Accenture

Companies worldwide are accelerating their adoption of advanced logistics technologies—from cloud platforms and control towers to generative and agentic AI—as they push toward higher levels of automation, autonomy, and real-time decision-making. Yet with markets, industries, and regulatory environments maturing at different speeds, success hinges on strong data foundations, selective tech investment, and a phased roadmap that builds from analytics and automation toward predictive and fully autonomous logistics capabilities.

Accenture’s latest holiday survey finds 70% of retail executives are worried they won’t have enough stock to meet demand.

Recent Accenture research shows that AI-driven autonomy is transforming global supply chains, enabling faster, more agile, and sustainable operations while closing the resilience gap exposed by disruptions. By integrating intelligent systems and human-AI collaboration, companies can cut reaction times, boost productivity, and achieve long-term profitable growth across end-to-end supply chain operations.

Third-party logistics (3PL) providers are grappling with geopolitical instability, fluctuating tariffs, rising costs, and labor shortages, while also facing pressure to accelerate e-commerce order fulfillment. Smaller 3PLs struggle to keep pace with larger peers due to high costs of automation, AI, and robotics. Despite these challenges, the U.S. 3PL market saw growth in 2024, with net revenues increasing by 1.6%.

Ongoing U.S. trade policy shifts—including new de minimis rules for Chinese shipments—are reshaping global logistics. With rising tariffs and reduced exemptions impacting cross-border e-commerce, Armstrong & Associates projects 2025 third-party logistics (3PL) revenue to hit $316.2 billion, up 4.5%, fueled by early-year growth despite increased uncertainty.

As logistics operations race to adopt automation, AI, and analytics, true transformation depends on people—not just technology. In this column, we explore why workforce strategy must be central to digital supply chain initiatives. Featuring insights from Accenture leaders, the piece highlights how people-centric logistics can drive resilience, agility, and long-term success in a tech-driven future.

As logistics operations undergo rapid digital transformation, building a people-centric supply chain has become essential. This feature examines how emerging technologies like warehouse automation, AI in transportation, and digital twin simulations are reshaping the industry. Yet, even as automation advances, skilled logistics talent remains the driving force behind success. With growing supply chain workforce shortages and skill gaps, logistics leaders must prioritize reskilling, upskilling, and workforce strategy to stay agile, resilient, and competitive in a changing global environment.

To address evolving cybersecurity threats, companies must adopt continuous monitoring, leverage AI technologies, and strengthen partnerships with suppliers to enhance supply chain risk management and resilience.

Two of our top consulting sources take a look at where AI can help simplify and streamline the sourcing process by reviewing how it affects each portion of the transportation bid process.

The e-commerce boom has driven third-party logistics providers to heavily invest in automated fulfillment. Shippers have embraced the change, making e-commerce a leading growth driver across all segments of 3PL services.

In today’s new economic context, the traditional supply chain tripod of cost, quality and delivery is no longer cutting it.

With rates soaring and import growth robust, the current market appears favorable for carriers. However, our panel indicates that mixed economic indicators—the threat of a labor strike and an unstable geopolitical climate—could challenge this outlook in the coming months.

The new technology will touch most aspects of the supply chain and make professionals more productive in their day-to-day work.

This is the first of two columns that visits the concept of “index-based variable-rate pricing” as a way to establish more market stability for both shippers and carriers.

From weather patterns and cultures, to trade and regulations, each country is a different operating environment.