DHL report sees AI taking larger role in logistics operations

Artificial intelligence is moving beyond its traditional role as a digital assistant and beginning to take action across supply chains, according to DHL’s latest Logistics Trend Radar report.

The eighth edition of the report identifies agentic AI, AI commerce, the compute economy and humanoid robotics among the trends expected to influence logistics over the next decade. DHL said advances in AI, robotics and automation are reshaping supply chain operations while also changing workforce requirements.

The report said agentic AI systems can autonomously plan, make decisions and take action toward defined goals, helping organizations manage tasks such as anticipating inventory shortages, rerouting shipments around disruptions and adjusting transport capacity in real time.

“Supply chains are changing faster than ever as AI and workforce trends increasingly influence one another,” said Katja Busch, chief commercial officer at DHL and head of DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation.

“The organizations 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.”

DHL said logistics will remain a people-focused industry despite increasing adoption of AI and automation. The report pointed to technologies such as wearable sensors, collaborative robots and AI-powered workplace assistants that can help improve safety and reduce repetitive tasks.

“The future of logistics will not be defined by Human vs. AI, but by how effectively organizations combine human expertise with increasingly capable technologies,” said Thomas Ogilvie, chief human resources officer and labour director at DHL Group.

The report also said organizations will need to focus on AI governance, cybersecurity and ethics as intelligent systems become more deeply integrated into planning and operational decisions. Sustainability remained a key theme, with decarbonization, alternative fuels and vehicle electrification identified as long-term priorities for the sector.