Intralogistics boom to 2030
Analysts argue the intralogistics sector — automation, robotics and internal warehouse systems — is set for rapid expansion through 2030, with tenants prioritizing spaces that can host robotics and data infrastructure argued. That trend shifts value to buildings with higher clear heights, power capacity and flexible floorplates.
Global intralogistics revenue is forecast to climb to about $112.17 billion by 2030 (nextmsc.com) while the warehouse robotics segment alone is projected to reach roughly $17.29 billion by 2030, reflecting double‑digit CAGR through the decade. (grandviewresearch.com) The Inland Empire accounted for 14 of the nation’s top 100 industrial leases in 2025, totaling 11.8 million square feet according to CBRE’s market tally. (cbre.com) iDC Logistics signed two Southern California leases totaling about 1.1 million square feet in 2025, including an 844,311‑sq‑ft Class A commitment in San Bernardino. (cbre.com) Tenants specifying automation are increasingly asking for 36–40+ foot clear heights for AS/RS and shuttle systems and design guides now flag 40 ft as a target for “automation‑ready” shells. (svncornerstone.com) Storage‑robot vendors advertise systems that exploit vertical racks up to ~39–40 ft, underscoring the operational lift from taller clearances. (hairobotics.com) Power and on‑site compute requirements are rising: small on‑site data rooms and edge nodes commonly need hundreds of kilowatts and small data‑center equivalents typically draw 500 kW to 2 MW of continuous power. (empiretechs.com) Developers who pre‑install fiber, redundant IDF/MDF backbone cabling and hardened switchgear are winning leases as low‑latency connectivity becomes a tiebreaker. (fiberquotes.com) Regional pricing and availability show divergence: Q4 2025 Inland Empire asking rents averaged about $1.00 PSF/mo NNN, per Kidder Mathews, even as submarket vacancy fluctuated (IE East ~8.5%, IE West ~6.0% in late 2025 in CBRE’s figures). (kidder.com) Developers can command a quantified shell premium—reported at roughly +0.5–2%—for automation‑ready features and cut tenant improvement timelines by 4–8 weeks when extra power, slab planning and IDF capacity are built out up front; utility upgrades such as new transformers or line extensions can cost from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. (methodarchitecture.com)
