Maximizing Value from AI Agents: Why the Future of Logistics Belongs to Platforms Built for Intelligence
by Mike Catalino
According to new Gartner research, CEOs now view AI as a strategic requirement for efficiency, resilience, and competitive advantage. In fact, by 2028, Gartner expects that 15% of daily logistics decisions will be made autonomously, up from virtually zero today.
But logistics teams face a real challenge: How do you adopt AI agents in a way that delivers measurable ROI, without creating governance headaches, data fragmentation, or platform lock-in?
Gartner’s report outlines three paths for deploying AI agents, bolt-on, platform-embedded, and low-code and illustrates the trade-offs of each. At Softeon, we believe these findings reinforce that AI is only as valuable as the platform it runs on.
Three Paths to AI Agent Deployment
Gartner highlights three scalable ways logistics organizations can adopt AI:
1. Bolt-On AI Agents
These are workflow-specific agents that sit outside the WMS/TMS. They offer:
- Fast deployment
- Quick ROI
- Limited scope
They also introduce data harmonization challenges, governance requirements, and growing subscription costs.
2. Platform-Embedded AI Agents
These are native agents built directly into WMS/TMS platforms.
They offer:
- Unified data access
- Strong governance
- Stable, predictable operations
However, access is tied to platform modernization, and legacy systems will struggle to support them.
3. Low-Code AI Agent Platforms
These empower operations teams to build their own agents.
They offer:
- Flexibility
- Faster innovation
These require guardrails to avoid fragmentation and inconsistencies.
The takeaway from Gartner is clear. Most logistics organizations will need a hybrid approach but the foundation must be strong, stable, and data-rich.
AI Agents Only Work When the Core Works
At Softeon, we believe the future of AI in logistics depends on the strength of the underlying execution platform. AI cannot fix bad data, broken processes, or brittle systems. It amplifies what already exists.
This is why Softeon has invested for years in building a platform engineered for intelligence, not retrofitted for it.
Softeon’s core beliefs directly align with Gartner’s findings:
1. AI needs governance and governance must live inside the platform.
Gartner emphasizes the need for boundaries, escalation paths, and audit trails.
Softeon has these controls built into the WMS itself, meaning autonomous logic never becomes a black box.
2. AI must be explainable and data-driven.
AI is only as reliable as its data quality. Softeon’s architecture ensures the agent operates on consistent, real-time, unified data, reducing the risk of poor decisions.
3. AI should accelerate operations, not rewrite them.
We design AI to augment the worker, not replace them, helping teams make faster decisions, reduce manual effort, and minimize exceptions.
4. Companies need fast wins and long-term stability.
Like Gartner, we know organizations want:
- Quick ROI
- Low risk
- Flexible deployment
Softeon’s modular platform supports bolt-on automations, embedded intelligence, and low-code orchestration, all within one ecosystem.
How Softeon Helps Organizations Adopt AI Agents the Right Way
Softeon’s architecture addresses the exact challenges Gartner outlines:
✔ Embedded intelligence for core execution
Our WMS is already built for intelligent labor allocation, task orchestration, slotting, planning, and exceptions, minimizing integration complexity and maximizing performance.
✔ Modular options for bolt-on automation
Customers can deploy targeted AI-driven workflows quickly, without waiting for platform-wide upgrades.
✔ Low-code configuration for custom innovation
Our low-code tools allow operational teams to create rules, alerts, workflows, and task logic, within a governed environment.
✔ Freedom from vendor lock-in
Unlike monolithic legacy platforms, Softeon’s open architecture allows external AI agents and third-party tools to integrate cleanly.
✔ Modernization without disruption
Organizations can adopt AI agents at their pace, site by site, workflow by workflow, supported by Softeon’s flexible deployment model. The biggest message from the Gartner research is that AI agents don’t work well if you’re building on outdated infrastructure.
Legacy WMS platforms require costly upgrades and fragile integrations just to participate in the AI ecosystem. Softeon customers don’t face that barrier. We built our platform for the future, and now, that future is here.
The Path Forward
As logistics organizations accelerate AI adoption, the winners will be the ones who:
- Modernize core platforms
- Maintain strong governance
- Focus on measurable outcomes
- Deploy AI agents where they drive the highest value
Ready to Bring AI Agents Into Your Logistics Operations?
If your organization is exploring AI, modernizing its WMS, or identifying high-value automation use cases, Softeon can help.
Let’s talk about how to turn AI into real-world operational results.
