Maritime logistics embracing AI

Descartes, which creates surveys providing insights into transport management, has found that 97% of European shippers and logistics service providers have adopted AI in transport operations.

The finding comes from a survey of 300 senior decision-makers across four European markets. The study suggests AI is now embedded in day-to-day transport management across much of the sector, with use focused on automating routine work and supporting operational decisions.

Among respondents, 41% use AI to automate data entry and convert unstructured data, 37% use it for route and load optimisation, 32% apply it to load matching and capacity purchasing, and 29% use it for freight forecasting.

The results point to a maturing market in which, for many operators, the question is no longer whether to use AI but where and how extensively to apply it. That shift is particularly visible among companies described as financially successful, which were more likely to use AI across a broader range of transport functions.

Within that group, 61% use AI for data entry automation and 52% for freight forecasting. They were also more likely to apply AI to dynamic price optimisation and dock planning, with 39% citing each use.

The gap suggests stronger-performing businesses are moving beyond basic workflow automation into planning and pricing decisions that can affect margins and asset use. In logistics, those areas have traditionally relied on manual intervention, legacy software, or planner judgement, and are often harder to digitise than back-office tasks.

The survey also found a divide between cargo owners and service providers. Shippers led logistics service providers in several categories, including data entry automation and route and load optimisation. Among shippers, 45% use AI for data entry automation, compared with 36% of logistics service providers.

For route and load optimisation, 42% of shippers reported using AI, versus 31% of logistics service providers. The difference may reflect variations in budgets, system complexity and investment priorities.

Shippers often have direct control over transport procurement and internal digital programmes, while logistics service providers may need to balance AI spending against thinner margins and a broader mix of customer requirements.

Even so, the findings indicate that non-adoption is now rare. With only 3% of respondents saying they do not use AI to transform transport processes, AI appears to have moved from an emerging technology initiative to a mainstream operational tool in European logistics.

The study covered respondents in Germany, the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with 75 senior decision-makers surveyed in each market. Descartes said the annual benchmark survey has run since 2017 and covers transportation professionals responsible for transport operations at shippers and logistics service providers in Europe and North America.

Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Manager Alexandra Herdman said: “AI is no longer a future ambition for maritime logistics – it is fast becoming part of the sector’s operational backbone. What we’re seeing now is a shift from simple automation towards more sophisticated applications that directly influence planning, pricing and asset utilisation.

“For maritime operators, this presents a real opportunity to improve efficiency and resilience, but it also underlines the need for continued investment in digital capability, workforce skills and data quality to fully realise the benefits.”