{"id":39301,"date":"2026-05-01T05:16:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T04:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.argonandco.com\/?post_type=article&#038;p=39301"},"modified":"2026-05-01T05:19:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T04:19:18","slug":"three-industry-trends-at-modex-2026","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.argonandco.com\/us\/news-insights\/articles\/three-industry-trends-at-modex-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Industry Trends at MODEX 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">MODEX (and PROMAT) have always felt like a <i>World\u2019s Fair for supply chain<\/i>\u2014a place where you can watch the \u201cfuture\u201d perform live: robots picking, conveyors routing, shuttles flying, arms assembling, and demos running flawlessly on repeat<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. For years, the headline story was hardware: faster, more autonomous, more mechanized.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This year, the story felt different.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">Below are three trends that stood out to me at MODEX 2026\u2014each with the potential for true impacts on distribution center performance, investment decisions, and how we should evaluate \u201cinnovation\u201d going forward.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>1) Hardware automation cools down, but software automation is heating up<\/h2>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">Historically, the show floor has been dominated by physical automation: robots, AS\/RS\u2019s, sortation, goods-to-person systems, and all the mechanized material handling. It\u2019s still impressive\u2014and in the right use cases, it\u2019s transformative.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But the \u201crobotics\u00a0frenzy\u201d feels like it has\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">matured<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Not because automation\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0work\u2014<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In plenty of scenarios it does<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. But many operators are now living through the less-advertised reality:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"13\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Throughput isn&#8217;t meeting expectations<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(sometimes materially below plan)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"13\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\">\u201cModular\u201d systems are harder to scale than promised<\/li>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"13\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\">Peak volumes reveal\u00a0brittleness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For many clients, the work today isn\u2019t buying automation\u2014it\u2019s <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">stabilizing it<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Especially during peak when systems don\u2019t behave the way the business believed they would. (You already know what I mean if you saw Steve Mulaik\u2019s MODEX 2024 talk, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/steve-mulaik-6424b2_i-got-a-number-of-requests-to-publish-a-summary-activity-7174819748319264768-RO1y?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAFEqv4BXi-flbtSN2LMAML59suPbfah3y8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;Common Pitfalls in Automation Projects: How to Avoid Your Project Turning into a Dumpster Fire.&#8221;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Meanwhile, software is\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">everywhere<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2014often pitched with the same promises that hardware used to lead with:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Less labor, higher throughput, faster onboarding, \u201cplug-and-play,\u201d and now\u2014SaaS economics.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The buzzwords can be dizzying: <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">bolt-on, end-to-end, AI-powered, autonomous.<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0History\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0repeat, but it certainly rhymes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2) The\u00a0Word of the\u00a0Day: Orchestration<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At MODEX 2022, I heard\u00a0the term\u00a0\u201corchestration\u201d\u00a0zero times.<\/span><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">At MODEX 2024, I heard it occasionally, but\u2014mostly in conversation.<\/span><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">At MODEX 2026,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">printed everywhere<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: posters, brochures, product pages, session titles.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And I suspect that by MODEX 2028 (or 2030), it will be unavoidable.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Why?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Because the industry is bumping into a ceiling: you can buy more machines, but you\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0brute-force flow. When volume spikes or variability increases, operations\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0fail because they lack equipment\u2014they fail because the\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">system<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0coordinate decisions fast enough across constraints.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This is where the concept of orchestration becomes more than a buzzword.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Orchestration is \u201cThe Goal\u201d for distribution centers<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you\u2019ve studied industrial engineering, Lean, Six Sigma, or process optimization you\u2019ve probably encountered <\/span><b><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Goal<\/span><\/i><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0by Eliyahu M. Goldratt.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0written like a novel but teaches a foundational principle:\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">constraints (bottlenecks) govern throughput<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Manufacturing embraced these principles decades ago, distribution and fulfillment are catching up.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In DC terms, orchestration is the practical application of constraint-based thinking to:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"14\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">release work at the right time (not just as fast as possible),<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"14\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">balance labor dynamically,<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"14\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">manage exceptions proactively,<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"14\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">keep flow moving through the true bottlenecks.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">From \u201cwaves\u201d to flow: why waveless matters<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A great example\u00a0is the shift from traditional waving (batching) to\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">waveless<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0decisioning.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In manufacturing, moving from batch-and-queue to\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">single-piece flow<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> changed everything. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In fulfillment, \u201cwaveless\u201d is a similar evolution: rather than grouping orders into waves because the system needs batches, modern orchestration can make release decisions\u00a0continuously based\u00a0on constraints, priorities, and real-time conditions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some providers have understood this for a long time, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0historically been tough to market because\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not as visually flashy as a robot. Others have implemented pieces of it, but not the full operating model. And some legacy architectures struggle to support real-time decisioning without major redesign.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At MODEX this year, the most compelling conversations I had were with people who talk about orchestration: not as a feature, but as a\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">control philosophy<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A note on \u201cbolt-on\u201d orchestration<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The strongest orchestration approaches I saw\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0necessarily \u201crip and replace.\u201d They were lightweight, configurable layers designed to integrate with\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0already there\u2014while improving release logic, labor balancing, exception handling, and visibility.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The pre-eminent example of this is<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fulfillmentengines.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Fulfillment Engines.<\/a> Check them out\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fulfillmentengines.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to learn more!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>3) \u201cAI\u201d is\u00a0Wildly\u00a0Overused \u2014 and\u00a0Often\u00a0Misunderstood<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We have to talk about AI\u2014because the term is used very loosely and incorrectly in the marketing of AI products today. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Back in the 2000s, we called the computer opponents in video games \u201cAI,\u201d even though they were\u00a0basically pre-programmed\u00a0behaviors:\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">if X happens, do Y.<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0not AI,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0an\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">algorithm<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2014rules and logic applied to known inputs.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Generative AI and modern machine learning are different.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0probabilistic. They can generalize, create, and respond to novelty\u2014but they can also be:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"15\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">less reliable (not guaranteed to produce the optimal result every time),<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"15\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">harder to explain (\u201cblack box\u201d behavior),<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"15\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">heavier computationally, which can matter for real-time decisions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Here\u2019s\u00a0the issue: many software companies market \u201cAI\u201d when the product is primarily algorithmic decision logic\u2014because \u201cAI\u201d sounds\u00a0cutting-edge.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And in many operational contexts,\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">algorithmic optimization is exactly what you want<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. If the goal is to make repeatable, provably-good decisions under constraints, deterministic math can be more reliable than probabilistic output\u2014\u00a0especially\u00a0time-sensitive orchestration.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So\u00a0when you hear \u201cAI,\u201d the practical question\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0\u201cIs it AI?\u201d<\/span><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"16\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What problem\u00a0is it\u00a0solving?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"16\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How does it make decisions?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"16\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How does it handle exceptions and edge cases?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"16\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What does success look like at peak?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"16\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Can it prove improvements in throughput, labor, and service?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In Closing\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">MODEX 2026 felt like a shift from \u201clook what the robots can do\u201d to \u201chow do we\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">control the system<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">?\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hardware still matters. But the competitive edge is increasingly in\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">decisioning, orchestration, and operational control<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2014especially under variability and peak pressure.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0evaluating software automation, hardware automation, or broader operations design challenges, this is exactly the space where we spend our time at Argon &amp; Co.\u2014helping\u00a0teams\u00a0separate demos from deployable value.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Connect with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/zachary-hess-3b800b118\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Zach Hess on LinkedIn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":39358,"template":"","categories":[],"class_list":["post-39301","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Three Industry Trends at MODEX 2026 - Argon &amp; Co<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.argonandco.com\/us\/news-insights\/articles\/three-industry-trends-at-modex-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Three Industry Trends at MODEX 2026 - Argon &amp; Co\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"MODEX (and PROMAT) have always felt like a World\u2019s Fair for supply chain\u2014a place where you can watch the \u201cfuture\u201d perform live: robots picking, conveyors routing, shuttles flying, arms assembling, and demos running flawlessly on repeat. 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