Philipp Pfister (pictured, below) Sector Vice President, Transporeon, discusses how companies can overcome the digital talent gap, leverage AI-driven insights, and build more resilient supply chains through connected intelligence. He explains why visibility alone isn’t enough, how data sharing unlocks trust and sustainability, and why modern logistics software is central to orchestrating real-time decisions at scale.
Tariffs, trade wars and shifting global policies have left transportation and logistics teams scrambling to stay resilient amid mounting disruption and planning uncertainty. Yet many companies are falling behind in the digital capabilities needed to adapt.
According to recent surveys, 90% of logistics leaders say their organisations lack the digital talent needed to achieve their digitisation goals; this figure hasn’t meaningfully changed since 2020. Progress, in other words, has flatlined. So, how can logistics teams turn disruption into advantage and equip themselves with the tools to overcome the digital talent gap?
The answer lies in connected intelligence: a connected transportation ecosystem where real-time data, AI, human decision-makers and partners operate in concert. It serves as the essential backbone of resilience, transparency and dynamic value creation.
The case for a connected supply chain
Connected intelligence offers clear advantages, starting with predictive planning and early warning. Recent findings show that 60% of companies now report full visibility into tier-one suppliers (such as key manufacturers, component providers or raw material sources), up from 50% the previous year, a strong indicator of momentum. However, the definition of visibility varies: for many, it means greater awareness of upstream inventory, supplier reliability, or risk indicators like delays, shortages or geopolitical instability. But visibility alone isn’t enough.
Only a quarter of companies have formal board-level processes for reviewing supply chain risks, and few executives believe their boards fully understand those risks. This disconnect leaves organisations exposed.
An integrated platform helps bridge that gap, detecting disruption early and escalating it to decision-makers before issues spiral. Moreover, connected intelligence enables smarter, data-driven decisions. While 51% of logistics executives rank supply chain digitisation as a top strategic priority (second only to cost reduction), more than half expect to automate only 25% or less of their transportation processes by the end of 2025.
The ambition is there, but the execution lags
Cross-tier data sharing enables AI-driven forecasting, real-time orchestration and adaptive execution. This transforms data into faster, smarter decisions. Modern logistics software plays a key role here, connecting systems, partners and data in one place. To truly deliver value, a platform approach goes beyond simply collecting data. It integrates fragmented systems, standardises inputs and turns them into shared intelligence. That’s where the power of interoperability comes in: bringing together anonymised data from carriers, shippers, forwarders and retailers to feed AI models that continuously improve. The more inclusive and standardised the data, the better AI performs. It’s the network in a truly connected ecosystem that benefits all participants.
Unlocking resilience, business gains, trust and sustainability
Building on robust data and advancing their operations with (gen) AI use cases, companies are achieving outsized results, seeing a 2.5x higher revenue growth and 2.4x greater productivity. By orchestrating data and decisions in real time, a connected transportation ecosystem helps logistics teams adapt faster and grow stronger and more resilient.
Transparent data also plays a key role in supporting sustainability and compliance. Regulations such as the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive are pushing companies to increase transparency around sourcing practices and partner standards. Just 9% of companies say they are compliant with these new rules, with 30% reporting that they are behind. With expectations continuing to rise, connected intelligence can ensure that organisations stay ahead, without compromising their agility.
Data sharing’s critical role
A connected ecosystem amplifies forecasting accuracy through collaborative demand sensing. Rather than relying on outdated seasonal models, real-time data allows logistics teams to update plans on the fly. Shared real-time visibility also improves strategic collaboration. More logistics players are beginning to pool anonymised data through an integrated platform and its network, uncovering trends and improving decision-making across the industry. When they work from the same set of real-time information, it builds trust and makes it easier to work together efficiently. As supply chains grow more complex and interdependent, shared data will become the foundation for trust and speed at scale.
Resilience is an ongoing process of evolution. From agile planning to AI-driven execution, it demands continuous innovation. But innovation also depends on capability, and many logistics teams are still facing a digital talent gap that holds them back.
A platform’s ability to aggregate anonymised operational data across the network is key to unlocking that capability. These shared data assets fuel the AI algorithms that power smarter forecasting and sourcing, more dynamic routing, more efficient yard operations and increasingly automated decision-making. They also help compensate for digital talent shortages, allowing teams to scale insight without scaling headcount.
When everyone contributes, everyone benefits
Modern logistics software sits at the heart of this evolution, combining AI, real-time visibility and data exchange into a single platform, bringing connected intelligence to life within the transportation ecosystem. It enables more adaptive, efficient and resilient supply chains, allowing businesses to thrive in an uncertain world and also boost their bottom line.
