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36 percent of German companies are using AI – nearly double the rate from last year. Yet only 39 percent can point to measurable EBIT impact. The logistics sector exemplifies this gap: DHL is investing over $700 million in AI; DB Cargo inspects 10,000 freight wagons daily using camera-based AI; and Otto Group deploys more than 100 robots in its warehouse. Meanwhile, 68 percent of DACH-region companies are still planning their AI entry. Here’s an honest assessment of where things stand.

TL;DR

DB Cargo: 10,000 Wagons, 13 Camera Bridges, Zero Paper Checklists

Deutsche Bahn has deployed one of the most tangible AI systems in German logistics through its subsidiary DB Cargo. At 13 camera bridges located at Germany’s largest freight rail yards, AI-powered image recognition inspects passing freight wagons for damage. Roof tarpaulins, brake shoes, and 15 other wagon-specific data points are captured automatically. More than 10,000 freight wagons pass through the system daily across eight classification yards (Deutsche Bahn, 2024).

Funded under the federal “Future of Rail Freight Transport” program, the project entered full production in the first half of 2024. What used to be manual visual inspections is now fully automated. For executives, the message is clear: AI in logistics isn’t a futuristic promise – it’s already running on Germany’s rails.

Source: Deutsche Bahn, press release 2024

DHL: Over $700 Million – and What It Buys

DHL has quantified its AI investments at over $700 million USD. But what does that actually fund? In October 2024, DHL Supply Chain launched a generative AI tool for data cleansing and bid validation into full production. The Solutions Design Team uses it for automated data analysis; sales teams leverage it for proposal development. This is no pilot or test – it’s live (DHL Group, October 2024).

In November 2025, DHL announced a partnership with HappyRobot: autonomous AI agents now handle phone and email communication for appointment scheduling, driver follow-ups, and warehouse coordination. DHL confirms deployment across multiple regions. Concurrently, its Smart-ETA system – which has delivered AI-powered freight arrival forecasts since 2019 – achieves 90-95% accuracy (DHL Freight Connections).

Otto Group: 100 Robots in Haldensleben

Europe’s largest non-U.S.-based online retailer operates a fleet of over 100 AI-powered robots from Covariant at its Hermes fulfillment center in Haldensleben. These robots pick up to 1,600 items per hour and reportedly recognize over 10,000 distinct products with 99% accuracy. Rollout began in 2023 and scaled throughout 2024 (Covariant Case Study).

For C-suite leaders, Otto Group serves as a critical reference case – not because it got stuck in pilot purgatory, but because it moved to scale after demonstrating measurable productivity gains in Phase One. Robotics here doesn’t replace staff; it takes over the most physically demanding and repetitive tasks.

Kuehne+Nagel: AI Reads Delivery Notes and Predicts Arrivals

Kuehne+Nagel brought two AI systems into production in 2024. Its Road Carrier Solution applies AI-driven document recognition: OCR automatically discards illegible delivery notes, while NLP analyzes driver feedback to trigger operational interventions. The system is live across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Simultaneously, Kuehne+Nagel migrated 120 terabytes of ocean and air freight logistics data to the cloud and now applies AI to ETA forecasting based on historical patterns (Annual Report 2024). Alireza Nemati, Global Head of Road Logistics Innovation, puts it plainly: Real value lies not just in automation-driven efficiency gains – but in empowering proactive, AI-informed decision-making.

88 percent of organizations use AI in some form. But only 39 percent can demonstrate measurable EBIT impact. The gap between deployment and business outcome is the true C-suite challenge.BCG via SupplyChainBrain, 2025

Dachser: Six Years of AI – and a Digital Twin

The family-owned company from Kempten has run AI applications in production for over six years – the longest continuous AI track record among German mid-sized logistics firms. Volume forecasting, automated address recognition, and image processing are embedded in daily operations. Since February 2025, Dachser expanded its research partnership with Fraunhofer IML to include Fraunhofer IAIS (Fraunhofer IML, 2025).

Its most ambitious initiative is the digital twin for its transshipment warehouse: the “@ILO-Terminal” mirrors every package, asset, and process in real time. Still in testing, the direction is unmistakable – from digital assistant to a complete, dynamic replica of physical logistics. For mid-market executives, Dachser proves AI isn’t reserved for corporate giants.

The Honest Assessment: Why So Many Projects Fail to Deliver EBIT Impact

The 2025 BVL study (surveying 202 companies across the DACH region) reveals reality: AI climbed from rank 19 to rank 12 on corporate priority lists. Sixty-eight percent plan to introduce or scale AI within the next five years. Yet 54 percent cite poor data quality as their top challenge. Companies that have spent years relying on siloed systems and manual processes don’t have an AI problem – they have a data hygiene problem.

BCG confirms the pattern: 88 percent use AI, yet only 39 percent measure EBIT impact. That gap often emerges when IT departments build AI agents without supply-chain domain expertise. The system may be technically sound – but logistically clueless. A second issue: According to industry surveys, 62 percent of supply-chain AI initiatives exceed budget – primarily due to unforeseen data preparation costs.

EU AI Act: The Compliance Clock Is Ticking

The EU AI Act entered into force in August 2024. Its first obligations – including bans on prohibited practices and mandatory AI literacy – became effective in February 2025. Full compliance for high-risk systems kicks in August 2026. Penalties: up to 7% of global annual turnover.

Relevant to logistics: Autonomous warehouse robots, workforce scheduling systems, driver monitoring tools, and customs automation likely fall into the high-risk category. Operators of such systems must conduct risk assessments, maintain documentation, and ensure human oversight. Logistics providers who ignored these requirements in February 2025 are already out of compliance.

Conclusion

The AI landscape in German logistics is sharply divided. On one side stand corporations like DB Cargo, DHL, and Otto Group – running productive deployments, delivering measurable results, and committing nine-figure investments. On the other side sit 68 percent of DACH-region companies still in planning mode. The divide isn’t technological – it’s organizational: poor data quality, talent shortages, and a persistent disconnect between IT and supply-chain expertise. To succeed with AI in logistics, companies must first get their data in order – and bring the right people on board. Only then does technology investment pay off.

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Further Reading

• All articles on Logistics and Supply Chain at Digital Chiefs
• Supply Chains on the Executive Agenda: Why COOs Need Digital Transparency

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