Source: Descartes
Amersfoort, 6 May 2026 - Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly developed into a regular building block within transport and logistics management. Only 3% of European shippers and logistics service providers (LSPs) say they do not use AI to transform transport processes. This is according to Descartes Systems Group's European Transport Management Benchmark Survey, conducted in 2025 among 300 senior decision-makers at shippers and logistics service providers in Europe.
In practice, the use of AI within transport and logistics focuses mainly on automating processes and improving decision-making. For example, 41% of respondents use AI for automating data entry and converting unstructured data. In addition, 37% apply AI for route and load optimisation, while 32% use AI for load matching and capacity procurement. AI is also increasingly used for forecasting: 29% use AI for cargo forecasting.
Leaders deploy AI more strategically
Although AI is widely deployed, financially best-performing companies are clearly leading the way. Within this group, 61% use AI for data entry automation and 52% for AI-driven freight forecasting. Interestingly, market leaders are additionally using AI more often for strategic applications, such as dynamic price optimisation (39%) and dock planning (39%).
Shippers ahead of logistics service providers
The survey also shows that shippers are technologically more advanced than LSPs. For instance, 45% of shippers use AI for data entry automation, compared to 36% of LSPs. There is a similar difference for route and load optimisation: 42% of shippers apply AI, compared to 31% of LSPs.
Generative AI becomes explicit priority
In addition to current applications, generative AI is also gaining ground as a strategic priority. A quarter of respondents (25%) cited the introduction of generative AI tools as a key strategy to improve operations and strengthen customer service. "The wide adoption of AI shows that the logistics sector is making strides. The distinction is now no longer in whether companies use AI, but in how deeply AI is integrated into decision-making and operational processes," says Elmer Spruijt, VP Transport Management EMEA at Descartes.
About the survey
Since 2017, Descartes has conducted an annual benchmark survey of transport professionals to identify strategies, tactics and expectations for the industry. Survey participants represent a wide range of people responsible for transportation operations at both shippers and logistics service providers in North America and Europe to provide a balanced view of transportation management (TM). The European segment of the survey yielded responses from 300 senior decision-makers working in the transport management sector in Germany (75), the UK (75), France (75) and Belgium/Netherlands (75).
About Descartes
Descartes enables more responsive, efficient, secure and sustainable international and domestic supply chains by bringing together logistics-intensive companies in its Global Logistics Network (GLN). Shippers, carriers and logistics service providers collaborate in the GLN and use technology, data and AI to manage last-mile deliveries, domestic and international shipments, transportation rates and payments, global trade research, customs compliance and various regulatory processes. Find out more about Descartes at https://www.descartes.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
