AI is moving from buzzword to business tool

Artificial intelligence has moved beyond hype and into everyday logistics operations, delegates heard at last week's Transporeon Summit in Amsterdam. The event showcased how automation and cloud connectivity are transforming efficiency, safety and sustainability across Europe's freight networks.

Trimble chief executive Rob Painter told Motor Transport that AI is "no longer theoretical - it's delivering measurable business results today". From route optimisation to predictive maintenance, AI is being deployed across Trimble's logistics software to cut costs and emissions. "Look at your top cost drivers: fuel, wages, depreciation, insurance," Painter said. "AI can improve every one of them.

Save a few minutes or a few litres per journey, and it compounds to millions in savings over a year." Painter urged operators to see AI as a practical investment rather than a futuristic luxury. "GPS was once optional. Now it's essential.

The same will be true of AI," he said. For Painter, the shift isn't just about technology--it's about readiness: "Change is the only constant. The rate of change has never been this fast, and it will never be this slow again."

Rob Painter was speaking at the Transporeon Summit in Amsterdam, this is the last in a series of articles from the summit.