Thanks to the new generation of Industry 4.0-driven smart automation, there are new ways to complete material handling processes that were not previously possible. This creates opportunities to increase efficiencies in warehousing operations, impacts the way people perform work, and introduces new ergonomics and safety challenges. This session explores solutions—such as smart collaborative robotics, autonomous mobile robots, and wearable technologies—and how they are changing the role of humans in materials handling work. Participants will learn why the benefits of using collaborative robots depend on factors including the volume, weight, and size of materials handled, as well as costs. Further, the session will detail how wearable passive (unpowered) and active (powered) exoskeleton technologies have been introduced and tested in materials handling settings, and explore the mixed results.