Artificial intelligence (AI) has become firmly embedded in industrial practice by 2025. However, 2026 is set to be the year when it is systematically integrated into the everyday operations of logistics and transport. In a recent analysis, Aachen-based software developer Inform outlines five technological and structural trends that are expected to shape the sector in the coming year.
Trend 1: AI agents become operational players Autonomous, specialised AI agents are increasingly taking on specific tasks across the supply chain. They detect deviations in real time — such as delays in transport or disruptions in material flows — and automatically initiate countermeasures.
In transport logistics, this could mean an agent identifying a delivery delay and independently assessing alternative routes or transport options. Multiple agents operate in parallel, forming a kind of swarm intelligence that links planning, warehousing, scheduling and shipping more closely — and more rapidly — than before.
Trend 2: AI becomes the foundation of software architectures The next generation of logistics software will not simply be “enhanced” with AI but designed as AI-native from the outset. Learning processes, data handling and decision logic are embedded directly into the software core.
At the same time, the development process itself is changing. Automated testing, AI-assisted programming and continuously learning deployments are becoming standard practice. As a result, logistics companies need not only to adopt AI tools, but also to build in-house expertise — for example, to evaluate AI-generated plans or fine-tune algorithms.
Trend 3: Specialised and modular AI systems gain ground Rather than relying on universal models, transport and logistics companies are increasingly turning to specialised AI systems trained on industry-specific data. These systems deliver more precise forecasts and decisions, for example in capacity planning or identifying bottlenecks at transhipment points.
Modular, combinable components also make it possible to intelligently link different subprocesses, such as route planning, vehicle availability and time-slot management.
Trend 4: Transparency and compliance become mandatory With the enforcement of the EU AI Act, alongside regulations such as NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act, companies must demonstrate that their AI systems operate safely, transparently and in full regulatory compliance.
New “AI observability” tools enable real-time monitoring of decision-making processes, performance and security aspects. For logistics service providers, this means not only understanding how AI systems reach their decisions, but also being able to document those decisions in an auditable way at any time.
Trend 5: New roles and new forms of collaboration The growing use of AI is reshaping the division of labour within logistics companies. Dispatchers, shift managers and planners are increasingly working alongside AI systems that provide recommendations, forecasts or decision support.
This shift is creating new role profiles at the intersection of operational expertise, data analysis and system management. As a result, companies that invest in targeted training and change management are better positioned to prepare their workforce for an AI-supported working environment.
Why 2026 will be a turning point for AI in logistics According to Inform, 2026 will mark the point at which AI reaches maturity in the logistics sector. Companies that invest now in specialised, compliant and transparent systems — and equip their employees to work effectively with AI — are likely to secure competitive advantages in an increasingly digitalised transport market.
AI is no longer an add-on but an integral part of the value chain, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, resilience and response speed.
