AI set to transform transport management, Microlise finds

New research from Microlise shows 70% of fleet and logistics professionals expect artificial intelligence to begin fundamentally transforming transport management this year. The finding is based on a survey of 250 transport and logistics decision-makers.

That marks a sharp rise in confidence in AI's role in transport operations compared with the company's previous industry report, when 36% of respondents said the technology was being used to its fullest potential in the sector.

Just 14% disagreed that this year would mark a step change for AI adoption in transport management, while 16% were unsure.

The figures suggest a shift in sentiment among managers overseeing fleets, delivery networks and wider logistics operations. Businesses across the sector have been testing AI tools in areas such as route planning, vehicle maintenance, driver monitoring and compliance. The latest responses indicate that more decision-makers now see those systems as part of routine operations rather than experimental projects.

AI is being applied to route optimisation to reduce fuel use and empty miles, real-time driver performance analysis, predictive maintenance and load optimisation. Microlise linked that interest to pressure on operators to control costs and improve vehicle and asset utilisation.

Operational Focus

Transport and logistics groups have faced sustained pressure from fuel prices, labour shortages, vehicle downtime and tighter margins. Against that backdrop, the survey indicates that managers are looking to software tools to support day-to-day decisions and identify inefficiencies across fleet activity.

The latest findings suggest AI is moving from trial use into operational deployment. That matters for fleet managers because many of the sector's earliest use cases are tied to direct measures such as mileage, maintenance schedules, delivery planning, and compliance checks.

By focusing on these areas, operators are trying to cut avoidable costs, keep vehicles on the road for longer and reduce disruption to delivery schedules. The results suggest many now see AI as relevant to those immediate business needs.

Attitudes Shift

The change from 36% in the earlier report to 70% in the latest research reflects a notable shift in how decision-makers view the technology. Rather than asking whether AI might eventually have a place in logistics, more respondents now appear to believe it is reaching a point where it will materially affect transport management.

That does not amount to unanimity across the industry. A combined 30% of respondents either disagreed or were unsure, indicating that some caution remains around the speed and scale of adoption.

That caution is not unusual in a sector where technology investments are often judged by clear returns in cost, service levels and reliability. For many transport operators, new systems must fit existing fleet processes and deliver measurable gains before they are widely adopted.

Even so, the balance of responses suggests confidence is building. For suppliers of fleet software and connected vehicle systems, that shift may indicate a larger market for AI-based tools aimed at planning, maintenance and driver oversight.

Nadeem Raza, chief executive of Microlise, said the responses showed a faster change in attitudes over the past year.

"This year's findings show just how quickly attitudes towards AI are evolving across the transport sector. In the space of 12 months, we have seen a clear shift from curiosity around AI to a much stronger focus on how it can drive tangible operational value. For operators, this is no longer about future potential - it is about practical applications that improve fleet efficiency, reduce cost and strengthen competitiveness."

"Those who embrace intelligent, data-led fleet management will be significantly better placed to navigate the commercial pressures facing the industry," Raza said.

Microlise, established in 1982, provides fleet management and Internet of Things software and services. Its products are used by more than 2,500 clients globally. The company has offices in the UK, France, Australia and India, and employs more than 800 people.

It handles more than 800,000 subscriptions each year.