Tech takes priority: Four in ten logistics companies planning major 2026 digital investment

A new global survey by Ontegos Cloud reveals a striking insight into the digital priorities shaping logistics in 2026: while predictive visibility and forecasting have emerged as the top focus area globally, cybersecurity and compliance rank lowest, with just 11% of professionals naming it as their main technology priority.

The survey gathered responses from 912 logistics and supply chain professionals across North America, Europe, and Asia, offering a snapshot of how 3PLs and freight forwarders are investing in technology amid persistent global volatility.

“Logistics and freight forwarder leaders are no longer asking if they should digitalize, they’re asking how fast they can do it. But it’s equally clear that the race to innovate is outpacing the industry’s readiness to protect itself,” said Oliver Gritz, Founder and Managing Director of Ontegos, a technology company transforming how logistics enterprises use data to drive profitability.

Key findings from the 2025 Ontegos Cloud survey

Predictive visibility dominates: 44% of respondents selected forecasting and visibility as their top technology focus area for 2026, surpassing automation, digital twins, and cybersecurity. Only 11% of freight forwarders and 3PLs selected cybersecurity and compliance as a focus area, highlighting a potential vulnerability as data connectivity and automation deepen across global supply chains.

Tech spends scaling up globally: 38% of freight forwarders and 3PLs report that over 25% of their 2026 budgets are going into technology, a significant sign of accelerating digital adoption. Another 25% are planning moderate increases (10–25%), while only 23% remain cautious with limited allocations under 10%. Just 14% have yet to define their technology budgets for next year. Just 14% have yet to define their technology budgets for next year.

Technology is now strategy, not support: One in three respondents identified technology as the core driver of their logistics strategy, highlighting an industry-wide shift toward digital-first operations among freight forwarders and 3PLs.

"The key challenge for 2026 won't be whether the industry continues to innovate, but whether it can innovate safely," said Gritz. "Building resilience depends on connecting data, automation, and cybersecurity into one intelligent ecosystem. With tariffs and trade uncertainty set to persist, strong data infrastructure remains the essential layer on which all logistics transformation depends—and the foundation for making supply chains more agile and future-ready in what promises to be another unpredictable year."