Mihaela Isac, Chief Information Officer, DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific

What was the most significant change/evolution your industry underwent in 2024?

In 2024, automation, particularly robotics, had a transformative impact in our industry. At DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific, we have over 2,000 robotic systems operational across the region, enhancing processes from order picking to transportation management. These innovations complement the work of our human workforce, allowing them to focus on activities higher up on the value chain. Furthermore, robotics improves speed and accuracy while addressing labor shortages, enabling us to meet high customer expectations without increasing headcount.

Additionally, AI and machine learning remain transformative for supply chains. DHL is making use of commercially available solutions embedded with GenAI to support processes in legal and customer support teams. These tools can assist with tasks such as summarizing customer queries, processing legal documents and resolving general customer inquiries. Furthermore, AI continues to transform how we predict demand, manage stock, optimize routes – enabling us to better serve our customers with greater precision and efficiency.

In terms of your respective industry, which industry/market trend are betting big on for 2025?

The adoption of AI will continue to drive advancements in how we use technology. The trend of AI will only accelerate innovation, as more businesses identify use cases that will support speed, agility, better customer services, more efficient internal operations. The path will continue with greater automation and robotics deployed across operations.

Moving forward, DHL Supply Chain’s priorities will be built on the foundation of technology leadership, fostering innovation, challenging the status quo, and applying customer- and user-centric approaches to invest in the right areas.