The New Warehouse

Recent Episodes

1. Unit AI: They Don’t Sell Robots, They Sell Capacity

   Aug 3, 2026

   Kevin Lawton interviews Avihou Barkay (Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer) and Guy Glass (Co-Founder and CEO) of Unit AI, a new entrant in warehouse automation focused on solving e-commerce logistics challenges. Unit AI has developed a plug-and-play micro ASRS platform using palm-sized robots designed specifically for direct-to-consumer fulfillment, returns processing, and last-mile logistics. The system emphasizes accessibility through low capital costs (~$200K vs $5-12M for traditional ASRS), rapid deployment (one week vs months), and a pay-per-use model ($0.14 per presentation) to align vendor and customer incentives.

2. The E-Com 3PL Playbook: Win Brands, Scale Ops, & Protect Margins

   Aug 1, 2026

   Kevin Lawton hosts a live panel discussion on e-commerce fulfillment for 3PLs, featuring Matt Hertz from 3rd Person (a 3PL marketplace and discovery platform), Elon Partook from Octopus (a margin protection and costing software), and Vic Rani from Lenify (a WMS) and consultant. The panel covers three critical challenges for 3PLs: acquiring direct-to-consumer (D2C) clients without competing solely on price, transitioning operations from B2B/wholesale to unit-level e-commerce picking, and protecting margins through transparency and SKU-level profitability analysis. Key themes include defining a narrow ICP, avoiding price-obsessed brands, implementing transparent billing systems, and leveraging data to identify and eliminate silent margin leakage.

3. Parcel Carrier Diversification Strategy for Better, Faster Delivery

   Jul 29, 2026

   Ben Cransberry, Head of Go-to-Market and Partnerships at Parcel, discusses the company's approach to parcel carrier diversification and alternative carrier access. With 20 years in logistics and prior experience at Shopify managing carrier partnerships, Cransberry explains how Parcel aggregates volume across shippers to provide access to 12+ alternative and regional parcel carriers, consolidating pickups, sortation, and middle-mile logistics while maintaining a branded tracking experience for end consumers. The episode covers market dynamics, the risks of over-diversification, zone-skipping strategies, and how 3PLs can leverage Parcel as a competitive differentiator in their sales process.

4. Protecting Margins in Fulfillment with River Plate

   Jul 27, 2026

   Leo Rodriguez, Vice President at River Plate, discusses the company's evolution from a regional freight and logistics carrier into a full-service 3PL specializing in e-commerce fulfillment, retail distribution, and multi-channel order processing. The episode covers operational strategies for managing rapid brand scaling, maintaining margins across complex fulfillment channels, and the importance of proactive collaboration between 3PLs and their clients. Rodriguez emphasizes data visibility, EDI/API integrations, parcel rate optimization, and the balance between automation and personalized service for specialty operations like beauty and cosmetics fulfillment.

5. AI-Enabled Warehouses: Insights from Dr. Jim Tompkins

   Jul 22, 2026

   Dr. Jim Tompkins, Chairman and Founder of Tompkins Ventures, discusses his keynote presentation "The Great Rebuild" and outlines four phases of artificial intelligence adoption in enterprise operations. He explains how AI has evolved from a tool (Phase 1) to a worker (Phase 2) to a strategic partner (Phase 3) and finally to an organizational restructuring force that achieves escape velocity (Phase 4). Tompkins emphasizes that AI-enabled enterprises must embrace the "rentability threshold"—outsourcing non-core competencies—and that becoming AI-enabled is not optional but mandatory for survival within two years.

6. Approachable Warehouse Automation from Big Joe

   Jul 20, 2026

   Nick Malawski, General Manager of Autonomous Solutions at Big Joe, discusses the company's new autonomous product line unveiled at Automate, consisting of four solutions: the AP 44 fully autonomous pallet truck, the ATC 100 tugger, the ASC 40 stacker, and the ACV 40 counterbalance forklift. Drawing from 20 years of experience as a buyer and operator of material handling equipment, Malawski explains Big Joe's philosophy of 'approachable automation'—infrastructure-light solutions deployable in brownfield warehouses without complex integrations. The conversation covers the evolution from the semi-autonomous BPM 44 to the new fully autonomous offerings, and how customers can adopt automation incrementally using the dual-mode hybrid equipment.

7. Social Commerce Fulfillment Powers Modern 3PL Success

   Jul 15, 2026

8. Warehouse Automation Strategy Starts with Software

   Jul 13, 2026

9. Barrett Distribution Centers: How 3PLs Build Trust to Retain Brands

   Jul 8, 2026

10. Interact Analysis: Inside the 2026 Warehouse Automation Market

    Jul 6, 2026