As the expo and trade show circuit continues, it’s always interesting to see which topics carry from show to show. One that has had real staying power over the past year is warehouse automation and its feasibility and ROI.

Kevin Lawton broke this down well in a recent post and in his TNW Weekly Recap. His core takeaway: automation has been in early adopter environments long enough to evaluate properly, and the results have not been overwhelmingly great. At the same time, AI and software have advanced quickly, offering lower-cost optimization and efficiency gains while exposing one of the biggest ROI killers in automation projects. Strong automation layered on weak foundational processes.

At Manifest this year there were fewer pure automation booths on the floor and more software and AI companies focused on visibility, transparency, and issue identification.

It will be interesting to see how that balance looks at MODEX, which traditionally leans more MHE-focused but has increasing overlap with software and tech.

What's trending

📦 Tariffs are back in the headlines. IEEPA was deemed unconstitutional, but that does not mean volatility goes away.

• While the ruling creates uncertainty, merchants and shippers still need to build resilience into their supply chains. Not just in sourcing, but in fulfillment strategy as well. Tariffs are unlikely to disappear. The structure may change.

• Duty deferment strategies like nearshoring to Mexico or China and leveraging FTZs remain viable tools for managing cash flow and risk.

📦 Dollar General continues to lean into rural delivery. Rural does not mean lower expectations.

• Amazon is pushing deeper into rural markets with faster delivery performance, and DG is responding with expanded same-day capabilities. Customer expectations are consistent, regardless of ZIP code.

📦 Shopify walks back the elimination of Seller Shipping.

• This likely represents a pause rather than a permanent reversal. TikTok sellers and the fulfillment providers supporting them should use this window to prepare for when a revised strategy resurfaces.

Opportunities in Fulfillment

Stop Attending Conferences That Weren’t Built for You

From recent conversations with providers and the feedback on a few blogs earlier this year, one theme keeps coming up.

Small, mid-market, and boutique fulfillment providers are trying to figure out which conferences are actually worth their time and money. Most “must-attend” lists are built around large budgets and brand awareness goals. They are not designed for owner-operators focused on margin, specialization, and practical growth.

That is why we put together a playbook focused specifically on logistics and fulfillment tradeshows. The goal is simple: help providers think clearly about where to invest and how to maximize their time and budget.

The 2026 Boutique 3PL Conference Playbook

A practical, ROI-driven guide to choosing the right conferences, avoiding wasted spend, and showing up where owner-led 3PLs actually win.