Swisslog Technical Lead, Afsaneh Abolhassani

Swisslog Technical Lead, Afsaneh Abolhassani, has always enjoyed the technical aspects of complex automation and intralogistics projects, and encourages others to continuously learn the latest technologies and trends.

In a career spanning more than 15 years in the logistics and automation industry, including eight years with Swisslog in design and consulting roles, and most recently a year as Technical Lead, Afsaneh hasn’t felt any additional challenges being a woman in a male-dominated field.

“That doesn’t mean others haven’t faced challenges, of course, this is just my experience. For women – and for anyone – entering a new field of work, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the needs and requirements of that industry, to see if it’s a good fit for you, and to figure out where you can add the most value,” she says.

After an initial seven years with Swisslog, Afsaneh moved to another company in the logistics and automation industry for four and a half years, before returning to Swisslog a little over a year ago, to commence her new role as Technical Lead.

“I chose to return because this was an exciting opportunity, and Swisslog has recently taken steps to further enhance its already excellent culture that continues to put people first, proactively encourages you to expand your skills, and makes everyone feel welcome and supported,” she says.

Afsaneh’s role involves collaborating with design teams to create complex solutions that meet the customer’s specific requirements.

As a global leader in intralogistics and warehouse automation, Swisslog’s projects range from standardised and standalone automation solutions, right through to highly customised solutions for unique and large-scale applications.

“Regardless of the size of the project, my job is to ensure all the technical aspects work successfully, and that the customer is satisfied with the solution we are presenting,” she says.

Proactive development

Afsaneh credits Swisslog’s proactive approach to staff development with feeling supported in the workplace.

“We are highly encouraged to undertake training and development at Swisslog. We have regular talks with our line manager, where open discussions are encouraged, too. It builds a good culture where we can freely share ideas,” she says.

For 2025, Afsaneh has been chosen as one of a select group of 40 Swisslog employees globally to participate in the company’s annual Talent Programme. Participants are given two core projects and must work collaboratively to produce the solution in line with the company strategy.

“This is a great opportunity for me. As someone who loves the technical aspect of every project, I’m excited to make new connections with my global colleagues and deliver innovative solutions as a team,” she adds.

Life harmony

“One of the challenges of my role is keeping the right work-life balance. It’s a challenge we all face – regardless of gender,” says Afsaneh.

“It’s particularly challenging since my role is project based, so there are often time-sensitive tasks, deadlines, and the need to collaborate with our global teams in different time zones.”

“We all work around it as best we can. We rotate when meetings with global contacts are held, so everyone gets a chance to have it at a convenient time for their time zone.”

The 2025 International Women’s Day theme is “accelerate action on gender equality” and to Afsaneh, this means continuing to push to improve processes that make working women’s lives better.

“Small changes can make a big difference. Forward planning and flexibility are  the keys. If people are excelling in their job, planning ahead, being flexible with hours, working location, and other aspects should be a no-brainer – it delivers better results for the company, and workers are happier,” she says.

“I want to be the change I want to see. Rather than talking about it, if I can see a change that will positively impact my colleagues, I’ll see if I can make that happen in the workplace.”

Move towards localisation of fulfillment

Afsaneh sees a strong trend towards localisation of order fulfillment to deliver quicker and better access to products, even when unexpected events occur.

“This has been one of the impacts of Covid – companies don’t want to take chances on longer supply chains anymore. We used to see a big move towards a centralised hub where a larger amount of stock can be stored, with local store replenished from there. Since Covid, we are seeing more smaller sites closer to the customer. I anticipate Micro-Fulfillment Centres (MFCs) will accelerate in Australia and New Zealand in the coming years,” she says.

“The other major impact Covid had was that companies are looking for robust warehouse automation solutions that can adapt quickly to changes. Increased digitalisation and AI will enable this from a software perspective, but the physical infrastructure needs to be built in a flexible and adaptable way, too.”

Continuous self-improvement

Warehouse automation is a constantly evolving industry, and Afsaneh places a strong importance on staying updated, and increasing her knowledge.

“Knowledge, and your network of connections, will take anyone far in any industry. It’s also important to advocate for yourself. If you have the knowledge, it helps you be confident in your own ability, and this will earn you the respect of your colleagues,” she says.

“If you’re new to the industry, seek out a good mentor, go to events and forums, ask other women for their insights – we are all here to support each other.”