Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept in logistics, it’s a transformative force reshaping how goods are moved, stored and delivered. From predictive maintenance to autonomous robots, AI is driving efficiency, flexibility and smarter decision-making across the supply chain. In a series of interviews taken at Logiconomi 2025, we talk with executive leaders from Toyota Material Handling Europe, Gideon, Microsoft and Vanderlande, to understand how AI is being adopted and where it’s headed.
From first movers to fast followers
Josip Cesic, CEO at Gideon, observes a significant shift in the adoption curve: “Just a few years ago, automation was the domain of first movers, companies that introduce a new product, service or technology to the market. Now, we’re seeing fast followers catching up. These are businesses that enter the market later, but quickly adopt and improve the innovations introduced by the first mover. Customers are coming to us knowing exactly what they need. It’s no longer about educating them, it’s about delivering solutions.”
This maturity is enabling more targeted and scalable AI applications, particularly in areas like trailer loading and unloading, where AI-powered robots are now solving problems that were previously out of reach.
AI as a force multiplier
Josip also highlights how AI is amplifying human capabilities: “Historically, one forklift operator managed one vehicle. Today, one person can operate a fleet of five to ten autonomous robots. That’s a significant gain in efficiency made possible by AI.”
Frida Nordquist, Program Manager Innovation at Toyota Material Handling Europe, adds that AI is also enhancing warehouse operations through, for example, visualisation and camera technologies. “AI helps navigate trucks, identify damaged goods and optimise warehouse slotting and route planning. It improves the process and makes staff more efficient.”
Breaking down barriers to successful adoption
Despite its promise, AI adoption in logistics still faces hurdles. Ygal Levy, EMEA Manufacturing Director at Microsoft, points to structural challenges: “The industry suffers from data silos, legacy systems and bulky user interfaces, but AI has the potential to address key pain points like forecasting accuracy, route optimisation and the employee skills gap.”
Ygal outlines three core areas where AI adds value: planning, management and customer experience.
- AI significantly improves forecasting by providing predictive insights and revolutionises network optimisation by enabling proactive problem-solving and enhanced security.
- AI-powered systems allowing better data analysis can optimise fleet operations and predictive maintenance.
- Enabling personalised interactions and omnichannel service optimisation will lead to increased efficiency, more sustainable decision-making and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Flexibility and speed in a volatile world
Susanne Schouten, Solution Manager Warehousing at Vanderlande, emphasises AI’s role in adapting to change. “The big game changer is increased flexibility and speed. With predictive models, you can better manage inventory, optimise picking routes and respond to market volatility.”
Susanne also notes that while autonomous mobile robots are becoming common, full end-to-end orchestration of logistics processes where AI seamlessly manages the entire supply chain from origin to delivery is still emerging. Though still evolving, the field is rapidly advancing. “We’re playing around with connecting data models, but it’s still early days,” she admits.
Real-world success stories
All four experts shared examples of companies successfully integrating AI:
- Amazon uses a fleet of autonomous mobile robots to run its warehouses, reducing errors and operational costs.
- Walmart leverages AI for demand forecasting, customer experience and predictive maintenance.
- Microsoft transformed its supply chain by connecting data silos, integrating AI and reducing inventory by 25%.
- Maersk uses IoT and AI to monitor container conditions and optimise fuel consumption.
- Cemex developed an AI copilot to support sales teams, improving customer service and boosting revenue.
Enabling sustainable performance
Logiconomi is a communication platform, created by Toyota Material Handling Europe, to identify and understand challenges, trends and emerging technologies in the logistics industry. The aim is to support all players active in the logistics industry with insights and inspiration for improved logistics operations.
Discover more trends as we uncover more interviews in this blog series or in our latest trend report.
