January 5, 2026 | Page 90

Logistics
2026 Annual Review & Outlook
Executive Commentary
“ AI provides data; humans provide decision-making.”
Heather( Kyu Young) Hwang
LX Pantos
Heather( Kyu Young) Hwang
Director, Pricing Strategy Department www. lxpantos. com
The role and application of AI in the maritime and logistics industry will be described quite differently depending on the time horizon( short-term versus distant future), functional domains( sales / operations / pricing / management / market intelligence) and organizational level. Nevertheless, three critical truths are evident.
First, a substantial portion of traditional junior-level work can already be performed by AI more efficiently. This includes news summarization from industry sources, report writing, data retrieval and refinement, code development, and research synthesis. Data cleansing, market trend consolidation and preliminary analysis are now within AI’ s capability.
Second, and more importantly, while significant portions of workflows can be automated through AI, complete automation of any specific role or function remains impossible. Pricing decisions, carrier negotiation strategies, capacity forecasting and contract structuring require human judgment. AI provides data; humans provide decision-making. The difference between‘ excess capacity is worsening’ and‘ we must shorten contracts and introduce dynamic pricing mechanisms to respond to rate fluctuations’ is the difference between data and strategy.
Third, therefore, competitive advantage for maritime and logistics companies lies in deploying AI for rapid, broad information gathering while allocating more personnel to higher-quality work: analysis, judgment, design, negotiation and strategic decision-making. This reallocation determines the competitive positioning of each company.
To achieve this requires redesigning work and organizational structures. The critical factor is“ strong leadership capability” that can decompose tasks both vertically and horizontally for comprehensive understanding while simultaneously integrating them holistically.
In areas requiring such high-level, multidimensional judgment and design, I believe the potential for work that only humans can perform is quite significant. This is where, again, human value becomes increasingly irreplaceable in the AI era.
“ Visibility alone, knowing where a shipment is, is no longer enough.”
George Schirato
“ The cooling of venture capital investment marks a healthy and overdue reset for logistics tech.”
David Warrick
independently resolve fragmented workflows or siloed systems. To unlock AI’ s full potential, terminals are investing in interoperable platforms that link carriers, shippers, and inland transport partners.
Ultimately, AI’ s value lies in how it’ s applied. It can streamline operations, reduce delays, and improve visibility, but only when paired with a clear strategy and a powerful system of record that creates strong data foundations. The future of ocean logistics isn’ t just about adopting AI but thoughtfully leveraging these new technologies to enable a more resilient, responsive supply chain.
Mondiale VGL
George Schirato
CCO and Director www. mondialevgl. com
If supply chain visibility is increasingly considered a commodity, the real value lies in how technology transforms that visibility into actionable intelligence. Visibility alone,
knowing where a shipment is, is no longer enough. What adds value is the ability to predict, respond, and optimize in real time.
Technology platforms must go beyond basic tracking and integrate data from multiple sources, carriers, ports, customs and internal systems to provide a unified, real-time view of shipments. But more importantly, technology enables proactive exception management, automated alerts and performance analytics that help customers make faster, smarter decisions.
Technology adds value not by showing what’ s happening, but by helping businesses do something about it faster, cheaper and with greater confidence.
An example of enabling technology is artificial intelligence. AI is transforming ocean shipping and logistics by enhancing efficiency, visibility and decision-making across the supply chain. It excels at processing vast amounts of data to optimise routing, predict delays, automate documentation and improve demand forecasting. For instance, AI-powered predictive analytics can help carriers avoid congestion and reduce fuel consumption, while machine learning models can identify patterns in customs clearance times or port dwell durations.
However, AI has limitations. It cannot fully replace human judgment in complex negotiations, regulatory compliance or relationship management. It also struggles with unpredictable disruptions like geopolitical events or extreme weather, where real-time human intervention is often required. Moreover, AI systems depend heavily on data quality and integration— fragmented or inaccurate data can lead to poor outcomes. AI is a powerful enabler in ocean shipping and logistics, but it works best when paired with human expertise and robust data infrastructure.
Overhaul
David Warrick
Executive Vice President www. over-haul. com
We’ re only beginning to understand the real potential of artificial intelligence in global logistics, with meaningful progress in automated freight management, more accurate customs classification, dynamic
88 Journal of Commerce | January 5, 2026 www. joc. com