Telecom and Shipping Forwarders Accelerate Agentic AI Adoption on Strong Data Foundations

AI agents are rapidly entering both the telecom and logistics sectors. In telecom, agentic AI is projected to grow at a 45‑50% CAGR over the next decade, with more than half of executives already using AI‑driven agents in production and around 40% deploying multiple agents across critical functions. New roles such as Agent Operations Lead are emerging to manage portfolios of agents, set policies, and govern outcomes, while accountability models are being re‑defined to match varying levels of agent autonomy and risk.

In logistics, forwarders are preparing for a surge in agentic AI adoption—Gartner expects enterprise use of AI in supply‑chain software to rise from 5% today to 60% by 2030. Success depends on a unified rate data foundation; only 29% of European forwarders have automated core workflows, leaving many reliant on manual processes. Companies that have integrated air and ocean rate data report AI‑generated quotes up to ten times faster and 89% accurate, with most quotes issued without human intervention after an initial co‑pilot phase.

Both industries stress a hybrid model where AI handles repeatable tasks and humans intervene for complex decisions, aiming for scalable, auditable automation that improves efficiency and customer service.