Transportation management is rapidly evolving from an operational cost center to a strategic tool that companies use to strengthen their customer service and build competitive advantage. The European Transportation Management Benchmark Study by Descartes Systems Group shows that nearly half of respondents (49%) now consider transportation to be a differentiating factor for their organisation.
The study, conducted in 2025 among 300 senior decision-makers at shippers and logistics service providers in Europe, clearly illustrates this upward trend. In 2024, this was still the case for 38%. The number of organisations that explicitly see transportation as a competitive weapon is also growing: 31% cite transportation as a strategic weapon in the market, compared to 22% a year earlier.
The results underscore that transport is increasingly becoming a topic of discussion at the executive level. Persistent geopolitical uncertainty, disruptions in international supply chains, and rising customer expectations mean that organisations no longer assess transport solely on the basis of cost, but also on value creation.
This shift is most visible among companies with a strong financial position. In this group, 91% consider transport to be a competitive weapon or a distinguishing factor in customer service, which points to a clear relationship between strategic transport management and operating results.
Despite economic uncertainties, confidence in growth remains remarkably high. 96% of respondents expect growth in the next two years, with the majority (61%) anticipating annual growth of between 5% and 15%.
Shippers are more optimistic than logistics service providers (LSPs): 78% of shippers expect growth of more than 5%, compared to 67% of LSPs.
The increasing strategic value of transport is reflected in technology investment plans. More than three-quarters of respondents (76%) expect to invest more in IT for transport management in the next two years. Among financially leading companies, this share is even higher, with 84% anticipating an increase in investment.
The main reasons for further expanding transport management systems (TMS) have also shifted. Whereas cost savings have historically been the dominant factor, 40% of respondents now cite business growth as the main driver, on par with improved customer service. The survey thus confirms that transport is increasingly being used to support commercial objectives.
“Transportation is becoming less of a purely operational process and increasingly a strategic component of customer value and competitive strength. Companies that structurally modernize their transportation management are building flexibility and growth,” said Elmer Spruijt, VP Transportation Management EMEA at Descartes.
Since 2017, Descartes has conducted an annual benchmark survey of transportation professionals to identify strategies, tactics, and expectations for the industry. Survey participants represent a broad range of individuals responsible for transportation operations at both shippers and logistics service providers in North America and Europe, providing a balanced view of transportation management (TM). The European part of the survey yielded responses from 300 senior decision-makers working in the transport management sector in Germany (75), the United Kingdom (75), France (75), and Belgium/the Netherlands (75).
Descartes is exhibiting at Multimodal on stand 4052
