Logistics is Ahead of the Overall Economy in Digitalization

Whether in demand forecasting, sales planning, or transport optimization: Already every fifth logistics company in Germany (22 percent) uses artificial intelligence, and another 26 percent are planning or discussing it. This is shown by a representative survey of more than 400 logistics companies with at least 20 employees in Germany, commissioned by the digital association Bitkom.

(Berlin) Thus, logistics is clearly ahead of the overall German economy when it comes to AI. In comparison, only nine percent of companies across all sectors use AI.¹ “The logistics industry has recognized the potential of AI both in warehousing and transport and is strategically using the technology to increase efficiency, quality, and productivity,” comments Bitkom’s CEO Dr. Bernhard Rohleder. For the future, more than half of logistics companies (58 percent) expect that artificial intelligence will be widespread and will take over many tasks in logistics, such as route planning or avoiding empty trips.

Logistics Industry as a Pioneer of Digitalization

In the logistics sector, the majority of companies (56 percent) consider themselves pioneers in digitalization – compared to only 32 percent in the overall economy.² “Digitalization is not a peripheral but a core issue in logistics,” says Rohleder. Most companies are dealing with a wide variety of technological solutions.

Cloud computing is widely used: Almost seven out of ten companies (68 percent) use cloud computing in logistics. Six out of ten use IoT applications or sensor technologies (61 percent) as well as warehouse management systems (59 percent). Smartphones or tablets are used in 56 percent of logistics companies, and big data and analytics are employed in 41 percent. The same number utilize digital marketplaces (41 percent). Digital twins are less common: Only one in seven companies (14 percent) uses them, but one in four (25 percent) is planning or discussing their use. Furthermore, one in three companies (35 percent) is dealing with robotics, and one in nine (11 percent) is already using robots. Intelligent shelves (6 percent) and drones (4 percent) are hardly applied. A quarter is planning their use or discussing it (26 percent each).

Logistics Industry is Open to Digitalization

Rohleder: “The logistics industry is open and positively inclined towards digitalization; many companies are pioneers in the use of digital technologies. Through the consistent use of digital technologies, logistics makes a significant contribution to sustainable and climate-friendly production and mobility.”

Title photo: © Loginfo24