Artificial intelligence is beginning to plan, coordinate and act across supply chains, but logistics will remain fundamentally a people-focused industry, according to the latest edition of the DHL Logistics Trend Radar 8.0.
The eighth edition of DHL’s Logistics Trend Radar examines the societal, technological and business trends expected to shape logistics over the next decade. One of its key findings is that artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond its traditional role as a digital assistant and increasingly taking action across supply chains.
DHL says developments in AI, robotics and automation are transforming not only logistics operations but also the workforce supporting them.
As intelligent systems become more capable of planning, making decisions and operating autonomously, organisations will need to reconsider workforce skills, safety, governance and employee experience, while continuing to build supply chains that are more resilient and sustainable.
“Supply chains are changing faster than ever as AI and workforce trends increasingly influence one another,” said Katja Busch, Chief Commercial Officer of DHL and Head of DHL’s Customer Solutions & Innovation.
“The organisations that succeed will be those that understand these shifts early and are able to turn them into practical advantages for their business and their people. The Trend Radar helps them focus on the developments that will matter most.”
AI moves from assistance towards autonomy
Among the trends identified by DHL, the evolution of AI from assistance to autonomy stands out.
The report highlights the emergence of Agentic AI as one of the most significant developments. Unlike earlier generations of AI, which have primarily been used to respond to prompts or analyse information, Agentic AI can independently plan, make decisions and take actions toward defined objectives.
This opens the door to closer collaboration between intelligent technologies and human expertise across logistics operations.
“Until now, AI has helped people perform tasks more efficiently. The next chapter is about action,” said Klaus Dohrmann, Vice President of Innovation and Trend Research at DHL Customer Solutions and Innovation.
“We’re entering an era of autonomous and physical AI, where intelligent systems can actively perceive the world, navigate complex environments, and make decisions with minimal human intervention.”
The shift means that logistics companies will increasingly have to determine how autonomous technologies should interact with employees, how those systems are governed and what new skills workers will require as the technology becomes more deeply integrated into daily operations.
Sustainability remains a major innovation driver
DHL’s report also identifies sustainability as a continuing driver of innovation across the logistics industry.
Trends including decarbonisation, sustainable fuels, circularity, heavy vehicle electrification and light vehicle electrification highlight how organisations are changing both their fleets and supply chains.
According to the report, companies are deploying electric delivery fleets, expanding the use of alternative fuels and redesigning supply chains around reuse and greater resource efficiency.
These developments are being pursued alongside efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of logistics operations, reinforcing sustainability as another major force shaping the industry’s next decade.
