Rise of the Robots (and the People Who Sell Them)
Every time a chief executive stands up and promises to 'drive efficiencies', what they are really saying is, "we're buying more robots". Slashing costs on this scale isn't about asking people to work a bit harder. It's about fundamentally re-engineering how goods are stored, sorted, and shipped. This, I think, is where the most interesting, if less glamorous, opportunities might lie.
Companies that provide the nuts and bolts of automation, the scanners, conveyor systems, and clever software that run modern warehouses, could find themselves in a sweet spot. Think of firms like Zebra Technologies or Rockwell Automation. They aren't household names, but their technology is precisely what allows a sprawling giant to become a lean, mean, cost-cutting machine. As more big brands are forced down this path, the demand for their services may well increase. It’s the classic story of selling picks and shovels during a gold rush.