**Europe**: The transport logistics sector faces challenges from resource limits and disruptions. Philipp Pfister of Transporeon highlights the importance of cloud-based platforms and AI to improve supply chain visibility, coordination, and efficiency, with real-world applications like LKW WALTER’s yard management tool driving dynamic scheduling and reducing delays.
The transport logistics sector continues to face significant pressures as finite resources and unpredictable disruptions challenge supply chain efficiency. Philipp Pfister, Sector Vice President at Transporeon, a Trimble company, has shared insights on how shippers and carriers can strengthen their supply chains against such hurdles.
In logistics, uncertainty has become a constant factor due to ongoing geopolitical developments, environmental incidents, strikes, and labour shortages. These conditions compel businesses in the transportation chain to frequently and swiftly adjust their plans. Pfister notes that the complexity increases when disruptions require data retrieval across multiple transportation modes and time zones, often imposing extra workload and escalating costs.
One of the root causes of supply chain fragility is the predominance of fragmented systems that hinder end-to-end visibility and efficiency improvements. Organisations typically rely on isolated digital tools that struggle to interoperate seamlessly, making it difficult to share information between shippers, carriers, forwarders, and other stakeholders. For example, telematics systems from numerous providers generate vast volumes of data, yet the challenge remains to integrate these disparate data streams for cohesive analysis.
Pfister advocates for cloud-based transportation management platforms that unify different players across the supply chain. Such platforms can normalise incoming data from varied sources, creating a shared data pool in a standardised format. This approach facilitates better communication and coordination among participants.
A practical illustration is the dock and yard management tool adopted by LKW WALTER, one of Europe’s leading logistics service providers. Handling over 7,000 full truck load transports daily and booking approximately 25,000 time slots weekly, LKW WALTER implemented this tool to simplify the complex planning process for transport partners and drivers. The system enhances visibility throughout the supply chain and enables dynamic adjustment of time slots; early arrivals can fill slots assigned to latecomers and vice versa. Drivers benefit from improved route planning that includes information on petrol stations, service areas, and secure parking, thus reducing waiting times and helping mitigate driver shortages.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are increasingly integral to these developments. By analysing patterns in data over time, AI models can predict and anticipate delays caused by events such as strikes and traffic congestion. Additionally, these technologies enable smarter resource utilisation and sustainability efforts by reducing empty runs, promoting eco-friendly driving, and optimising load consolidation.
In procurement and quotation processes, AI-driven automation is streamlining functions once reliant on laborious manual work. Pfister highlights the role of autonomous quotation tools that generate spot truck transportation pricing based on market forecasts and individual user criteria, including margin targets, transport type, and timing windows. These forecasting models learn and improve continually by incorporating outcomes from previous transactions, enhancing quotation accuracy.
The broader digital ecosystem encompasses a range of AI-powered solutions that support freight procurement, transportation execution, dock and yard management, and payment audits. Neutral data hubs offer actionable insights into logistics workflows, market trends, and CO2 emissions, while visibility tools maintain transparency throughout supply chains.
Pfister emphasises that to fully realise these benefits, the industry must overcome technical challenges by setting interoperability standards and improving data quality. Achieving widespread awareness of the need to move beyond mere connectivity to true interoperability is essential for optimising supply chain operations. Ultimately, this would enable all stakeholders—from shippers and carriers to warehouses and retailers—to focus on their core activities of transporting goods and materials efficiently, while enhancing customer satisfaction.
As the logistics industry continues to navigate a complex environment of constraints and disruptions, embracing integrated digital platforms and AI technologies may offer a pathway to greater supply chain resilience and responsiveness.
Source: Noah Wire Services
