At LogiMAT 2025, Chief Product Officer Christian Rognes sat down with Isaac Griffith from Proactive Global to talk about Element Logic’s future, our evolving role in the warehouse automation landscape, and the growing importance of software, data, and AI. 

Who is Christian Rognes?

Christian joined Element Logic nearly two years ago to lead our technology transformation. With a background in global software development across fintech, public sector, and oil & gas, Christian brings a fresh, outside-in perspective to the warehouse automation industry. He quickly realized that while our industry features cutting-edge machinery, it still has untapped potential when it comes to process optimization, digital maturity, and user-centric innovation.

-In our industry we consider ourselves high-tech because of the machines. But true value lies in how we bring the entire warehouse process together, says Christian Rognes, Chief Product Officer in Element Logic.

In our industry we consider ourselves high-tech because of the machines. But true value lies in how we bring the entire warehouse process together.

Christian Rognes, Chief Product Officer in Element Logic.

From Manual Racks to Market Leader 

Christian reflected on our 40-year journey – from manual warehouse solutions to becoming the first and largest AutoStore partner. He acknowledged the early days when betting on AutoStore was a huge risk, nearly bankrupting the company – but that risk paid off. Today, this partnership is still core to our strategy. 

Looking ahead, Element Logic will continue to be a strong AutoStore partner – but will also expand its tech ecosystem to include other best-in-class OEM offerings such as complementary AMRs, conveyors, packing machines and AI-driven technologies to address the full warehouse workflow.

A Broader Vision for the Next 5 Years

While AutoStore continues to evolve, Element Logic is also focused on what happens outside the cube – on inbound, outbound, sorting, picking, and orchestration. Our software and data strategy will be key to unlocking efficiency across all warehouse touchpoints.

We are already making moves:

• Initiated an exclusive partnership with Omnimod, a best-in-class omnidirectional sorting technology for sophisticated sorting scenarios for staging, sequencing and more.
• Becoming a thought leader in AI-driven robotic piece picking, proving this technology’s ROI in pharma, apparel, production and e-commerce in general.
• Enhancing our data orchestration capabilities to give customers real-time insight and operational flexibility.

“AI should not just give you dashboards. It should recommend actions – and learn from them”, Christian says.

Striking the Balance Between Innovation and Reliability

Christian emphasized the importance of balancing big-picture innovation with rock-solid delivery. While his team is building long-term R&D capabilities (like AI models that train overnight), they are also laser-focused on making today’s solutions reliable and scalable.

A good example of this is how we have been working with robotic piece picking for years – including our eOperator solution powered by RightHand Robotics. It is great to see AutoStore now entering this space with their new CarouselAI. A clear sign that AI-driven picking is becoming a core part of warehouse automation.

Final Thoughts: Focus, Simplicity, and Customer Understanding

Christian closed the interview with a reminder: the most exciting technologies are often the simplest. He is most inspired by innovations that make everyday operations smoother – whether that is camera systems for intelligent item verification or frictionless, AI-powered shopping experiences.

“Technology should simplify, not complicate. And our role is to deeply understand our customers – not just their equipment”, he continues.

Element Logic is not only optimizing warehouses – we are also shaping the future of how automation, AI, and human expertise come together.