01

Climate neutrality, circularity and sustainability

Sustainability is becoming an essential element of business strategy, competitiveness and long-term resilience. The transition towards zero-emission logistics is one of the main drivers of change in freight transport and supply chains. It affects vehicle technologies, energy systems, infrastructure, operations, emissions measurement and reporting, and the increased use of rail and waterborne transport where they provide operational and environmental value.

Circularity also creates new logistics requirements linked to reverse logistics, reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling and more efficient resource flows.

02

Digital transformation

Data is becoming a strategic asset for logistics. Digitalisation enables better visibility, planning, coordination and decision-making across logistics networks.

Data exchange and data sharing, interoperable systems, logistics data spaces, electronic freight transport information, IoT, digital twins and artificial intelligence can support more efficient and transparent operations. They also raise new requirements for cybersecurity, data governance, trust and common standards.

Smart logistics requires collaboration between companies, authorities, infrastructure managers and technology providers.

03

Automation in supply chains

Automation is changing logistics processes across transport, warehousing, terminals, hubs, planning systems and execution layers of processes. It creates opportunities to address capacity constraints and labour shortages in specific logistics activities.

Automated vehicles, robotics, autonomous handling equipment, decision-support systems and automated data exchange can improve safety, productivity and operational consistency. Their adoption depends on technical readiness, regulation, workforce skills, infrastructure, business models and integration with existing operations.

04

Resilient and agile supply chains

Recent years have shown the vulnerability of global supply chains to disruption. Resilience has become an important requirement for logistics systems. It is closely connected to digitalisation, infrastructure planning, energy transition, cybersecurity, visibility and collaboration across modes and sectors.

Climate-related disruption, geopolitical instability, energy uncertainty, cyber risks and supply chain vulnerabilities are changing how logistics networks are planned and managed. Organisations increasingly need logistics systems that can adapt, maintain continuity and recover effectively when disruption occurs.

05

Scarcity of resources and infrastructure constraints

Logistics stakeholders increasingly need to manage limited transport capacity, storage space, energy availability, land use and infrastructure capacity. This creates pressure to improve asset utilisation, reduce empty running, share capacity where appropriate and make better use of hubs, warehouses, vehicles and transport networks.

Resource scarcity also reinforces the importance of the Physical Internet, collaborative logistics models, data sharing and more efficient network design.

06

Changing consumer and societal expectations

Consumers, citizens and businesses increasingly expect logistics services that are sustainable, transparent, reliable and responsive. The growth of e-commerce, urbanisation, demand for fast delivery and expectations on environmental performance continue to influence logistics operations.

Social considerations are also becoming more important in logistics planning and policy. These include workforce wellbeing, inclusion, safety and quality of life in urban areas.