17. June 2026, 09:54 o'Clock
Article: Who will shape the logistics of tomorrow
AI, geopolitical shifts and autonomous systems are transforming logistics simultaneously – future expert Erik Wirsing puts it all into perspective.
3 questions for Erik Wirsing
What will logistics look like in the coming years? Which developments will actually be relevant – and which issues might be underestimated?
DB Cargo regularly seeks answers to these questions beyond its own rail system. This is because many changes do not arise in isolation within a single mode of transport, but at the intersections of technology, the economy and global supply chains.
During a discussion with DB Cargo, Erik Wirsing outlined various developments that could shape the industry in the coming years. We asked him to answer three key questions for our readers.
Erik Wirsing has been one of the best-known innovation and future experts in the logistics industry for many years. He examines the impact of new technologies, business models and global changes on supply chains and transport networks, and advises companies on how logistics can be successfully organised in an increasingly complex world.
As a speaker, presenter, podcaster and consultant, he combines strategic future perspectives with practical operational experience.
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1. In your opinion, which developments will have the greatest impact on logistics?
“I don’t believe the biggest change will stem from a single technology or a new business model. The real disruption arises from the interplay of several developments happening simultaneously.”
Artificial intelligence is currently evolving from a tool into an operational decision-making authority. At the same time, automation, autonomous systems and data-driven platform models are advancing. This is changing not only processes, but also the way companies are organised and how value is created.
“Logistics is therefore facing a new reality: the problem is no longer change. The problem is the simultaneity of these changes.”
Companies must learn to think about technological innovation, organisation and business models as a unified whole. The future will not be won by the best individual technology, but by those companies that successfully combine different technologies into a functioning overall system.
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2. Which development is currently being underestimated, even though it could change the interplay between modes of transport?
“In my view, the geopolitical realignment of the global economy is being massively underestimated.”
Many discussions focus on autonomous lorries, drones or AI. These topics are important. Even more important, however, is the question of where production will take place in future, which trade zones will emerge, which data zones will be permitted, and how energy and raw material flows will change.
We are currently witnessing increasing regionalisation of supply chains, new trade barriers, geopolitical tensions and greater state influence over critical infrastructure. In the long term, this will change the role of all modes of transport.
“All digital decisions in logistics today are geopolitical decisions.”
Anyone introducing new technologies is simultaneously making decisions about dependencies, data flows, partner networks and future competitiveness.
The most exciting question for the coming years is therefore not which mode of transport will prevail. The crucial question is how intelligent, connected and increasingly autonomous transport networks will be orchestrated across all modes of transport.
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3. What does this mean in concrete terms for companies in industry and logistics today?
Many companies are currently looking for the next big innovation. However, I believe that the crucial task is a different one.
“2026 will not be the year of spectacular disruptions. It will be the year of disciplined digital architecture.”
Companies should invest primarily in four areas today:
- Data quality and data availability
- Digital infrastructure and system integration
- AI capabilities and automation
- Organisational adaptability
The next stage in the evolution of logistics is not the automation of individual processes. It is the orchestration of entire value chains through AI. For the first time, systems are emerging that not only provide information, but can also independently prepare, coordinate and, in some cases, make decisions.
This fundamentally shifts the role of humans: until now, software has supported decision-making. In future, humans will increasingly monitor, evaluate and steer decisions that are prepared or made by intelligent systems.
Many companies are currently discussing the use of AI. However, the more important question is: Who will make the operational decisions in future – humans, software, or an intelligent combination of both? The companies that answer this question early on and build the appropriate digital architecture will be the winners of the next decade.
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The answers provide insights into the increasing complexity facing the logistics industry. Technological developments, geopolitical changes and organisational requirements are becoming increasingly intertwined. The specific implications of this for the interaction between transport modes will become clearer in the coming years.
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