Enterprise Test Automation for Managing Warehouse Change
In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin chats with Josh Owen of Cycle Labs live from Manifest. Josh, who has spent more than 20 years deploying supply chain systems, shares how warehouse technology has evolved from manual operations to layered WMS, TMS, OMS, and WES environments.
As systems have multiplied, so has complexity. Cycle Labs focuses on enterprise test automation, helping organizations introduce change faster while maintaining quality. The conversation explores why warehouses avoid change, how poor testing erodes trust, and why continuous automation is becoming essential in modern distribution environments.
From Logistics Complexity to Systems Complexity
Warehouse operations did not become complex overnight. Josh points to the period between 1995 and 2005 as a turning point. SKU counts exploded. E-commerce and omnichannel emerged. RFID mandates grew. Manual processes simply could not keep up. As Josh explains, “We have now created a systems complexity problem.”
WMS became the default. Then came TMS, OMS, labor systems, and execution layers. Each solved a problem. Together, they created interdependencies. Now, when one system changes, others must be validated. That pressure led to avoidance. Josh notes, “We developed a modus operandi, sort of an M.O. of avoiding change unless we had to change.”
Instead of leveraging upgrades, companies often recreate old processes in new systems. Go-live became the finish line, even though it was really day one. The result is technical upgrades without operational innovation.
Why Traditional Testing Fails Modern Warehouses
Many operations still rely on pulling subject matter experts off the floor for testing. They test once, approve, and move on. That approach worked when change was rare. It does not work in a cloud-driven world.
Josh states it plainly: “Testing really only exists because you are changing something.” If updates occur monthly or quarterly, testing must scale. Yet most teams treat testing as a point-in-time exercise. That creates blind spots. Changes get validated. Downstream impacts often do not.
Worse, failed testing damages trust. When users uncover system bugs during UAT, confidence erodes. Josh emphasizes that UAT should build trust, not expose instability. He explains that “It should be them putting their hands on the system, validating that it solves the business need, getting them comfortable with the system.” Without automation, organizations struggle to test interconnected systems in regression. That makes change feel risky. And risk fuels hesitation.
Cycle Labs Enterprise Test Automation Platform Explainer Video
Enterprise Test Automation as an Innovation Enabler
Cycle Labs positions enterprise test automation as a capability rather than a project. The goal is continuous validation across WMS, TMS, OMS, and beyond. That allows companies to innovate without fear. Josh frames the shift clearly: “If you are using a tier two or a tier one WMS, TMS, or OMS to run your business, you’re probably a good candidate for adopting test automation at scale.”
The ROI math changes when the change is constant. Travel path updates, allocation adjustments, vendor onboarding, and system upgrades all require end-to-end validation. Automation makes that repeatable. He adds that when testing becomes continuous, teams gain freedom. “Make the changes you wanna make when you want to make them, as opposed to side of being held captive to fear of that uncertainty.”
That mindset shift matters, especially in an environment where innovation, AI, and system evolution are accelerating. Josh sees renewed excitement across the supply chain technology space. The difference now is openness to change.
Key Takeaways
- Enterprise test automation enables faster change while protecting quality.
- The complexity of logistics between 1995 and 2005 drove widespread adoption of WMS.
- Layered systems (WMS, TMS, OMS, WES) created interdependency risk.
- Many organizations avoid change due to uncertainty about validation.
- Point-in-time testing does not support monthly or quarterly cloud updates.
- Poor UAT practices erode trust between IT and operations teams.
- Continuous test automation supports regression testing across systems.
- Organizations that embrace continuous change gain competitive flexibility.
Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments.
Guest Information
For more information on Cycle Labs, click here.
To connect with Josh Owen on LinkedIn, click here.
For more information about enterprise test automation, check out the podcasts below.
628: Orchestrate Warehouse Automation Technologies with GreyOrange and enVista
