Trigent, an organization of technological services, recently led a investigation Evaluate the technological priorities for preparation and investment in the freight industry. The results, as well as the information of an interview with Pratapa Bernard, vice-president of the strategy at Trigent, present both the challenges and the opportunities that await us to logistics technology.
The results of the survey have shown that many companies do not consider themselves fully technologically. Although some progress has been made, 16% of respondents still rely on rudimentary tools, including Excel spreadsheets and manual phone calls, indicating a gap in digital adoption. Meanwhile, 61% work with partially automated systems, using a patchwork of disconnected solutions that often lead to ineffectiveness and operational silos.
The absence of complete automation is not only a technical problem, but also a strategic problem. Bernard explained that companies are struggling on how to integrate disparate technologies into a coherent system that improves efficiency rather than complicating the workflows to which employees are used to it.
“An important part of respondents know that they have to change. Either they get systems to do so, or work in progress to be ready for the deployment of technology,” said Bernard. “They also see a lot of consolidation between technology suppliers, which means that several systems could soon work together. So I believe that people do with what they have and prepare (consolidation). ”
While companies work to modernize, their technological investment priorities reveal a clear roadmap for the future of integrated industry systems. According to Trigent’s survey, 37% of respondents cited APIs and ecosystem connectivity as the main objective. This reflects the growing recognition that the exchange of transparent data between carriers, sender and brokers is essential for technological investments to be paid.
Bernard explained that in an industry where real -time visibility and agile decision -making can differentiate between success and failure, API integrations are no longer optional, they are imperative.
Another point to remember from the survey is the request for personalized transport management systems. Transporters, in particular, wish to develop self-service systems that can rationalize operations without additional human intervention. These technologies can even help alleviate talent shortages by reducing the need for manual treatment.
“When we talk about talent shortages, it is not only the shortages qualified as technology, we are talking about pickers and managers and warehouse drivers. Companies wonder, where technology supports my workers, knowing that I will not have as many skilled workers for my warehouse, etc., ”said Bernard.
With technology supporting businesses in new offers, Bernard has described many 3PLs more appropriate for an integrated 4PL approach.
“There are so many technological offers that can easily be integrated into your management systems that can help sender with other things than to find capacities, including inventory management and last mile logistics. Because traditional 3PLS models see narrowed margins, these integrations help other income strengthening avenues, “he said.
Bernard followed this, saying that AI will also help with these other income generators. He told Freightwaves that AI was no longer a question of “so” but rather “when” and “how”. Companies are increasingly exploring AI -ordered solutions adapted to their specific operational challenges. However, Bernard expressed that the key to a successful adoption of AI does not reside in the automation of existing workflows, but in the overhaul of business processes to take full advantage of technological capacities.
Trigent advocates a three -stimb strategy for technological advancement. The first component is to integrate AI into several facets of logistics operations to improve decision -making and predictive capacities. The second focuses on the modernization of existing platforms, because companies must upgrade their inherited systems to support modern technologies and integrations with new digital tools. The third plan calls for reinventing business processes rather than applying technology as a dressing solution. Companies must fundamentally rethink their workflows and how technology supports them.
“We can learn from Deepseek. They did not try to optimize what already existed in AI technology. They shoot the fundamental principles of the way it works.
Summit Sfoo: Carriers need AI agents to follow the broker technology
The Uber Freight Powerloop is starting to offer visits dedicated to carriers
The autonomous distributor Bubba Ai launches for independent truckers, small carriers