A new survey from Deep Current shows that logistics leaders are pushing for digital tools but still face major gaps inside their operations. Document mistakes continue to delay shipments and legacy systems slow the industry’s progress. The findings point to a practical, modular path for digitalisation in 2026.
A growing majority of logistics companies in Europe and the Middle East say digital tools are now essential to their business, yet relatively few have managed to implement them across daily workflows. This is the picture that emerges from a new survey published by Bremen and Oslo based technology firm Deep Current.
Most freight forwarders, 3PLs and mid sized carriers surveyed in the first half of 2025 described technology adoption as “mission critical” but only 29 percent said they had digitised most of their operational processes. The company’s founder and CEO, Tamim Fannoush, said the results reflect a shift in expectations among logistics teams. “Nearly half now favour modular tools that plug into their existing systems, not the large platform overhauls of the past. This ‘integrate, don’t replace’ mindset will define 2026 because it finally bridges ambition with practicality.”
Customer facing functions are moving ahead more quickly. Tracking and visibility tools are in use at 55 percent of companies and 41 percent have adopted digital systems for document auditing and compliance. But the backbone of day to day operations is still dominated by manual work. Only 24 percent have digitised internal document handling and 61 percent continue to rely on emails and spreadsheets to communicate with overseas partners.
Survey participants pointed to the obstacles behind these gaps. Older systems remain the biggest barrier with 47 percent saying integration with legacy platforms holds them back. Cost and unclear returns were cited by 39 percent and 34 percent said staff resistance slows new projects. Another 31 percent reported a shortage of in house expertise. One respondent in Germany said, “Every vendor tells us AI will solve everything. But when it comes to my actual workflow for example missing HS codes, incorrect consignee addresses, they don’t understand the specifics.”
The consequences are visible across the sector. Fifty seven percent of executives reported shipment delays in the past year due to document errors. Forty two percent said manual work caused them to miss revenue opportunities and 36 percent faced compliance penalties. A freight forwarder in the Netherlands with four decades of experience said, “A missing stamp, a mis-typed code, or one wrong invoice format can stop a container worth millions.”
Although the picture is mixed, most executives intend to move forward. Seventy two percent plan to invest in document automation within the next 12 to 18 months and 61 percent expect AI to play a supporting role rather than replace human expertise. Fannoush said progress will come from tools designed around real logistics work. “The future of logistics digitization is not about betting everything on a single platform or hoping AI will magically fix inefficiencies. It’s about adopting modular, logistics-first tools that augment human expertise and integrate seamlessly with the systems that teams already trust.”
