While third-party logistics (3PLs) companies have offered Fulfillment–as–a–Service (FaaS) for years, automation technology vendors are now beginning to provide FaaS solutions along with their more traditional technologies, products and services offerings.

Billions are spent on autonomous vehicles, while a robotics pioneer shuts its doors highlight recent weeks in the robotics and AI transaction space.

We can see clearly now that automation transactions in early 2018 will build on a familiar pattern of investment in AI, the mobility market, and industrial automation. The question remains as to which companies will lead and which will be absorbed or fall behind.