What to See at MODEX 2026 and What It Means for Your Warehouse

MODEX has always been a place to see what’s new. But for most warehouse leaders, the real question isn’t what’s new — it’s what actually helps the operation run better when things don’t go according to plan. 

Because that’s the reality on the warehouse floor right now as volume shifts faster than expected, labor plans don’t always hold, one bottleneck moves, and another shows up downstream. And suddenly, what looked efficient on paper starts backing up in real time. 

MODEX 2026 in Atlanta (April 13 - 16) is an opportunity to step out of your warehouse day-to-day and look at how operations are adapting. If you walk in with a clear plan, there are a few things worth spending real time on, so here’s what you should look for. 

What’s Changing on the Warehouse Floor 

As you walk the show at MODEX, pay attention to how the conversation around warehouse management has shifted. Today it’s less about adding automation and more about keeping performance steady when conditions change.  

The questions warehouse operators are asking reflect that shift: 

• How do we keep pick and putaway rates consistent when volume spikes? 

• What happens when callouts impact the labor plan mid-shift? 

• Where do things start backing up when demand shifts from single-line to multi-line orders? 

• How do we reduce walking time without disrupting the flow of the operation? 

The MODEX booths and sessions that address these questions directly are the ones worth your time. 

See Robots-to-Goods (R2G) in Action 

One of the many reasons to stop by the Locus Robotics booth (#B10704) this year is to see Robots-to-Goods (R2G) with Locus Array running live. 

We’ve set up our booth to reflect how robotic picking operates within standard warehouse shelving and real workflows with real racks and aisles. 

What to watch for: 

• How Locus Array brings an AI vision-guided robotic arm directly to inventory, which eliminates the need for manual travel through pick paths 

• How the system supports consistent throughput, even when labor availability fluctuates or volume spikes 

• How vertical storage is utilized more effectively, helping increase density without adding complexity to the floor 

• How picking and putaway are handled within a single, coordinated system 

• How Locus Array fits into the full fleet of Locus Robotics autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) with Locus Origin and Locus Vector for 100% SKU coverage 

If you’re responsible for hitting rate, throughput, or keeping shifts running smoothly, spend a few minutes here and watch the full cycle from pick to drop-off. It’s one thing to hear or read about it — it’s another to see how it actually runs. 

LocusLABS: The Future of Warehouse Automation 

Also in the Locus Robotics booth space, you’ll learn about LocusLABS, where we demonstrate how automation is evolving to handle the realities that warehouse operators deal with every day. 

LocusLABS is our innovation engine designed to keep Locus Robotics at the cutting-edge of robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence. Transforming ideas into practical, real-world solutions, LocusLABS accelerates research and development, enabling the rapid delivery of new solutions & features that provide exceptional value for our customers. 

Our innovations are focused on the problems that slow teams down and not abstract ideas. 

• Cooler-Ready CE-certified solutions are built for environments where temperature impacts performance, especially in food service and cold storage operations. 

• Adaptive Awareness enables Locus Robotics AMRs to recognize common warehouse assets, including forklifts, people, carts, other robots, and chargers. 

• System-Directed Labor (SDL) provides tailored direction to each associate through the robot display to send them to their next best task. 

• Smarter Autonomy, which is a tier of Physical AI that transcends the single-robot and thinks at a fleet level. 

• RFID Validation adds another layer of accuracy, so operators have more confidence in what’s been picked, moved, and shipped. 

If you’ve had shifts where things start to back up or accuracy drops as volume increases, this is where those challenges are being addressed. 

Plan time to walk through our LocusLABS section and talk through how these capabilities apply to your operation. 

MODEX Sessions that Reflect Real Warehouse Challenges 

The sessions at MODEX are where you move beyond the booth demos and hear how these ideas play out in real operations. 

Two to build into your schedule: 

Beyond Physical AI in the Warehouse: From Smart Robots to Orchestrated Operations 
Monday, April 13 | 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM | Emerging Technologies Theater 

This session by Gina Chung, VP of Corporate Development at Locus Robotics, focuses on what it actually takes to apply AI in a warehouse environment without disrupting operations. 

You’ll hear how intelligence is built into each robot — handling navigation, picking, and transport — and how that extends into a broader orchestration layer that coordinates orders, robots, and people in real time. 

What matters for operators: 

• How to improve throughput without overloading the floor 

• How to balance labor when conditions change mid-shift 

• Where AI can deliver immediate, practical gains without adding risk 

It’s a useful session if you’re trying to connect the idea of AI to what actually happens during a shift. 

Robot-to-Goods: The Future of Flexible Automation 
Wednesday, April 15 | 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | Theater A 

This session by Kait Peterson, VP and Head of Marketing at Locus Robotics, introduces the design principles behind R2G and previews what it looks like at scale. 

The focus is on how high-density, automated picking can scale without locking you into rigid infrastructure. 

What you’ll take away: 

• How to reduce reliance on manual picking for high-volume SKUs 

• What a path from today’s human-in-the-loop workflows to more autonomous fulfillment can look like 

• How R2G systems work alongside multi-robot fleets to maintain throughput across different order profiles 

You’ll also hear what operators should be thinking about as this approach becomes more widely available. 

As you attend, listen for what you can take back to your operation, especially around maintaining pick rates, managing labor variability, and keeping things from backing up across picking, packing, and outbound. 

Don’t Skip Happy Hour 

There’s a reason the best conversations at trade shows don’t always happen during the day. 

The Locus Robotics Happy Hour on Monday, April 13 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm is a chance to connect with your peers, partners, and operators in a more relaxed setting where people tend to be more direct about what’s working and what isn’t. 

If you’re looking to compare notes with others facing similar challenges, it’s time well spent. 

A Quick Guide to Atlanta 

MODEX is a full schedule on its own, but Atlanta offers a few easy ways to step away and reset. 

Near the show: 

• Dos Bocas – A taste of Texas and Louisiana in one 

• Twin Smokers BBQ – A local favorite that’s easy and reliable 

• Centennial Olympic Park – A short walk if you need a break between sessions 

If you have more time: 

• Ponce City Market – Food, shops, and space to unwind 

• Atlanta Beltline – A good way to get outside after a long day on the floor with a 22-mile loop of trails and parks 

Focus Your MODEX Visit 

MODEX can easily become a blur of booths and conversations, and the difference between a productive visit and an overwhelming one comes down to focus. 

Go in with a plan: 

• See how R2G performs in a real-world-style demo 

• Spend time in LocusLABS understanding what’s coming next 

• Attend at least one session that challenges your current assumptions 

• Have a few honest conversations with other operators 

The goal isn’t to see everything. It’s to come back with a clearer sense of what will actually help your operation run more smoothly, especially when things don’t go according to plan. Learn more about what Locus Robotics has to offer at MODEX.