DHL survey warns supply chains will face rising AI dependence, cyber risks by 2030

A new survey commissioned by DHL Supply Chain suggests supply chain executives expect significant disruption by 2030, driven by increased reliance on artificial intelligence and mounting cybersecurity threats.

The report, Insight 2030: Opportunities and Challenges for the Supply Chain of the Future, found 99 per cent of executives view the supply chain as critical to business success. Seventy-three per cent expect their operations to become more dependent on AI within five years, while 70 per cent anticipate cyber threats will disrupt networks by the end of the decade.

The survey also points to growing concerns about rapid technology evolution, with nearly half of respondents citing inadequate or outdated systems despite widespread system upgrades in recent years.

“Since 2020, supply chains have been in a period of transformation. While supply chain leaders may be hoping for a period of stability in the coming years, the research presented in this report indicates the pace of change may actually be accelerating,” said Mark Kunar, CEO of DHL Supply Chain North America. “While advanced systems and increased automation have become essential in managing the modern supply chain, these technologies also bring their own set of concerns, as well as implementation and management challenges.”

Other findings show 68 per cent of respondents expect greater reliance on robotics, yet only 44 per cent have deployed warehouse robots. Just 34 per cent of vice-president and director-level executives said they were fully satisfied with their use of robotics.

Labour costs, labour shortages, natural disasters and international tensions were also cited as potential disruptors through 2030.

Kunar said partnering with third-party logistics providers can help companies meet the demands of a more digitalized supply chain.

“Supply chain leaders face significant challenges in enabling the improvements required to ensure their supply chain remains a competitive asset in the next five years. The much-needed resources and expertise to help them overcome these barriers can come through partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider,” he said.

DHL Group has invested more than €1 billion (CAD$1.62 billion) in automation in its contract logistics division over the past three years and now uses over 7,500 robots and hundreds of thousands of connected devices worldwide.

Mike Kreider, chief information officer for DHL Supply Chain North America, said cybersecurity must evolve alongside automation.

“While we’re committed to maximizing the benefits of robotics and automation across our operations, it’s essential that these advancements are supported by a strong cybersecurity foundation,” he said. “Our three-stage framework, focused on prevention, response and recovery, helps customers reduce risk and minimize the impact of potential threats. No organization can guarantee complete protection, but integrating cybersecurity into a broader supply chain risk management strategy is a critical step toward resilience.”

The survey was conducted by research firm W5 and included 350 North American supply chain and C-suite leaders between Feb. 12 and March 7.