Why AI won't transform logistics until we fix the foundations

Our latest research (which we conducted in collaboration with the Road Haulage Association) suggests there is still some way to go.

The corresponding ‘2026 Technology & Resilience Benchmark Report’ highlights that just 9% of UK hauliers have a fully integrated technology stack with automated data flows. Only 6% say they have a genuine single source of truth, while 80% rely on business intelligence that is slow to compile or potentially outdated.

Meanwhile, manual processes continue to consume valuable time. Manual data entry is a significant day-to-day burden for 43% of respondents, while 40% point to the challenge of reconciling invoices and electronic proof of delivery.

Against this backdrop, simply adding AI to a disconnected tech infrastructure is unlikely to deliver the transformation businesses are hoping for.

Don’t jump on the AI bandwagon without practical use cases

Perhaps one of the most revealing findings from the research is what operators actually want from AI.

Despite the hype surrounding autonomous technology and increasingly sophisticated AI models, hauliers' priorities are strikingly practical. 59% identified smart document processing as a valuable AI application, while 54% highlighted predictive vehicle maintenance.

Both address familiar operational problems: paperwork that consumes people's time and unplanned downtime that consumes margin.

This tells us something important about the future of work in transport. The greatest opportunity for AI isn't to replace human expertise. It's to remove the repetitive work that prevents them from applying this expertise.

Imagine operations teams spending less time manually entering and reconciling information. Finance teams working from current, connected data rather than assembling reports from multiple systems. Compliance professionals having the necessary information surfaced when they need it. Managers making decisions with intelligence drawn from across the entire operation rather than relying on incomplete information.

This is where AI starts to become useful.

AI is only as good as the data it possesses

Achieving positive outcomes requires more than simply deploying a fancy new AI tool. When systems don't communicate, data is fragmented and workflows still rely on manual intervention. In this scenario, AI lacks the context it needs to deliver reliable, meaningful outcomes.

Our research found that 46% of hauliers have some connected systems but still depend on manual exports or uploads to move information between them, while another 19% operate siloed systems that require duplicate data entry.

This matters because the future of AI isn't simply about what a model can do. It's about how intelligently technology can operate within the context of real work.

Organisations therefore need to think beyond individual applications towards a connected system of work: one in which people, workflows, data, and AI work together, rather than introducing yet another standalone technology for employees to oversee.

Any AI adopted must be trustworthy

There is another consideration as AI becomes embedded into everyday work: trust.

In transport and logistics, decisions can have implications for compliance, safety, employees, customers, and commercial performance. AI adoption therefore has to be accompanied by clear governance, security, and human accountability.

The question shouldn't only be “Where can we use AI?” but “What data is it drawing from, and how do we ensure our people are adhering to the appropriate controls?”

This becomes increasingly important as AI moves from answering questions to taking actions within business workflows.

Leverage a truly intelligent system of work

At OneAdvanced, it is this thinking that sits behind IQ; the intelligent system of work. Our IQ platform is built on three core principles: Intelligent. Connected. Trusted.

Rather than expecting organisations to rip out the technology they already use, the aim is to connect people, data, workflows, and AI, so that intelligence can be embedded directly into the most important everyday tasks.

For transport and logistics businesses, this creates an opportunity to approach AI differently. Start with the friction. Identify the repetitive work that consumes the most time. Connect the data required to understand it. Then apply governed intelligence to make a measurable difference.

Because the future of work isn't about asking people to work harder to manage increasingly complex technology. It's about creating software that works on behalf of people.

And for an industry already under pressure to improve productivity, maintain compliance, and protect margins, this may be where AI can deliver the greatest value.

Uncover the complete findings of the OneAdvanced and RHA ‘2026 Technology & Resilience Benchmark Report’.