Despite years of investment in digital platforms and artificial intelligence, shipping operations still rely heavily on humans manually connecting disconnected systems, according to a new industry report by Deep Current, a Germany-based AI company that is building the pre-operational data flow infrastructure layer for logistics.
“Many logistics organizations continue to operate in environments where workflows are fragmented and require a significant ‘human integration layer’ between more than 5 systems on average for a typical workflow. Even in 2026, many technology platforms and AI models still rely on this human intervention to deliver results.” Tamim Fanoush, Founder and CEO of Deep Current AS, participated.
The report, titled ‘Levers of Digital Evolution’, examines areas where logistics AI initiatives continue to fail operationally, despite mounting pressure across the industry to scale automation, improve flexibility and reduce implementation delays.
The study indicates that a large proportion of the industry is still struggling in the early stages of operational digitization and decision intelligence, where data does not flow seamlessly and automation is not fully embedded at the first entry points of the data feed.
Where exactly do logistics operations break down?
By studying project implementation samples over 24 months, ranging from medium to large-scale logistics sector implementation, we identified friction hotspots that hinder AI integration. The greatest friction remains in data connectivity and workflow integration, where systems remain disconnected and AI operates outside the scope of implementation.
The report found:
• 61% of logistics teams still rely on emails and spreadsheets for operational communications
• 57% reported shipping delays due to document errors
• Only 29% have implemented digital tools across core operational workflows
• 47% cited integration of legacy systems as the biggest barrier to adoption
Additional operational analysis by Deep Current also found that more than half of logistics operators are still re-entering the same shipping data across multiple systems, while nearly half switch between five or more platforms to complete a single workflow.
According to the report, the problem is no longer visibility.
Most logistics organizations can now detect disruptions, delays and shipping exceptions in real time. The biggest breakdown occurs at the execution layer, where operational teams are still manually interpreting, validating, and moving information across fragmented systems.
This gap between digital ambition and operational reality is where most transformation efforts stall.
The report identifies five operational tools shaping the digital evolution in logistics:
• Integrated digital foundations
• The intelligence of the decision behind the vision
• Embed workflow for AI tools
• Predictive flexibility and scenario capability
• Governance, skills, and partnership between humans and artificial intelligence
Together, they define how organizations can move from fragmented implementation to truly integrated AI-driven workflows. Each lever builds on the last, transforming processes from manual interpretation to structured data, from isolated tools to embedded intelligence, and from reactive processes to flexible, scalable systems.
Deep Current says many AI initiatives continue to suffer because intelligence is layered on top of workflows rather than embedded directly within them.
“As long as AI falls outside the scope of operational implementation, teams will still end up doing integration work manually,” Fanoush said. “Copy-paste, frequent checking, and fragmented communications continue to absorb massive operational capacity across shipping.”
The company positions this challenge as a “pre-operational intelligence” problem, where operational failures often arise before implementation begins, at the point where information is generated, shared and interpreted across systems.
Deep Current develops AI systems for logistics operations that focus on structuring unstructured operational inputs, validating information across sources, and enabling the clean flow of data across workflows. Its product suite includes tools for order ingestion, document validation, data mining, and workflow intelligence.
The full report entitled “Pillars of Digital Development” is now available at the following link: https://deepcurrent.no/2025/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/levers-of-digital-sophistication-DC-2026-april.pdf
Source: Deep Current
