The logistics industry is at a fascinating crossroads. Complex supply chains, shifting global trade dynamics, and immense volumes of unstructured data make traditional approaches to automation challenging. Yet, these very complexities make logistics the perfect playground for Artificial Intelligence (AI) – especially with advancements on large language models (LLMs), built to master unstructured data effortlessly.
AI technologies can open a wide range of opportunities to logistics organizations: Revolutionizing operations, improving efficiency, and delivering superior customer experiences. But while the benefits are clear, companies are lacking behind on leveraging artificial intelligence in their processes and tools. So what is needed to unlock the benefits for the industry? Keep on reading and find it out in this article.
We will explore:
- Industry expectations towards AI in logistics
- Current adoption challenges holding companies back
- Real-life examples of applied AI in logistics and their benefits
High expectations towards AI
We recently conducted a survey for our Forto Trend Compass 2025 to find out what trends are currently top of mind of logistics professionals. The findings revealed a very high enthusiasm towards the potential of AI technologies. Over 57% of professionals believe AI will have a “high” or “very high” impact on supply chain management within the next five years. Optimism around AI stems from its ability to address chronic industry issues, such as unpredictable supply chain disruptions, limited transparency, and outdated information systems.
More specifically, logistics professionals envision AI reshaping the industry in the following ways:
- Enhanced tracking and tracing capabilities (cited by 46.1% of survey respondents).
- Operational performance improvements through automation (42.1%).
- Cost reductions in warehousing and logistics processes driven by efficiency (39.9%).
These findings underscore the growing belief in AI’s power to enhance logistics processes, offering solutions to persistent challenges while making operations more agile, accurate, and predictive.
Current state of AI adoption in logistics
Despite the optimism, the reality of AI adoption in logistics tells a more cautious story. The Trend Compass 2025 survey highlights that just 11.9% of organizations have adopted AI on a broad scale, while 30% are piloting specific use cases. A significant portion, over 33.5% of respondents, describe their AI efforts as “limited.”
Barriers to adoption include:
- Cost concerns: Over 41% of survey participants cited implementation and maintenance costs as a primary hurdle.
- Lack of expertise and technical resources: 35.4% noted the absence of skilled personnel and robust infrastructure as a challenge.
- Data privacy and security concerns: This remains a key issue for 36.2% of respondents, particularly in a landscape that relies heavily on sensitive logistics information.
Additionally, a knowledge gap persists. While logistics professionals recognize AI’s capabilities, only 8.1% describe themselves as extremely familiar with AI applications. This suggests that many companies are still working to close the gap between awareness and actionable expertise.
“Freight forwarding is not ready for AI”
At Transport Logistic 2025 Francesco Foschetti, Director of Product Management at Forto, touched base on why the freight forwarding industry is struggling with AI application. Worth watching!
Bridging the gap: Forto’s innovative application of AI in logistics
At Forto, we already started using AI technologies. For us, this does not mean just adopting existing AI solutions like chatbots or sales assistants. We are deeply rooting artificial intelligence in our systems, building innovative, data-driven and forward-thinking solutions and positioning ourselves as leaders in AI-powered freight forwarding.
Flash by Forto: AI-powered transport management
One of our most exciting innovations is Flash by Forto, an AI-powered Transport Management Agent designed to address core challenges in operational workflows. Here are three key areas where Flash delivers impact:
1. Instant booking feedback
Tired of delays in booking processes? Our AI booking agent works around the clock, scanning emails, extracting booking details, and processing requests in minutes without manual intervention. This eliminates bottlenecks, helping shipments get moving faster and more efficiently.
2. Intelligent vessel selection
Choosing the right vessel can be complex, as critical data often resides in emails or unstructured notes. Forto’s AI vessel selection agent identifies and analyzes key information to recommend the perfect fit for each shipment. This ensures our customers always secure the best vessel options, enhancing reliability and cost efficiency.
3. Seamless document handling
Logistics generates enormous volumes of paperwork, ranging from shipping manifests to customs documents. Our AI agent FlashDoc by Forto automates document extraction and updates shipment data, reducing errors and empowering smarter decision-making. The result? Up-to-date, centralized information for faster operations.
Do you want to know more about AI at Forto?
Listen to our latest podcast episode to learn more about we apply AI at Forto. Anika Riley, Lead Product Manager at Forto, explains how Flash by Forto works and how it helps our Operations Managers.
Built on a strong foundation of data and expertise
Unlike many AI implementations, Forto’s success lies in the combination of:
- Unmatched data quality: Our fully digital freight operations ensure access to best-in-class data, enabling faster learning and reliable decision-making.
- A dynamic team: Forto brings together 150+ tech and AI experts who collaborate with over 200 seasoned logistics professionals to create real-world solutions.
Staying ahead of the curve
AI will transform the logistics industry and has already started to do so. As we’ve explored, leveraging AI isn’t just an opportunity, but a necessity for businesses to stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-paced world. At Forto, we’re not only embracing this change but leading the way by developing innovative solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible.
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