AI is moving beyond its role as a digital assistant and beginning to take action across supply chains, according to the latest DHL Logistics Trend Radar report.

Advances in AI, robotics and automation are transforming not only logistics operations, but also the workforce itself. As intelligent systems become increasingly capable of planning, deciding and acting autonomously, organisations must rethink skills, safety, governance and employee experience while building more resilient and sustainable supply chains., says the report.

“Supply chains are changing faster than ever as AI and workforce trends increasingly influence one another,” said Katja Busch, chief commercial officer at DHL. “The organisations that succeed will be those that understand these shifts early and are able to turn them into practical advantages for their business and their people. The trend radar helps them focus on the developments that will matter most.”

AI in logistics is evolving from assistance to autonomy. Among the most significant findings of the Logistics Trend Radar 8.0 is the emergence of agentic AI, identified as one of the most impactful trends. Unlike earlier generations of AI that primarily respond to prompts or analyse information, agentic AI can autonomously plan, decide and act towards defined goals, enabling closer collaboration between intelligent technologies and human expertise.

Alongside this development is AI analytics, which enable organisations to uncover patterns, anticipate disruptions, forecast outcomes and recommend actions at unprecedented speed and scale. Together, these developments are creating increasingly autonomous and adaptive supply chains, enabling tasks such as anticipating inventory shortages, rerouting shipments around disruptions and dynamically adjusting transport capacity in real time.

The report also sees new trends reflecting AI’s influence in expanding beyond operational efficiency. AI commerce is transforming how consumers and businesses discover and purchase products, compute economy highlights the importance of computing infrastructure and data centre logistics, and humanoids represent an emerging, longer-term trend that could redefine AI-enabled automation in physical environments. Together, these trends signal further transformation across digital and physical supply chains, from AI-assisted purchasing journeys to AI-enabled automation in warehouses.

“Until now, AI has helped people perform tasks more efficiently; the next chapter is about action,” said Klaus Dohrmann, vice president at DHL. “We’re entering an era of autonomous and physical AI, where intelligent systems can actively perceive the world, navigate complex environments and make decisions with minimal human intervention.”

The report places a major focus on how work is changing as AI, automation and robotics become increasingly integrated into logistics operations. The report highlights technologies such as wearable sensors, remote operations, collaborative robotics and AI-powered workplace assistants that help create safer, more productive and more engaging work environments. By reducing repetitive tasks and supporting day-to-day decision-making, these technologies allow employees to focus on higher-value activities such as problem-solving, customer service and operational oversight.

Employee belonging and the augmented workplace emerge as key trends as employees increasingly work alongside AI assistants, collaborative robots and digital tools. The impact of these technologies will reshape hundreds of roles spanning frontline operations, technical professions and knowledge-based functions, creating demand for new skills and new ways of working. For business leaders, the challenge is no longer simply introducing technologies, but ensuring employees have the skills, confidence and support to use them effectively.

“Technology is transforming the way we work, but people remain the driving force behind every successful supply chain,” said Thomas Ogilvie from DHL (www.dhl.com). “We’re already seeing AI assistants, wearable devices and collaborative robots helping employees work more safely, reduce repetitive work and focus on higher-value tasks. The future of logistics will not be defined by human versus AI, but by how effectively organisations combine human expertise with increasingly capable technologies.”

As AI systems take on more autonomous responsibilities, organisations must ensure they are deployed responsibly, securely and transparently. The report highlights trends including AI ethics and cyber security, which help organisations balance innovation with governance, resilience and security. As intelligent systems become increasingly embedded in critical operations such as demand forecasting, inventory planning and transport decision-making, robust safeguards and human oversight are becoming as important as the technologies themselves.

As in previous editions, sustainability continues to be a core driver of logistics innovation. Trends such as decarbonisation, sustainable fuels, circularity, and heavy and light vehicle electrification demonstrate how organisations are deploying electric delivery fleets, scaling alternative fuels and redesigning supply chains for reuse and resource efficiency while pursuing lower-carbon operations.

Logistics Trend Radar 8.0 can be downloaded at www.dhl.com/content/dam/dhl/global/csi/documents/pdf/glo-csi-logistics-trend-radar-8-0.pdf.