Automation of Warehouse Management and Assortment in the Distribution of Durable Goods: An Analysis for the Ceramics and Building Supplies Industry in Spain

The introduction of information and communication technologies can be a source of competitive advantages for the retailer, even if at significant cost. In the present work we try to identify the factors that characterize companies that invest in these technologies to automate warehouse management and, in particular, the relation between the degree of automation and the retail assortment. In order to achieve this aim, we consider a sample of distributors of ceramics and building supplies in Spain. The results suggest that warehouse management automation is related to the depth and breadth of the products carried in the retail assortment.