The industrial and logistics real estate sector includes property types such as manufacturing facilities, fulfillment centers, small or big-box warehouses, last mile logistics, and self-storage. Often, facilities are organized in logistics hubs around seaports, airports, and major highways. Last mile distribution refers to the final step of the delivery process, which means locating it as close to the customer as possible is crucial. Because they vary widely in their use, industrial and logistics facilities are often built to suit the need of the specific operation, with varying levels of automation.
As the sector grows to support the rise of e-commerce and the need for resilient supply chains closer to the end-consumer, there has been a boost in speculative development, or development projects without a commitment to a buyer or occupier. Because of its potential to reduce costs and increase efficiency, automation is becoming increasingly important for the sector.
