Transportation and logistics providers view 2026 as a pivotal year for technological transformation. As market pressures mount and supply chains evolve, integrating advanced technologies has become critical for shippers and logistics operators seeking efficiency in planning, tracking, and delivery processes.

Tom McLeod, CEO of McLeod Software, believes that despite many tech innovations coming and going over the years, the essential demand from operators remains: to utilize technology—especially artificial intelligence (AI)—to enhance productivity while reducing costs. Current applications of AI are already streamlining tasks; for instance, AI can interpret inquiries from emails or texts, quickly extract data from transportation management systems (TMS), and provide automated responses. This process can reduce the time taken for tasks like quoting or order entry from minutes to seconds, significantly enhancing workflow efficiency.

AI implementations, such as those from Qued, demonstrate tangible benefits by automating load appointment scheduling, reducing the previously extensive multi-step process to mere seconds and eliminating the need for human intervention. This leads to greater operational reliability and productivity.

Furthermore, as logistics firms embrace AI, they must also contend with the challenge of outdated technology systems that hinder integration. Adopting modern cloud-based solutions paired with AI can revitalize operations and enhance overall service quality. By directing human resources towards complex decision-making while letting AI manage repetitive tasks, companies can improve employee satisfaction and operational outcomes.

Overall, the transportation and logistics industry is on the cusp of a technological revolution that leverages AI to not only optimize processes but also reimagine the workforce dynamics, ensuring that technology complements human expertise.

Penske Logistics is set to enhance its supply chain operations by implementing a new artificial intelligence (AI) platform from Augment, following a successful six-month pilot trial. This innovative technology augments Penske’s existing track and trace capabilities, allowing its teams to obtain real-time freight status information for customers. The goal is to streamline the transportation process, improving visibility and speed across the supply chain, while integrating seamlessly with leading transportation management systems.

Jeff Jackson, president of Penske Logistics, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating that it is a key component of their AI strategy aimed at delivering greater convenience and clarity within a complex operating environment. In its initial phase, Penske will utilize Augment’s AI system to validate the status of approximately 600,000 loads, anticipating productivity gains between 30 to 40 percent. This is achieved by automating routine tasks and enhancing communication with carrier dispatchers, ultimately facilitating efficiencies in inbound loads, middle-mile transportation, and final delivery.

Augment’s AI platform goes a step further by proactively reaching out to carrier dispatch representatives through calls, emails, or texts when shipment updates are unavailable, adapting to each carrier's preferred communication style. This ensures timely and accurate information is integrated into Penske’s systems while minimizing manual interventions. Moreover, it operates across the entire order-to-cash cycle, facilitating processes like quoting, tracking, and billing. By reducing operational touches and cycle times, the AI platform not only enhances productivity but also enables human workers to focus on higher-value tasks. Through this transformative approach, Penske positions itself at the forefront of the evolving logistics landscape.

The logistics industry is undergoing a significant transformation thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly AI routing. This innovative application uses sophisticated algorithms to optimize delivery paths, enhancing speed and reducing fuel consumption across the logistics spectrum—from last-mile delivery to international freight.

By 2026, companies harnessing AI routing are setting new benchmarks for efficiency and customer service. These leaders utilize AI not only for predictive analytics related to traffic and delivery times but also to streamline inventory management and sustainability practices. Here are several impactful applications:

1. UPS: Employing its ORION system, UPS processes over 250 million data points daily, leading to savings of over 100 million miles annually. This optimization has significantly lowered fuel costs and carbon emissions, enhancing operational efficiency.

2. Amazon Logistics: Their AI-driven network employs predictive analytics and live traffic data to create precise delivery routes, improving last-mile delivery and overall customer satisfaction. Piloting reinforcement learning models, Amazon aims to dynamically adjust routes based on real-time conditions.

3. FedEx: Utilizing its Dynamic Route Optimization system, FedEx enhances global delivery speed while reducing fuel consumption. AI now predicts customs delays, allowing for alternative routing, thus streamlining international shipping.

4. Descartes Systems Group: This software leader provides AI-driven route optimization for thousands of logistics firms, integrating generative AI to simulate delivery scenarios, vital for complex supply chain management.

5. Locus: With AI routing at its core, Locus optimizes enterprise logistics, accounting for diverse delivery variables and expanding capabilities to include customer behavior data.

As AI continues to redefine logistics, companies are not only cutting costs but also raising customer expectations and enhancing sustainability—positioning AI routing as a crucial aspect of future logistics strategies.

Oracle's latest Order Management (OM) release, 26A, represents not just a new suite of features but a strategic vision that harnesses AI to enhance user experience through intelligent automation and seamless interactions.

Autonomous Resilience

A critical improvement in 26A is the enhanced Order Exception Agent, which processes unhandled responses from shipping and receiving, optimizes order management, and resolves exceptions efficiently. With this AI-driven tool, organizations can expect:

• Faster issue resolution: Immediate anomaly detection accelerates problem identification, significantly cutting order processing times.
• Reduced costs: Automation minimizes manual interventions, leading to lower labor costs and fewer costly errors.
• Improved customer satisfaction: Fewer delayed orders ensure companies can consistently meet delivery commitments.

Conversational Commerce

Another major advancement is the upgraded Create Order Agent, transitioning it into a fully functional Sales Order Assistant. This feature streamlines sales order creation using natural language, allowing customers to easily interact and place orders without relying on Customer Service Representatives. Benefits include:

• Decreased administrative costs: Automating order capture allows CSRs to focus on more strategic duties.
• Higher upsell potential: Inbuilt product recommendations enhance average order values effortlessly.
• 24/7 self-service: Customers enjoy greater convenience, accessing services beyond traditional business hours.

Redwood Productivity

Oracle has also revamped the OM user interface, aligning it with the Redwood UX standard to enhance usability. The new features provide:

• Insight-driven navigation: Improved information architecture reduces errors and speeds up tasks.
• Customizable interfaces: Administrators can easily tailor the setup without extensive development costs.
• Lower total cost of ownership: Quick configurations facilitate faster deployments and better ROI.

Release 26A illustrates Oracle's commitment to embedding AI into everyday workflows, simplifying complexity, and empowering users. This latest update not only streamlines operations but also elevates the entire ordering experience, positioning Oracle as a leader in modern order management solutions.