A new report from DHL Supply Chain finds that even after years of digital investment, many companies still aren’t seeing the results they expected.
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In its Insight 2030: Opportunities and Challenges for the Supply Chain of the Future study, DHL surveyed 350 supply chain leaders across North America and found that 91% of warehouse management systems have been installed or upgraded in the past five years. Yet nearly half of respondents still cite “inadequate technological solutions” and “outdated systems” among their top operational concerns.
That disconnect points to a deeper problem: companies may be buying the right tools but struggling to make them work together. As one COO put it, “Although we have invested a lot of resources in digital transformation, the existing technology system still cannot fully meet the needs. The outdated IT system and lack of data sharing capabilities lead to insufficient transparency in the supply chain.”
The research also highlights how perceptions diverge inside organizations. C-suite executives are 40% more confident in supply chain visibility and resilience than the VPs and directors who run those operations. That gap in perspective could be one reason leaders overestimate how well their digital investments are performing.
“CEOs today clearly recognize the strategic value of the supply chain and are largely willing to make the investments required to ensure the health of their operations,” said Mark Kunar, CEO of DHL Supply Chain North America. “But with all of their other responsibilities, they can’t have detailed knowledge of supply chain systems. They need their supply chain leaders to bring it to their attention.”
Despite these challenges, optimism remains high. Nearly 80% of participants expect greater dependence on AI by 2030, and more than two-thirds foresee wider use of robotics to boost efficiency. DHL itself plans to deploy 1,000 Boston Dynamics Stretch robots by 2030 and expand its use of AI and Internet of Things systems to improve forecasting and inventory accuracy.
Still, the report makes it clear that new technology isn’t enough on its own. Companies need systems that actually talk to each other, and leaders and teams who do the same.
“It’s more important than ever to think about supply chain digitalization as an ecosystem in which all systems must work together,” added Kreider.
