As we start to look ahead to 2026, businesses are finding fresh opportunities and continuous challenges with uncertainty and geopolitical volatility remain on the table, while technology rapidly advances.

In this environment, adaptability has become the new competitive edge. But, the companies that lead, will be those that combine human insight, digital innovation and operational resilience to navigate global logistics’ next chapter.

Here are our five predictions for the year ahead.

1. AI: from hype to data-driven collaboration

The industry’s relationship with AI is maturing. The shift has moved from experimentation to real adoption, with the gap between small and mid-sized companies shrinking as AI makes technology more accessible to all.

In 2026, AI will move into mainstream applications such as predictive maintenance, network optimisation and dynamic pricing. Conversations about full autonomy are already happening at the operational level, and are no longer confined to IT-only discussions.

The expression “AI as colleague” is replacing “AI as tool.” Companies are no longer asking whether AI can help, instead, “can AI do it and how quickly can it deliver?” is becoming the standard question from logistics leaders, not to eliminate human roles, but to free people for higher-value work.

But, the biggest hurdle will remain data quality which is finally being recognised as automation’s true enabler. Economic pressures are driving companies to confront the reality that if you want autonomous AI, you must first invest in the data that powers it. Without clean data, where are we?

2. The human factor: the challenge of change 

While the driver shortage continues to pose major challenges, attention is increasingly turning to safety, comfort, and inclusion. However, the greater obstacle may be managing the human side of transformation. Operational leaders often express concern about how long-serving employees will adapt to AI-driven systems. Achieving deeper AI integration will require structured change management, ensuring that seasoned professionals feel empowered, not displaced, as processes evolve.

Successful companies are realising the importance of appointing change ambassadors in their teams. These experienced employees can bridge the gap between legacy processes and new technology, enabling colleagues to navigate the transition with credibility and empathy.

Customer experience is emerging as a key differentiator, with the “human plus AI” model proving essential for successful adoption. Real-world examples are emerging: digital assistants that identify languages, translate communications, route requests and flag issues are already accelerating response times.

As consumers grow used to the speed and simplicity of online retail and banking, expectations have shifted dramatically. They no longer want alerts about problems, they expect proactive solutions and seamless, automated responses.

While technology continues to evolve rapidly, progress only happens when people evolve with it. Investing in workforce capability isn’t an optional extra in digital transformation; it’s the core of sustainable change.

3. Sustainability and intermodality: progress through pragmatism

The shift toward alternative fuels will continue. But progress in the proliferation of electric and low-emission heavy-duty vehicles remains limited by infrastructure gaps and economics. That said, certain segments are seeing earlier adoption: local-delivery operations in parts of Europe are finding electric vehicles increasingly cost-competitive, creating niche opportunities where the economics line up. But for the broader market, companies are prioritising practices that simultaneously deliver cost savings and sustainability gains: route optimisation, tire pressure monitoring, digital documentation.

In short, sustainability and profitability are now the same goal.

Intermodality continues to wrestle with complexity. Where road freight typically involves three key actors, intermodal transport requires coordination among at least seven. The main obstacle, once again, is data. Ocean, air, and road networks all operate on different systems and standards, making seamless integration difficult. AI-driven planning tools could play a pivotal role in closing these gaps, improving coordination and visibility across modes. Yet, across regions, ageing infrastructure and persistent maintenance issues, from European rail bottlenecks to North American roadworks, continue to constrain both capacity and reliability.

4. Resilience and volatility: here to stay

Geopolitical tension and multipolarity will continue to affect supply chains in unpredictable ways. While tariff volatility may have peaked (or organisations have learned to establish safeguards to deal with last-minute fluctuations), structural uncertainty remains constant rather than temporary. Companies can benefit from joining and leveraging flexible, data-driven networks that are truly ready to adapt.

Cybersecurity threats are evolving fast, and becoming increasingly professionalised. A major global breach involving data exposure from unsafe AI use appears not a question of if, but when. Such an event would serve as a stark reminder of the need for robust AI safety standards and collaboration with trusted technology partners.

At the same time, freight fraud and cargo theft are rising sharply, particularly in North America. Criminal networks are exploiting spoofed domains and impersonation tactics to infiltrate logistics operations, highlighting the urgency of stronger verification protocols and AI-enabled carrier vetting to reduce risk and prevent costly disruption.

By moving to AI-powered, cloud-based platforms and working with trusted technology partners, companies can strengthen their security posture without racking up exorbitant costs. Large companies are no less vulnerable: outdated IT systems leave nobody immune. What’s critical is investing in cloud infrastructure and shared data standards.

5. Connected ecosystem: from data to action

A large portion of the industry’s drag comes from parties not sharing data. While openness varies by geography, competition is driving more collaboration on a global scale. Carriers still guard certain data as proprietary advantages, but the potential for industry-wide gains is pushing toward greater transparency.

Connected ecosystems that enable seamless data exchange will unlock the real value of digitalisation: real-time visibility that drives smarter, faster, more sustainable and ultimately more economical decisions across the whole supply chain.

The more integrated it becomes, the more everyone wins.

Embracing 2026

If 2025 was the year of experimentation, 2026 will be the year of acceleration. AI will mature and move past pilot projects, powering deep organisational change. Sustainability will be more centered on pragmatic, profit-aligned strategies and building resilience will depend equally on leveraging cloud infrastructure and investing in high-quality data.

Ultimately, the future belongs to companies that embrace connected ecosystems, prioritise data integrity and bring their people along for the journey.