AI Takes the Wheel: 98% of Logistics Leaders Say AI is Vital for Back Office Operations

February 13, 2025 at 07:00 AM EST

And they’re ready to invest – 70% of Leaders Plan to Fuel Growth with AI-Powered Automation

Hyperscience, a market leader in hyperautomation and a provider of enterprise AI infrastructure software, today announced survey results of a newly sponsored study titled, The Market Momentum Index: AI Readiness in Transportation and Logistics Back-Office Operations. The study, conducted by Deep Analysis and co-sponsored by Hyperscience and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) explores how AI and automation technologies can transform the transportation and logistics (T&L) market, including how the technology can modernize document-centric processes at the center of supply chain operations.

To conduct the research, Deep Analysis surveyed over 300 business and technology leaders in the T&L sector in North America. The survey results highlight that respondents are extremely optimistic about the benefits of adopting AI and automation technologies. The report also reveals that while AI adoption in this sector is on the rise, many companies are still in the early stages of fully embracing AI systems in their back-office operations.

Key takeaways include:

98% of respondents whose organizations use AI in back office operations say that they see it as useful, important, or vital to their business.
70% of survey respondents say they are willing or very willing to invest in an AI-optimized system.
34% of respondents are motivated and planning to pilot AI solutions but have not yet fully deployed them.
45% of organizations are using AI, with 13% in the operational stage and 32% in the advanced or transformational stage.

“Transportation and logistics are the backbone of global commerce and touch every aspect of modern life, including food supplies, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail,” said Andrew Joiner, CEO, Hyperscience. “The study conducted by Deep Analysis confirms that there is significant value to be realized from the implementation of AI and automation in the supply chain, especially its ability to overcome bottlenecks, accelerate operations, and deliver superior customer experiences. Hyperscience is at the forefront of this digital revolution and that’s why market-leading transportation and logistics organizations like Hirschbach Motor Lines, Navix, and World Group are selecting the Hyperscience AI platform to drive high performance and competitive advantage.”

The critical role of back-office operations

Back-office operations form the administrative core of supply chain processes in T&L, encompassing tasks such as order processing, inventory management, billing, compliance documentation, and communications with vendors and carriers. These tasks are critical in maintaining smooth operations and rely heavily on documents such as invoices, bills of lading, shipment tracking forms, and compliance records.

Many organizations still rely on manual or semi-automated processes to manage these documents, leaving room for errors, delays, and inefficiencies. In fact:

82% of respondents reported that manual document processing remains a significant hurdle for the T&L sector.
53% said document compatibility issues, which includes different document formats, inconsistent quality, or the presence of handwritten information causes issues with document scanning systems.
52% cited frequent equipment malfunctions can lead to lost time, document re-scanning and manual data entry, significantly delaying downstream operations like customs clearance, delivery scheduling and payment processing.
40% stated that despite widespread digital transformation efforts, a significant portion of organizations still rely on paper-based systems.
49% said that the absence of standardized document formats is a pervasive issue in the industry, identifying it as a significant challenge that leads to a ripple effect throughout the supply chain.

Value of AI and automation in back office operations

In the back-office functions of T&L companies, AI is seen as a transformative force that can significantly enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs. 98% of respondents whose organizations use AI see it as useful, important, or vital.

Additionally, according to the data:

66% of survey respondents said that AI is a big contributor to how they work.
39% highlighted that AI improves data quality by ensuring consistency, standardization, and accuracy.
31% say that AI can analyze large volumes of complex data, such as real-time traffic patterns, weather conditions, shipment tracking, and historical trends to optimize supply chain decisions.
28% believe that in the back office AI can reduce errors especially with the automation of repetitive tasks such as data entry, invoice processing, and document management.
25% cited that it increases their flexibility and improves their ability to manage peaks and troughs.

Opportunities for growth and innovation

The transition to digital documentation, automation of data entry, and adoption of advanced tools and AI technologies are all critical components of transforming back-office processes in the T&L sector.

According to the survey:

43% of organizations in the transportation and logistics sector have predominantly transitioned to digital documentation.
Of these, 89% of respondents noted moderate to significant improvements in operational processes by shifting to digital formats.

This data highlights that in the back office, this shift can have a transformative effect, particularly when it comes to document management, invoicing, compliance tracking, and communication across departments and with external stakeholders.

“Our data and analysis are clear indicators that this industry is ripe for change and is willing to experiment with modern technology and do so in an accelerated fashion,” said Alan Pelz-Sharpe, Founder, Deep Analysis. “While barriers to the adoption persist, the growing interest in AI and automation technologies highlights a shift toward a more digital data-driven future. By investing in these technologies and with the right organizations, companies can differentiate themselves and be in a position to thrive in an increasingly complex and competitive market.”

For more information on how AI is transforming the transportation and logistics market read the full report here.

Since its inception, Hyperscience has helped businesses automate document-heavy processes with remarkable accuracy rates of 99.5% and automation rates of 98%. The company has continued to expand its customer base in the transportation and logistics market with organizations including Hirschbach Motor Lines, Navix, and World Group. These organizations use the Hyperscience AI platform to process complex documents and automate end-to-end processes, resulting in higher automation and efficiency, superior customer experiences, and stronger business performance.

Hyperscience will host a webinar on the report “AI Readiness in Supply Chain Operations: Insights from Industry Leaders” on March 6 at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET / 4 p.m. GMT. The webinar will be moderated by Alan Pelz-Sharpe, Founder of Deep Analysis and will feature Ivan Ramirez, CTO, at Hirschbach, David Teeple, Director, Client Services, at Sedlak, and Chip VonBurg, Field CTO at Hyperscience. Alan and the expert panelists will double click on the survey findings and explore how AI and automation technologies are reshaping the industry. Click here to register.

About Hyperscience

Hyperscience is a market leader in hyperautomation and a provider of enterprise AI infrastructure software. The Hyperscience Hypercell platform unlocks the value of an organization’s back office data through the automation of end-to-end processes, and transforms complex documents into LLM and RAG-ready data to power new enterprise GenAI experiences. This enables organizations to transform manual, siloed processes into a strategic advantage, resulting in a faster path to decisions, actions, and revenue; positive and engaging customer, public, and patient experiences; and dramatic increases in productivity.

Leading organizations across the globe rely on Hyperscience to drive their hyperautomation initiatives, including American Express, Charles Schwab, HM Revenue and Customs, Mars, Stryker, The United States Social Security Administration, and The United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The company is funded by top tier investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Battery, FirstMark, Stripes, and Tiger Global.

About CSCMP

Since 1963, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has been the preeminent worldwide professional association dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of research and knowledge on supply chain management. With CSCMP members located around the world, representing nearly all industry sectors, government, and academia, CSCMP members receive unparalleled networking opportunities, cutting-edge research, and online and on-site professional educational opportunities. To learn more, visit cscmp.org and find CSCMP on social media at LinkedIn.

About Deep Analysis

Deep Analysis is an advisory firm that helps technology vendors, buyers, and investors understand and address the challenges of innovative and disruptive technologies in the enterprise software marketplace. The firm’s work is built on decades of experience advising and consulting to global technology firms large and small, from SAP, Oracle, and HP to countless start-ups. Led by Alan Pelz-Sharpe, Deep Analysis works with technology vendors, buyers of enterprise technology, and investors in the ECM and enterprise automation market to improve their understanding of the information management technology landscape and provide actionable guidance.