Miebach at the EHI Session “The Future of Retail Logistics 2036”

Addressing the question of how retail logistics could evolve over the next ten years and how new conditions and technologies might impact future logistics solutions, the EHI Retail Institute conducted its scenario study “The Future of Retail Logistics 2036.” The study’s findings form the basis of the online session of the same name on 22 September 2026, which will explore different perspectives on the future of retail logistics. 

Miebach will be represented by Stephen Klein, Head of Engineering Retail, who will discuss how companies can plan logistics and automation concepts to ensure they remain adaptable in the long term, even as requirements continue to change. 

Greenfield or Brownfield? What matters is what can still be changed tomorrow 

Greenfield offers maximum design freedom, while brownfield leverages existing structures and comes with a different set of constraints. However, this traditional comparison is increasingly falling short: long-term planning assumptions are becoming less certain, while the range of available technological solutions continues to expand. 

New automation approaches are creating additional opportunities to further develop existing sites and implement investments incrementally, without fundamentally diminishing the importance of traditional automation. Alongside throughput, costs and space requirements, another question is therefore becoming increasingly important: How easily can a system be expanded, modified or complemented by new technologies in the future? 

Software, integration and data also play an important role, as they help determine how adaptable an automation concept actually is. Drawing on practical project experience, Stephen Klein will put these developments into context and highlight their implications for future investment and planning decisions in retail.