AI, logistics, and what comes next
Thoughts on computer vision, scalable AI, and the future of forwarding, distribution, and warehousing — from the people building it.
Logistics at a crossroads: amplifying expertise with intelligent automation
The logistics companies thriving today aren't just working harder — they're working smarter. Real-time visibility, proactive load quality monitoring, and intelligent automation amplify human expertise instead of replacing it.
Freight rates climb, trucks run empty — and the math doesn't add up
Freight rates climbing 12% while trucks run 15% empty. Poor capacity planning is costing the industry billions — and real-time fill rate data is what changes the equation.
The $184B cost of supply chain visibility gaps
$184B in supply chain disruption costs in 2024. The biggest culprit is a lack of real-time visibility at loading docks — and the cameras are already there, waiting to be turned into intelligence.
The gap between theory and practice in supply chain optimisation
Even the most sophisticated supply chain optimisation models are only as good as the data behind them. A 10% data inaccuracy can render results meaningless — making real-time visibility a prerequisite, not an afterthought.
The logistics industry is at a fascinating crossroads
Four practical AI applications delivering measurable results today: real-time visibility over prediction models, dimensional accuracy reducing shipping costs by 18%, fast-but-simple over abandoned-complex, and human expertise amplifying AI effectiveness.
True value unlocks through process understanding
The real unlocking of value comes from a deep, intimate understanding of the working process — not from technology alone. A reflection on Episode V of Ivan Markov's supply chain visibility series and what it means to truly understand how transport booking works.
Episode V – Return of the Data
With the missing conversion ratio identified and automated data capture in place, a Nordic furniture retailer eliminated overbooking, reduced wasted transport capacity, and realised €1.3 million in annual savings — all without heroics or guesswork.
Sometimes the biggest wins come from solving the smallest inefficiencies
Seven minutes of manual admin per container doesn't sound like much — until you multiply it across hundreds of daily operations. A global logistics company achieved 6% warehouse productivity gains and increased shipping capacity without adding headcount.
Container optimisation: beyond 'fill and ship'
'Fill and ship' is no longer enough. Real-time visibility into what's actually in each container — versus what the manifest says — helps logistics leaders improve utilisation by 15–25% and reduce costly surprises at destination.
Episode IV – The Missing Piece
After identifying where money was leaking, the team stopped analysing and started listening — discovering that a static, never-updated Conversion Ratio was the missing link between insight and €1.3M in realised savings.
Episode II – The Proof of Concept Strikes Back
The Inspector solution captured real images of truck loads at a Nordic furniture retailer, revealing systematic overbooking and underutilised capacity. Just 200 data points pointed to €700K–€1.4M in potential annual savings.
Route planning: the art and science of modern logistics
Route planning has evolved far beyond A-to-B navigation. Winning logistics companies blend algorithmic optimisation with real-time visibility and human expertise — achieving better service at lower costs across their entire supply chain.
Episode I – A New Approach
Every logistics transformation starts with challenging a belief. Approaching a Nordic furniture retailer not with a pitch deck but with curiosity, the team aligned on a single shared mission: only ground truth from the warehouse floor.
Cutting CO₂ through AI-driven trailer utilisation
At DHL, cutting CO₂ isn't just a goal — it's a strategy. Our collaboration with Sentispec enables real-time monitoring to ensure trailers operate at full capacity, reducing wasted trips and environmental impact while maintaining service quality.
Smarter loading equals smarter logistics
At DHL, we believe smarter loading equals smarter logistics. With Sentispec's load analysis, we're boosting container fill quality, cutting down on empty space and damage risk, and saving real money for our customers while delivering the same high level of service.
Sentispec and DHL: Unlocking AI-powered container intelligence
Sentispec and DHL have partnered to deploy an AI-powered solution for a global heavy equipment manufacturer — unlocking transparency, identifying hidden inefficiencies, and driving smarter logistics decisions through real-time container tracking.
How to scale predictable AI
The use of AI in logistics can be cumbersome to scale because of the need for extensive training and huge data loads. By prioritising only needed information and ignoring the rest, we can reduce a 10 MB problem into 0.5–1 MB — vastly reducing cost and increasing scalability.
The disappointment of autonomous AI
An early exploration with ChatGPT, musing on why autonomous AI systems that promise full independence often disappoint in real-world logistics deployments — and how to design AI that delivers predictable, scalable results instead.
End-to-end supply chain visibility
End-to-end supply chain visibility is the ultimate goal in logistics — but RFID and scanning portals are too expensive to deploy everywhere. Computer vision offers a cost-effective alternative: leveraging cameras already on forklifts, gates, and smartphones to track goods from source to destination in real time.
Musings on human vs. computer vision
Human eyes excel not because of mechanical superiority, but because of the brain behind them. By strategically positioning cameras and processing visual data in real time, organisations can transform continuous observation into actionable business intelligence — at a fraction of the cost of manual monitoring.