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Almost half of all logistics companies still work predominantly with paper: Cargoclix survey reveals digital gaps in logistics

Many logistics companies plan to push ahead with AI and automation projects in the coming months, but are hampered by factors including a lack of personnel. Photo: unsplash/Immo Wegemann

• 45.5 percent of logistics companies still handle their processes predominantly on paper; only around 25 percent use AI-based tools or forecasting solutions. This is shown by the first survey of the new Cargoclix Digitalization Monitor.
• Online survey highlights gap between digital ambitions and reality: Media breaks and lack of integration are slowing down the industry.

Freiburg im Breisgau, April 9, 2026. The digitalization of the logistics industry continues to progress more slowly than expected. This is one of the findings of the newly launched Cargoclix Digitalization Monitor, which the company will now conduct regularly to identify and analyze current trends and developments in digitalization within the logistics sector. According to the initial survey of 55 Cargoclix customers, conducted in February, almost half of the companies still rely primarily on paper for their logistics processes.

At the same time, only around 25 percent use AI-based tools or forecasting solutions, even though automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are given high strategic priority.

The survey reveals that analog workflows and complex legacy systems pose the biggest obstacles. This is evident, for example, in document management: In approximately 45.5 percent of companies, the proportion of paperless processes is less than 40 percent. Nearly 35 percent report that daily media breaks—such as those caused by Excel spreadsheets, emails, or phone calls—significantly complicate operations. Furthermore, three-quarters of the companies rate the integration of their core systems, such as ERP, warehouse management, or time slot management, as predominantly low or medium.

“We are seeing a significant delay in digital expansion,” explains Professor Victor Meier, consulting partner at Cargoclix. “Many companies are stuck in a technological dead end: Complex legacy systems are blocking modern cloud solutions, and a lack of

Internal resources and staff shortages are just a few examples that are slowing down transformation.” Specifically, the survey identifies clear barriers to digital progress: With 58.2 percent, a lack of internal resources and staff shortages clearly top the list of obstacles.

This is followed by a dense field of equally significant obstacles: 40 percent of companies each cite complex legacy IT systems, a lack of standards at interfaces, and insufficient digital maturity among their supply chain partners as bottlenecks. Budget constraints also play a significant role at 36.4 percent, but rank behind structural and personnel challenges.

Level of digitalization, both internal and external, is “medium”

On a scale of one to five, the majority of respondents (58.2 percent) place their company exactly in the middle regarding the progress of digitalization. While 16.4 percent rate their level of digitalization as high and 9.1 percent even describe it as very high, around 20 percent still see themselves in the low or very low range.

A similar picture emerges when considering the degree of automation and digitalization of internal logistics processes overall. Here, too, just over half of the companies place themselves in the middle range: 49.1 percent rate their processes as moderately digitalized. More than a quarter still see their internal logistics processes at a low level, while just under a quarter report a high or very high degree of digitalization. “Especially in the

“There are still many manual interfaces in operational logistics,” explains Meier. “Digitizing individual steps is not enough. The real efficiency gains only arise when planning, warehousing, transport, and invoicing are linked.”

Integrating the systems remains a challenge

A key obstacle to digitalization remains the integration of different IT systems. In the survey, 43.6 percent of companies rated the integration of their logistics systems – such as ERP, WMS, TMS, or time slot management – ​​as mediocre.

A further 30.9 percent even report low or very low integration of their systems. Only 25.5 percent see a high or very high level of integration.

AI has a high priority – but usage remains low

A contradictory picture emerges regarding the use of artificial intelligence. Nearly 33 percent of respondents signaled their willingness to strongly or very strongly advance AI and automation projects in the next twelve months. In practice, however, more than

74.5 percent of companies do not yet have AI applications or forecasting tools. The main reasons are a lack of personnel resources, budget constraints, and insufficient digital maturity among supply chain partners. Looking at the logistics sector as a whole, around 65 percent generally expect more digitalization projects in logistics. At the same time, around 78 percent emphasize that analog and non-integrated processes have a moderate, significant, or very significant impact on their daily operations.

“The results clearly show a discrepancy between strategic will and operational implementation,” Meier emphasizes in light of these findings. “As long as basic data remains in silos or has to be transferred manually, AI lacks the necessary foundation. Those who fail to invest in modern systems and connecting their partners now risk falling behind in an increasingly automated logistics world.”

Investment readiness remains stable despite obstacles

Despite the challenges, the mood in the industry remains cautiously optimistic. The majority of companies plan to maintain or slightly increase their investments in digital logistics solutions. The focus is on process automation and IT modernization. Sustainability and CO2 reporting play a role, but currently take a back seat to the optimization of core processes.

“The pressure to change due to inefficient processes is high,” summarizes Professor Meier. “The key to success lies in integration capabilities. Only when systems work together seamlessly and communication with freight forwarders and suppliers is automated can the dependence on paper and manual processes be sustainably reduced.”

With the Cargoclix Digitalization Monitor, the company aims to regularly publish a snapshot of the current state of digitalization in logistics and to highlight developments within the industry. Cargoclix conducts online surveys among its customers for this purpose. The results are not intended to be representative.

A total of 55 companies participated in the first Cargoclix Digitalization Monitor survey in February 2026. The sample represents a broad spectrum of the economy: approximately 31 percent of the companies are small businesses with up to 49 employees, while about 18 percent of the participants represent large organizations with more than 1,000 employees. A diverse structure is also evident in the revenue figures: while 30.9 percent of the companies generate annual revenue of up to €10 million, 14.5 percent have revenue exceeding €500 million.

to the ranks of large companies. In terms of industry, the field of participants is broadly diversified and includes, in addition to key areas in logistics and transport (e.g., freight forwarders, logistics service providers), companies from the trade, chemical and plastics industries, as well as the manufacturing industry.

Victor Meier, consulting partner at Cargoclix (right), advises urgent investment in modern systems and the digital integration of partners. Photo: Cargoclix

About Cargoclix

Cargoclix is ​​a leading provider of digital solutions for the transport and logistics sector. Cargoclix products enable end-to-end digital processes for yard and transport logistics, achieving one of the largest reach levels in the industry with over 190,000 users. All products are available as Software as a Service (SaaS) in the cloud and, thanks to their modular design, offer flexible combination options that ensure complete digitalization and automation of logistics processes.

Cargoclix’s best-known solutions include:

• Cargoclix SLOT: A modularly adaptable software for optimizing processes at the loading dock. SLOT is one of the most widely used products in the field of time slot management.

• Cargoclix SAFE CHECK-IN (SCI): A digital solution that efficiently connects truck drivers and logistics locations. It optimizes the entire check-in process and increases efficiency at logistics sites.
• Cargoclix WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT (WFM): A modular solution for the quick and easy digitization and optimization of individual workflows in yard and transport logistics. It successfully helps to reduce personnel costs and contributes to optimal processes and error prevention through process automation.
• Cargoclix TENDER: A logistics platform for worldwide tenders for transport by road, rail, air, sea and inland waterways, as well as courier, express parcel services and logistics services such as warehousing. With over 28,000 registered members from industry, trade and freight forwarding, TENDER is one of the leading international tendering platforms.

Cargoclix is ​​a brand of Dr. Meier & Schmidt GmbH. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau.www.cargoclix.com

Further information can be found at www.cargoclix.com.

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