Generative AI Revolutionizes Transportation Management: Insights from Descartes 2025 Survey

At Gain Consulting, we’re passionate about helping businesses harness cutting-edge technologies to optimize their logistics operations. A recent report from DC Velocity, published on September 18, 2025, highlights a transformative trend in the industry: 96% of shippers and logistics service providers (LSPs) are now using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for transportation management.

This insight comes from the “Ninth Annual Global Transportation Benchmark Survey” conducted by Descartes Systems Group and SAPIO Research in July 2025, surveying 616 shippers and LSPs across North America and Europe. Here’s what this means for the logistics sector and how Gain Consulting can help you leverage AI to stay competitive.

The Rise of Generative AI in Transportation

The Descartes survey reveals an unprecedented adoption rate, with 96% of respondents integrating generative AI into their transportation management systems (TMS). This marks a significant shift, as businesses increasingly turn to AI to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decision-making. Generative AI, known for its ability to analyze vast datasets, generate predictive models, and automate complex tasks, is transforming key areas of logistics, including:

• Route Optimization: AI algorithms analyze real-time data to suggest the most efficient routes, reducing fuel costs and delivery times.

• Demand Forecasting: Predictive models help shippers anticipate demand fluctuations, optimizing inventory and carrier capacity.

• Automated Decision-Making: From carrier selection to invoice processing, AI streamlines repetitive tasks, freeing up teams for strategic work.

• Customer Experience: AI-powered tools provide precise delivery estimates and proactive communication, boosting customer satisfaction.

The survey underscores that shippers and LSPs are adopting generative AI to address rising costs (e.g., FedEx’s 5.9%–6.9% rate hikes for 2026) and declining shipment volumes, as seen in the August 2025 Cass Freight Index. By leveraging AI, businesses are finding innovative ways to stay agile in a challenging market.

Why This Matters for Your Business

The near-universal adoption of generative AI signals a new era in logistics, where technology is no longer optional but essential for staying competitive. Key implications include:

• Cost Efficiency: AI can identify cost-saving opportunities, such as optimizing carrier selection or reducing errors in invoicing, helping businesses mitigate rising freight rates.

• Improved Agility: With AI’s predictive capabilities, companies can better navigate economic uncertainties, like the 8% year-over-year shipment decline reported in the Cass Freight Index.

• Enhanced Scalability: AI tools allow businesses to scale operations without proportional increases in overhead, making it easier to handle peak seasons or unexpected demand surges.

• Competitive Advantage: Early adopters of AI gain an edge in efficiency and customer satisfaction, positioning them to outperform competitors still relying on manual processes.

However, implementing AI effectively requires expertise in both technology and logistics—a gap Gain Consulting is uniquely positioned to fill.

How Gain Consulting Can Help You Embrace AI

At Gain Consulting, we specialize in integrating advanced technologies like generative AI into your logistics strategy to drive measurable results. Here’s how we can support your business in adopting AI-driven transportation management:

• Technology Integration: Our team can assess your current TMS and recommend AI-powered solutions to enhance route planning, carrier selection, and demand forecasting, aligning with industry trends like those highlighted in the Descartes survey.

• Data-Driven Optimization: Using advanced analytics, we help you leverage AI to analyze shipping patterns, predict demand, and reduce costs, ensuring your operations are both efficient and resilient.

• Streamlined Processes: We can implement AI tools to automate repetitive tasks like invoice processing and dispute resolution, minimizing errors and saving time.

• Tailored Strategies: Whether you’re a retailer, manufacturer, or LSP, we design customized AI-driven solutions to meet your specific needs, helping you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

The Future of Logistics Is AI-Driven

The Descartes 2025 survey confirms that generative AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day reality reshaping transportation management. With 96% of shippers and LSPs adopting AI, businesses that fail to keep pace risk falling behind. At Gain Consulting, we see this as an opportunity to transform your logistics operations, making them smarter, faster, and more cost-effective.

As the industry faces challenges like declining freight volumes and rising rates, AI offers a path to resilience and growth. Let Gain Consulting be your partner in navigating this transformation, ensuring you capitalize on the benefits of generative AI.

Ready to revolutionize your transportation management with AI? Contact Gain Consulting today. 

Visit our website or reach out to our sales team to explore how we can integrate AI into your logistics strategy for maximum impact.

Source: DC Velocity, “Survey: 96% of shippers using Gen AI in transportation management,” September 18, 2025.Link: Descartes 2025 Transportation Management Benchmark Survey