Most logistics companies in Europe and the Middle East say digital tools are now critical to their operations, but only a small share have implemented them across core workflows, according to a survey from logistics technology firm Deep Current.
By the numbers, most freight forwarders, 3PLs, and mid-sized carriers across Europe, and the Middle East that Deep Current surveyed in H1 2025 said that they believe technology adoption is ‘mission critical’ for their business. However, only 29% confirmed that they have implemented it across most operational workflows.
“What our data shows is a fundamental shift in how logistics teams want to modernize. Nearly half now favor modular tools that plug into their existing systems, not the large platform overhauls of the past,” Tamim Fannoush, founder and CEO of Deep Current, said in a release. “This ‘integrate, don’t replace’ mindset will define 2026 because it finally bridges ambition with practicality.”
Norway-based Deep Current also found that firms are adopting new tech for their customer-facing functions long before their core logistics functions.
Today, 55% of companies use digital systems for shipment tracking and visibility, and 41% have invested in document auditing and compliance tools. But the operational backbone of logistics remains largely untouched by digital transformation—only 24% of companies have digitized internal document handling (such as bills of lading and invoices) end to end. And 61% of logistics teams still depend on emails and spreadsheets to manage communication with overseas partners.
The reasons for that disconnect include: integration with legacy systems such as ERP and TMS platforms (47%), cost and unclear ROI (39%), resistance to change among staff (34%), lack in-house logistics and technology expertise for digital projects (31%), and a mismatch where vendor solutions don’t fully fit the nuances of logistics workflows (27%).
“The future of logistics digitization is not about betting everything on a single platform or hoping AI will magically fix inefficiencies,” said Fannoush. “It’s about adopting modular, logistics-first tools that augment human expertise and integrate seamlessly with the systems that teams already trust.”
