained.

“You need to understand what happens when volumes increase, when the order profile changes and when multiple channels are being fulfilled at the same time.”

Simulation To Identify Bottlenecks Early

Swisslog highlights simulation modelling as an important part of the design process, allowing potential bottlenecks and constraints to be identified before equipment is ordered.

For technologies such as AutoStore, simulation can be used to assess different combinations of robots, bins and ports and test how a system responds to changing throughput requirements. The objective is to understand where constraints may emerge under pressure, not simply to demonstrate that a system works.

“Simulation gives you an opportunity to identify problems before they become expensive problems on the warehouse floor,” Dimitrovski commented.

Designing For Future Growth

The company also stresses that future expansion needs to be factored into the initial design phase. A system that meets current requirements may become a constraint if volumes, SKU numbers or fulfilment channels increase over time.

Modular automation technologies can provide opportunities to expand capacity, but the ability to do so efficiently depends on decisions made during the original design.

“Growth needs to be designed in, rather than treated as an afterthought,” Dimitrovski remarked.

Software Integration Across Multiple Technologies

As warehouses increasingly combine robotics, automated storage, conveyors, sortation and other technologies, these systems need to operate in a coordinated manner.

Swisslog’s SynQ software platform provides an integration and orchestration layer across automated material flows, connecting different technologies as operations evolve.

Evaluating Proposals On Design Depth

Dimitrovski argues that businesses should assess automation proposals based on the quality of the analysis behind them, rather than comparing equipment specifications or headline pricing alone.

“Two proposals can look very similar on paper, but the depth of the design work behind them can be very different,” he observed.

“The right questions are: what data has been used, what scenarios have been tested, where are the constraints, and how can the system expand in the future?”

For Australian and New Zealand businesses investing in warehouse automation, Swisslog maintains that getting those questions answered before equipment is ordered can reduce project risk and create a system capable of delivering value well beyond its first day of operation.

Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Nick Ross