Exotec "Avoid Robot Regret" survey: 1 in 4 warehouse automation buyers would choose a different vendor

A survey of 250 supply chain decision-makers in the US and Canada: 25% of warehouse automation system buyers say they would take a different path if they could choose again; 94% say switching vendors after the decision is too expensive (10–15 year lock-in); 65% report total cost of ownership exceeding estimates; 70% found annual maintenance costs rising due to undisclosed charges; 27% admit their operations were not ready when they invested. Buyers who chose the cheapest vendor were 4.8x more likely to regret the choice. An important integrity note: the survey was funded by Exotec — a warehouse robotics vendor — so there is a narrative interest (vendor