Why Logistics Ambition Is Outpacing Operational Readiness: What Shippers Should Do About It

Patrick van Denzel of Alpega explores the gap between logistics ambition and operational readiness, and why data, integration, and collaboration matter.

Sep 10, 2026

The logistics industry has a clear sense of where it is heading. More connected supply chains, stronger collaboration between shippers, carriers and logistics providers, and data flowing freely across networks rather than sitting locked inside individual systems. The direction is not in question. The gap is between that vision and where most organisations actually stand today.

According to Alpega’s Transport Leadership Benchmark, a May 2026 study conducted with Adelante SCM surveying nearly 300 supply chain and logistics executives and carriers across Europe, that gap is wider than many realise.

Everyone Agrees on the Destination

The study reveals a striking degree of alignment on priorities. The large majority of shippers regard maintaining strong relationships with carriers and logistics partners as a major competitive advantage, and see network integration as a strategic priority, citing improved visibility, better coordination and faster decision-making as the expected benefits.

Transport is no longer simply about moving a shipment from A to B as efficiently as possible. It is increasingly about orchestrating a network of partners, flows and information that functions coherently as a whole. The challenge is that understanding a direction and being ready to move in it are two different things.

The First Half of 2026: What’s Changed, What’s Worked, and What’s Next

The first half of 2026 has been anything but predictable. Tariffs, geopolitical tensions, AI advancements, changing transportation market conditions, and other developments have created new challenges — and new opportunities — for supply chain organizations. As we reach the midpoint of the year, we’d like to understand what has had the greatest impact on your organization, what has surprised you, where you’ve made the most progress, and what priorities will shape the months ahead.

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