Theme: Digitalisation
Industry Adoption: ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚪ Fully Integrated
Impact: ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ High

A 2024 Maersk survey shows that decision makers rank Digital Transformation 5th out of the top 15 trends.

Digital transformation is fundamentally reshaping the world we live in, including logistics, enabling companies to automate and digitise operations such as enhancing efficiency, visibility, and data management. New technologies and concepts such as real-time tracking, automated fleet management, and predictive maintenance are becoming essential tools for supply chains. According to Statista, spending on digital transformation is estimated at 2.5 trillion USD in 2024 and projected to reach 3.9 trillion USD by 2027.

For far too long, logistics has relied on outdated systems and paper-based processes (still used today in some parts of the world). Digital transformation modernises operations by digitising critical processes like bill of lading (B/L) documentation, customs procedures and more, boosting transparency and efficiency. 

^{Average values of the top ten trends: Startups: 57; Patents 9,327 (thereof 316 groundbreaking); Science Publications: 6,141; C-Suite Mentions 1,376; More C-Suite mentions typically signal that trends are in the early or early adopter stage, while fewer indicate movement toward full integration or the industry standard.}

This trend is of high importance and with strong innovation potential, with over 300 startups since 2015 and around 50,000 patents filed between 2019 and 2023, including more than 1,500 groundbreaking innovations. C-Suite mentions declined from 6,500 in 2022 to 3,500 in 2024, reflecting its growing integration into standard practices.

Top 15 Trends

Share of Key Decision Makers, who consider the trend to be relevant for their company’s logistics

Digital Transformation – Relevance by Industry

What are the opportunities?

Digital transformation offers tools like control towers and interfaces to reduce errors and manual work, improving efficiency. Platforms such as digital twins enhance supply chain transparency and proactive management. Companies gain a competitive edge by staying agile, while automation supports safety for manual labour.

What are the challenges?

Global IT integration is costly and complex, often disrupting present workflows. Many digital platforms still require manual data input, and are not necessarily integrating well with other software, limiting efficiency. For this reason, high costs and long implementation timelines can strain resources and delay returns on investment.

Sources:

• Statista (2024)
• Survey among 500+ global logistics decision makers across various industries, conducted by Statista for Maersk (Q4 2024).
• In-depth interviews with global industry experts, academia, and futurists.
• Unstructured web sources with more than 10,000 search term permutations using AI.
• Curated data from startup databases, patent databases, and analysis tools, as well as Semantic Scholar.