When warehouses dream: a systems-informed exploration of Industry 5.0 principles in warehousing performance management

This study aims to help logistics managers design a comprehensive performance management methodology for Warehousing 5.0. It identifies essential key performance indicators for warehouses in the era of Industry 5.0 (KPIs-5.0), drawing from traditional practices, sustainability, resilience, and digitalisation. This framework combines both practical and theoretical aspects derived from a literature review and insights collected from 14 logistics specialists. It was developed through three focus groups viewed through a systems thinking perspective. Recognising the exploratory and framework-building nature of this research, the sample was chosen to prioritise context-rich, expert-driven insights rather than broad statistical generalisability. The performance of four warehouses was then evaluated using multi-criteria decision-making analysis with input from 10 logistics experts. Findings reveal that the Industry 5.0 dimension, focused on advanced technology and continuous improvement, was the most critical, with top-rated criteria including technology-based employee safety and management (0.110), continuous improvement (0.107), and mutual-cognitive human-robot collaboration (0.106). Traditional criteria such as space utilisation (0.122) and labour productivity (0.112) also remained important. The study emphasises the interconnectedness of strategic, operational, and technological decision-making areas in warehousing, positioning KPIs-5.0 as a systems-oriented performance assessment tool to support future-proof warehouse transformation.