Inside Industrial: Automation, Power & Proximity

March 31, 2026

CBRE’s John Morris joins CPE’s Diana Firtea to discuss how automation, power constraints and supply chain shifts are reshaping industrial facility requirements and investment strategy.

Industrial real estate is being reshaped by a new set of operational and technological demands. As supply chains evolve and occupiers adopt automation, factors such as proximity, power availability and labor dynamics are becoming central to both facility design and investment strategy.

In the second episode of Inside Industrial, CBRE’s John Morris discusses how these dynamics are influencing the sector and what they mean for the future of industrial assets.

Morris serves as president of Americas Industrial & Logistics at CBRE, overseeing one of the industry’s largest platforms, with more than 800 professionals advising occupiers and investors across supply chain strategy, labor analytics, transaction services and project management.

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“It’s about proximity to the end user in really every regard,” Morris said, pointing to the growing importance of inventory location as delivery expectations continue to accelerate.

He also highlights how labor constraints are driving automation, how power availability is emerging as a key factor in site selection, and why newer, automation-ready buildings are gaining a competitive edge over older stock.

Take a listen as Commercial Property Executive’s Diana Firtea explores these themes with Morris in the latest episode of Inside Industrial.

Here’s a summary of the discussion: