CCLI 2025 Trends Forecast — How can tech boost operational optimization?

The busy season is approaching, and business demand and speed are rising to match. It’s time to take stock of where the logistics industry stands and what’s on the horizon for the rest of the year.

Dive into the CartonCloud Logistics Index (CCLI) Mid-Year Report to explore how businesses like yours are preparing to overcome hurdles and maximize growth in 2025. 

“Right now, we are seeing the logistics industry brace for a year marked by rising operational costs and market uncertainty, pushing logistics businesses to deliver high-volume, low-cost solutions to remain competitive,” said CartonCloud CEO Shaun Hagen.

“As they look to opportunities for growth in the coming year, businesses are focused on how they can offer more to their customers, and expand their range of services to win new business.”

Mr Hagen said the CCLI 2024 Mid-Year Outlook report highlighted two key tactics being utilized by logistics businesses right now. 

“The first, is optimization of workflows and operations, and how automation and technology can enhance customer services and reduce overheads,” he said. 

“The second, is enhancing their current resources and team; through expanding their fleet and footprint where possible, and focusing on upskilling existing teams over new hires.”

2025 focus: Optimising workflows 

With rising operational costs and workforce shortages, businesses are increasingly relying on technology to streamline processes. Automation tools, such as order automation and barcode scanning, are seen as vital to reducing manual input, improving accuracy, and speeding up operations. According to the report, these technologies are helping businesses offer more to their customers while keeping overheads manageable.

According to the CCLI report, businesses are increasingly looking to order automation, barcode scanning, and data analysis as critical tools to streamline operations. These technologies allow for reduced manual errors, quicker processing times, and the ability to offer customized services—all essential for keeping costs down while simultaneously attracting new customers.

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2025 Logistics Trend: Enhancing resource output 

25% of businesses are focusing on technology to reduce overheads, with another 21% prioritizing improved customer service.

With hiring optimism dropping and a shortage of skilled workers, many businesses are choosing to upskill or use tech to equip their current workforce rather than expand it. 

The CCLI report shows that companies are prioritizing investments in workforce training and development to increase productivity, ensuring they can meet growing demand without the need for additional staff.

In addition to upskilling, logistics companies are also focusing on expanding their physical resources, such as increasing their warehouse space and fleet size. By doing so, they are positioning themselves to offer more services, handle higher volumes, and compete more effectively in a crowded market. 

This strategic expansion, coupled with a focus on workforce training and investing in tech automation, is allowing businesses to maximize their resource output and remain competitive in the face of rising operational costs and workforce constraints.

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Top concerns for 2025: Overcoming Rising Costs and Forecasting Demand 

High operational costs continue to top the list of concerns for logistics professionals, especially within the warehousing sector.

• According to the CCLI report, 38% of respondents identified increasing costs, including warehouse rental rates and fuel prices, as their primary challenge over the next 12 months. These cost pressures have become a critical factor in business planning, compelling companies to explore ways to optimize their operations while still meeting the demands of their customers.

"The logistics industry is bracing for a year of rising operational costs and market uncertainty," said Mr Hagen.

‍"To stay competitive, businesses are being pushed to deliver high-volume, low-cost solutions by optimizing workflows and investing in technology."

The rising costs, however, are not the only issue. Companies are also grappling with the inability to plan effectively for fluctuating demand.

• With 18% of industry respondents highlighting this as a significant challenge, forecasting demand and balancing service capacity remain at the forefront of logistics concerns. This dynamic puts even more pressure on warehousing businesses to find solutions that both improve efficiency and maintain flexibility in an unpredictable environment.

Mid-Year Outlook & Growth Forecast

One of the most promising avenues for cost reduction and enhanced service capabilities is through technology. For instance, companies investing in automation are seeing the ability to scan various barcode types and verify orders more efficiently, which not only reduces errors but also opens up opportunities for integrating with e-commerce platforms. This has been vital for businesses looking to expand their service offerings without the need for a significant increase in workforce size.

"Technology investment has become less about simply adding tools and more about doing more with less," said Mr Hagen. "Automation and integration are allowing businesses to scale services and reduce costs in ways that weren’t possible just a few years ago."

"We’re seeing a significant shift in how companies approach their tech stack," explains Hagen. "From automation tools to real-time data integrations, the logistics sector is becoming smarter and more efficient, which allows businesses to do more with less."

In the next 12 months, the report shows businesses will continue to focus on data automation and integrations as essential components of their technology strategy. The ability to link disparate systems—such as warehouse management software (WMS) and transportation management systems (TMS)—enables businesses to streamline operations, minimize redundancies, and offer additional services such as real-time tracking and flexible delivery options.

Moreover, as competition within the logistics sector intensifies, warehousing businesses recognize that offering more to customers is key to winning new business. Customizable tools and additional services—powered by technology—are increasingly seen as competitive differentiators that help businesses stand out. This shift underscores the importance of technology in providing customers with enhanced value and service options, from real-time updates to flexible shipping solutions.

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