Beyond the Hype: A Practical Look at Robotics

Season 1, Episode 4: In this episode, ASA’s Nils Swenson sits down with Steve Baer, Chief Logistics Officer at First Supply, to examine what robotics really looks like inside a working distribution operation.Drawing from his experience leading a multi-year implementation, Steve explains how automation requires disciplined process design, clean data, and strong integration — and how robotics is fundamentally reshaping labor inside the warehouse.The discussion explores ROI expectations, operational complexity, cybersecurity risk, change management, and the realities of scaling automation across facilities.This is a candid, experience-driven conversation for distributors evaluating how robotics may alter their workforce model and long-term operating strategy.