Subscribe

Day: 19 September 2025

How AI is Reshaping Forwarding Services

Posted on by David Priestman

From AI-powered document processing and predictive maintenance to AI-driven route planning and warehouse robotics, research shows how logistics providers are already turning artificial intelligence from theory into daily operational results.

AI is rapidly reshaping forwarding services for logistics providers, with results that move well beyond theory and into everyday operations. Recent Log-hub research highlights concrete wins in process automation, route optimization, and predictive analytics, but leading case studies and market benchmarks encourage a deeper look at both opportunities and challenges.

Among the many promising AI applications, Log-hub’s research highlights Route & Load Optimization as one of the most valuable for logistics providers and freight forwarders. By combining solver algorithms with machine learning, AI systems dynamically plan the lowest-cost multi-stop routes, fill trucks more efficiently, and enable live rerouting in response to real-world disruptions. This approach directly cuts fuel consumption and driver hours by 5 to 15%, a meaningful boost to the bottom line and sustainability goals. Forwarders also benefit from improved delivery time predictions, with AI models increasing on-time accuracy by up to 25%, resulting in higher customer satisfaction.

Real-World Impact

Industry giants and agile midsize forwarders alike have seen measurable gains by deploying AI. For example, XPO’s freight matching platform automatically matches loads without human intervention and yields a 15% reduction in transport costs, while Maersk cut vessel downtime 30% through predictive maintenance, saving $300M annually. Log-hub’s own pilots report 5–15% fuel savings and days off the billing cycle using AI route planning and document automation.

In a broader market perspective, DHL has achieved a 15% improvement in on-time deliveries and significant cost reductions using AI-powered demand forecasting and dynamic routing. Amazon uses over half a million AI-driven robots and vision systems in its warehouses to boost picking efficiency by 50% and reduce fulfillment costs by 20%. Walmart’s AI-driven inventory management reduced carrying costs by $1.5 billion annually while maintaining very high in-stock rates. These cases underscore how AI adoption across forecasting, warehousing, and transportation processes is producing real ROI for forwarders and logistics providers.

This direct impact is echoed in McKinsey’s benchmarks showing early adopters slash logistics costs by 15% and boost service levels by 65%.

Adoption Challenges and Unanswered Questions

Success with AI is not universal or instant. Many forwarders admit that adoption can be hampered by fragmented data, manual exceptions, scepticism on the front lines, and legal concerns around automated decision-making. Experts recommend piloting solutions in select workflows, maintaining manual fallbacks, and championing internal change for buy-in. AI brings agility and better decisions, but only when paired with robust change management, reliable data pipelines, and a commitment to measuring ROI.

While headlines often focus on industry leaders like Amazon, DHL, and Maersk, Log-hub’s research and roadmap demonstrate that even independent forwarders can achieve transformational gains. Automated customs compliance, predictive maintenance, and intelligent load matching are all in reach, delivering efficiency and resilience for organizations ready to embrace technology.

Critical Factors and the Road Ahead

Log-hub’s research does not ignore risks or open questions. It highlights both successes and ongoing adoption hurdles and presents candid feedback from frontline users and leaders. The company urges organizations to approach AI as a long-term transformation journey, start with clear ROI, iterate quickly, and keep people at the center. Those who combine integration with thoughtful change management will lead the future in forwarding services, not just survive it.

Demolition and Rebuilding for Storage Firm

Posted on by David Priestman

Through the company Immoloh, the real estate company of the JOACHIM LOH COMPANY GROUP, will continue to invest in the infrastructure of Arnsberg, Germany-based storage technology expert META by demolishing and rebuilding ‘Werk 2’ on Westring.

Back in 2017, after standing empty for long time, the former Selecta building was taken over by META as additional storage space. However, due to the outdated building structure, META faced insurmountable limitations with around 10,600 m² of building space – in terms of storage possibilities due to the building height and in terms of meaningful renovations of the building complex.

All stored products are currently being moved to the temporary rented storage facility on the Grabenstraße/Hüttenstraße. The demolition of the old buildings will begin now, including the management building on the Lucienstraße in Bruchhausen. The reconstruction will begin in January 2026 and continue until late summer 2026 with the goal to celebrate the implementing of the new and modern ‘Werk 2’ early 2027. The goals of the reconstruction are to create future-proof, optimized storage processes with a significant reduction in all consumption values in line with the sustainability targets that have been set.

“This is great news for all our colleagues currently.“ says Dr. Klaus Vatter, director of META-Regalbau. “This clear commitment to our location in Arnsberg demonstrates the confidence our owner Sebastian Loh has in the future of META. All to the motto of the company group: Investing in the future of generations.”

The result will be a high-modern logistics centre covering an area of almost 9.000m², which will lead to achieve maximum efficiency in terms of both logistics processes, including goods receipts and dispatch and energy consumption for META. In the future, truck traffic will be directed threw the corner of Westring/Klosfuhrstraße onto the site of the area, which results in reducing the traffic on the Lucienstraße/Westring. Closed loading tunnels in the goods receiving area and long goods loading area will further reduce noise emissions. The advantages of the new hall will result in a highly efficient flow of goods within META logistics.

Focus on sustainability

The topic sustainability also plays a leading role in this project, which will meet the german KfW Standard 55. Photovoltaic systems are planned for the entire roof area, enabling META to drastically reduce its external energy consumption and make an important contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions,

The heating and even the cooling of the building sections is provided by a highly efficient heat pump, which can also be used as an air conditioning system. In addition, so called direct beam panels (cold and warm – both are possible) will ensure more efficient energy use and a drastically less dust turbulence. This ensures a pleasant working environment on cold winter- and warm summer days.

For the demolition, sustainable solutions are also being used: the recyclable concrete is being crushed and fed into the circular economy. In this way, part of the former Selecta building could live on in the new ‘Werk 2’.

Safe Counts, Smart Lifts

Posted on by David Priestman

Yusen Logistics required a bespoke powered access solution that could support both routine stock-taking and safe working practices within a high-volume indoor environment at their warehouse site in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, UK. Given the valuable and sometimes fragile nature of the stock – which includes modern electrical goods – and the frequency of access required, a flexible and efficient method for working at height was essential.

Nationwide Platforms worked with Yusen Logistics to adapt the Dingli 1612PA electric scissor lift, already proven at its Northampton facility. Two key modifications were developed: tailoring the SkySiren PCS pre-crush sensing technology for use on this scissor model, and creating a safe method for digital stock-taking at height.

Challenges

Operators at Wellingborough routinely access high-level racking to perform stock counts. Traditionally, this meant raising the platform to view inventory, lowering to ground level, and then entering data onto a laptop, a repetitive process that slowed throughput and created room for error.


The process also carried inherent risks. Overhead obstructions such as beams and ducting created the potential for entrapment when manoeuvring in tight spaces. At the same time, there was no safe way to use laptops at height, meaning improvised workarounds were being used, exposing both operators and equipment to risk. Together, these factors highlighted a dual challenge: improving the efficiency of stock-taking while ensuring stronger safeguards against one of the most common accident types in warehouse operations.

Nationwide Platforms worked with Yusen Logistics to adapt its SkySiren® PCS™ system – long established on boom lifts – for the Dingli 1612PA scissor. SkySiren PCS uses ultrasonic sensors to monitor an operator’s surroundings in real time. If an obstacle is detected overhead or to the rear, the system automatically slows and stops the machine before contact, giving the operator time to reassess and manoeuvre safely. If the operator continues while a hazard remains, a pressure-sensitive bar mounted in front of the controls provides a secondary safeguard. If pressed, the bar cuts machine movement instantly, triggers a strobe light, and sounds a high-decibel alarm until the hazard is cleared.


This dual-layer protection is unique in that it works in both lift/lower and drive mode. For logistics operations, where repeated movements are needed for stock-taking in narrow aisles, this adds a continuous layer of assurance without disrupting workflow.

A second requirement was enabling operators to conduct digital stock takes directly at height. Working with Dingli, a dedicated laptop tray was designed and approved for mounting to the platform’s handrails. The tray secures devices safely, allowing operators to update inventory systems in real time without compromising stability.


Outcomes


The modifications enabled Yusen Logistics to deploy a single, multi-functional machine that improves safety and supports operational efficiency. Both innovations reflect a dynamic and bespoke response to specific customer needs, developed through direct collaboration between the OEM, the rental provider, and the customer.


Matt Parfitt, Head of Market Development at Nationwide Platforms, said: “This project highlights how collaboration is key for enhancing efficiency and safety on a project. It’s important to have pre-established features built into the machinery, but it’s also important to adapt our machinery to the needs of a particular project.


Krzysztof Bacanski, Warehouse Team Leader at Yusen Logistics, said: “The Dingli 1612PA has been a fantastic addition for our requirements, especially when there are space restrictions such as in a storage facility like this one. With the tailored enhancements, it’s maximised our productivity while enabling us to keep on top of our inventory. Sustainability and safety are essential to our strategy at Yusen Logistics, so being able to use a hydraulic-oil-free machine with an intelligent safety system aligns perfectly with our operational values.”

Outsourced Enterprise Mobility Management

Posted on by David Priestman

Keep things moving in logistics through outsourced Enterprise Mobility Management, argues Simon Evans (pictured, below), Director at Subsidium.

The modern logistics environment is a uniquely demanding one. Whether it is a large facility holding and delivering palletised freight, or a smaller location handling individual goods to be dispatched to individual home addresses, similar challenges abound.

Management needs real time visibility of the consignments that have come in, the exact location where they are to be stored, when they leave and on what vehicle. It is an enormous task and one where any interruption to the accessibility of information can prove costly in terms of a lost consignment or a missed delivery, with both the financial and reputational consequences to consider. It is vital, therefore, that the tools used to gather and record information are reliable, fully operational and equipped with all the software needed.

In-vehicle devices, for example, can be in almost constant use, and may be used by numerous drivers across any 24-hour period. Having even one device out of commission, even for a short period, is at best inconvenient and, at worst, highly damaging to productivity and efficiency. But for busy warehouse managers and IT teams with many other calls on their time, managing device availability and efficiency, especially when a problem arises at short notice, is a task for which they may not be well equipped.

This means it is an area where expert support in the form of a dedicated enterprise mobility management (EMM) provider can bring genuine operational and commercial benefits in these environments, by taking on the responsibility of keeping these devices ready for use and fit for purpose – and add value beyond that too. The key is that an EMM can manage every device remotely, ensuring each one is running correctly with the appropriate software installed. This remote management is vital as drivers and vehicles are rarely, if ever, all in one central location.

EMMs can also offer managed configuration of devices, whereby apps such as navigation tools and warehouse management systems can be remotely pre-configured and updated across every device. This degree of standardisation enables real-time syncing with updated maps, routes, and inventory systems.
Meanwhile, managed devices can also be configured on a shared basis, with personalised log-in details for each user, enabling multiple individuals to use the same unit during different shifts while still having access to different apps and kiosks for their job role. This simplifies offboarding and onboarding, and is key in keeping hardware costs down, while devices can remain securely mounted in vehicles rather than having to be moved around with the risk of loss or damage.

This personalisation means devices can be configured for each user so they can only access the app or apps they need for their role via ‘kiosk mode’. This makes life easier for non-technical users, while increasing resistance to tampering or unintended use, and allowing for more rapid training of new colleagues. The EMM can also limit access to in-vehicle devices while vehicles are in motion, reducing driver distraction and ensuring essential apps like navigation or communication are used safely. The device then automatically switches back to ‘normal’ operating mode when stationary.

Real-time GPS tracking of drivers and assets provides complete visibility of movement, with geofencing able to trigger alerts or actions, for example auto-logging arrival at a delivery zone.
In the rare event that there is a hardware issue, devices can be supported remotely to provide replacements quickly.

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.