The digital crossroads: Key takeaways from the 2026 Wholesale & Logistics Trends Report

With data from 530 Wholesale & Logistics participants, the findings reveal that while the ambition for AI and automation is high, the road to full digital maturity still has a few speed bumps. Here are a few of the standout trends that will be shaping the industry in 2026.

1. AI: From "hype" to "high priority"

If 2025 was the year of talking about AI, 2026 is the year of integrating it. A staggering 53% of respondents named AI adoption and integration as their top business priority for the next 12 months.

The sector isn't just experimenting; it's competing. 41% of businesses believe they are slightly ahead of their closest competitors in AI adoption. However, a "skills gap" remains the silent killer of progress; 11% of leaders cite it as the single biggest barrier to embedding AI within their workflows.

2. The "somewhat aligned" trap

Modernisation is happening, but is it cohesive? While 44% of organisations have automated most processes, a massive 62% admit that their current platforms are only "somewhat aligned" with their evolving needs.

This alignment gap suggests that while new tools are being added, they aren't always talking to each other. With 10% of participants citing poor integration between systems as their biggest operational challenge, the focus for the coming year must shift from adding tech to connecting tech.

3. Cyber resilience vs. budget realities

Cybersecurity has moved from an IT concern to a boardroom crisis. 42% of respondents view cyber-attacks as a bigger risk than AI misuse, yet 50% cite budget and resource issues as the primary hurdle to improving their defences.

Interestingly, confidence remains a mixed bag:

• 32% feel well-protected.
• 58% acknowledge they have protections but desperately need more investment.
• Only 16% are "fully confident" they have real-time visibility into who is accessing their systems.

4. A culture of human-led automation

There is a refreshing lack of "robot-phobia" in the sector. In a surprising result, 100% of respondents said they are not worried about long-term succession planning being harmed by automating entry-level roles.

Instead, the industry is viewing AI as a partner. 43% see AI as both a cost-saver and a value-adder, and 49% maintain that human oversight is "important" for reviewing AI outputs in key areas. The focus is clear: use technology to empower the workforce, not replace it.

"Our 10th annual trends report highlights a Wholesale & Logistics sector that is no longer asking why change is needed, but how fast they can implement it. The data shows a clear link between system integration and leadership confidence." - Adrian West, VP of Retail, Wholesale, Logistics & Manufacturing at OneAdvanced.

Benchmarking your success

Is your organisation keeping pace with the 53% prioritising AI, or are you among the 62% feeling the alignment gap?

The full Wholesale & Logistics Sector Report dives deeper into cloud leverage, data management maturity, and the specific AI use cases (from workforce productivity to security monitoring) that are delivering the highest ROI right now.

Download the full report today to see how you compare to your peers and gain the insights needed to navigate the year ahead.