Warehouse Digitalization Roadmap: Industry Trends, Competencies Skills-Set and Outcomes. Nestlé San Sisto D.C. Case Study

Modern supply chains are constantly evolving and must be able to respond to an increasingly demanding end customers. In this context, logistics and in particular the world of warehouse operations play a crucial role in connecting the company with the consumer and in ensuring a high service level. This thesis investigates the evolution of warehouse technologies, current industry trends, and the factors that contribute to the existence of a technological gap within companies. It begins with a detailed literature review about the historical development of warehouses, from key foundational technologies such as ASRS and WMS to more recent innovations including AMRs and IoT. It then investigates actual industry trends, focusing on Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0, and examines in detail the technological gaps present in companies and their various causes. The core of the thesis is a case study of Nestlé San Sisto Distribution Center, which plays a critical role in the company’s international logistics network. The study details the DC’s operational structure and its pre-project digital maturity, identifying technological gaps and improvement opportunities. The thesis then presents the development and implementation of the "Warehouse Efficiency Dashboard", an innovative project aimed at bridging the warehouse digitalization gap that exists today in the DC. Thanks to this project, several warehouse processes have been digitalized, providing greater visibility to both management and operators, and supporting a mindset shift toward data-driven decision-making focused on opportunities.