The Evolution of Technology Adoption in Transportation: From Microfilm to AI

““AI is not only for engineers. It brings changes in the dynamic of business, and we have to adapt or die.” - Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft

Introduction:

In my 28 years in transportation and logistics, I've witnessed firsthand how technology transforms industries. I remember the transition from microfilm to scanning bills of lading, and then to barcode tracking throughout the supply chain. Each advancement was initially met with resistance - after all, the existing systems worked. Why change?

But time and again, once new systems were in place, the response was universal: "How did we ever live without this?"

Today, as I watch organizations grapple with generative AI adoption, these memories feel especially relevant. The resistance patterns are strikingly familiar, but the stakes are higher than ever.

The Reality Check

Recent studies show that while 75% of employees are already using AI at work, 78% of organizations still lack internal AI-focused education or training. This gap is a vulnerability in your business.

Having worked with major corporate accounts across the US, I can envision countless ways AI could transform traditional processes: drafting general rate increase communications, enhancing negotiations, streamlining reporting, and improving organization. And that's just speaking from a sales role perspective. Every department can now innovate, and create better systems and processes using generative AI technology. Yet many companies are hesitating at the starting line.

Learning From My Own AI Journey

When I transitioned from corporate leadership to building my own business, I experienced AI adoption challenges firsthand. Even with a small team, introducing tools like Claude and ChatGPT met resistance. Our executive assistant, despite being talented and tech-savvy, initially struggled to embrace these new tools – not because they weren't valuable, but because they felt unfamiliar and intimidating.

This taught me an important lesson: Technology adoption isn't just about the tools – it's about people. It's about understanding their concerns, providing proper training, and demonstrating real value.

The Path Forward

Drawing from my experience in both corporate environments and entrepreneurship, here's what I've learned about successful technology adoption:

1. Acknowledge the Learning Curve

The shift from traditional methods to AI-enhanced workflows isn't always smooth. But neither was the transition from microfilm to digital scanning – and look how essential that became.

2. Start Where It Matters

Focus first on areas where AI can provide immediate value. In transportation, specifically in the sales and pricing departments, this might mean:

- Automating routine customer communications

- Enhancing rate analysis and negotiation preparation

- Streamlining report generation and data analysis

- Improving documentation and knowledge management

- Building presentations in a fraction of the time

3. Build Internal Capability

Don't just adopt AI tools – build internal systems for:

- Clear governance and policies

- Ongoing education and training

- Safe spaces for experimentation

- Sharing successful use cases

Why This Matters Now

Timing is crucial. The companies that thrive aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the most advanced technology – they're the ones that build robust internal systems for adopting and leveraging new capabilities.

The shift to AI-enhanced operations is inevitable. The question isn't whether to adopt AI, but how to do it responsibly and effectively.

Your Next Steps

As someone who has navigated significant technological transitions in large enterprises and built a million-dollar business from scratch, I understand both the challenges and opportunities of transformation.

Let's start a conversation about building your organization's internal capabilities for AI adoption. Not through external dependence, but by creating the systems and processes that will make your team more capable, more confident, and more competitive.

Book a free consultation call HERE.