The topic of sustainability is becoming increasingly relevant in the transportation and logistics (T&L) industry, as the latest study “The Road Ahead: Driving Digital Transformation in T&L” by SOTI confirms. In addition to the measures taken to improve sustainability and efficiency within the industry, the results also clearly show that employees want their employers to be more committed to environmental protection. For example, 97% of the T&L employees surveyed in Australia and globally stated that their employers are already taking steps towards sustainability. Nevertheless, 63% of Australian respondents (70% globally) believe that these measures are not yet sufficient and that their companies could do more to protect the planet.

Sustainability as a Decisive Factor for Employee Retention

The study highlights that sustainability is increasingly influencing staff retention in the T&L sector. Globally, 50% of employees surveyed would be prepared to change companies if their current employer did not take sufficient measures to protect the environment. By comparison, in Australia, this is even higher where 55% of employees would consider changing jobs if their current employer neglected sustainability efforts.

“Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ in the T&L industry—it’s a must-have,” said Michael Dyson, VP of Sales & Marketing, APAC at SOTI “Our research shows a clear mandate from employees: businesses must go beyond surface-level initiatives and invest in meaningful, technology-driven solutions that not only reduce environmental impact but also support operational efficiency.”

Concrete Measures to Reduce the Ecological Footprint

The results of the study show that companies in the T&L sector are increasingly taking measures to improve the sustainability of their processes. In Australia, 100% of the companies surveyed are taking measures to optimise the efficiency of deliveries, such as route planning for maximum efficiency (31%) or - where possible - consolidating several deliveries at one location (30%). These measures help to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Further steps to improve sustainability include the use of automated collection processes to reduce paper-based procedures: 63% of companies globally (36% in Australia) have switched to these technologies, further reducing their environmental footprint. Additionally, 48% of the companies surveyed worldwide and 62% in Australia also rely on intelligent transportation systems (ITS) such as electric vehicles (19% in Australia, 16% globally) or robot technologies for warehouse operations (24% in Australia, 17% globally).

Technology as a Lever for a More Sustainable Future

Technology plays a central role in implementing sustainable strategies in the T&L industry. The SOTI study shows that investing in mobile devices and technologies to track and manage the supply chain is critical to increasing efficiency while reducing environmental impact. For example, 74% of global respondents (62% in Australia) say that using tracking technologies - for delivery vehicles and inventory, for example - helps to improve a company's environmental footprint.

Employees Call for More Investment in Environmentally Friendly Technologies

The study also shows that more than two thirds (67% of Australian employees and 65% of employees globally) see investing in new or improved mobile devices as a key step towards increasing the efficiency of their work and promoting more environmentally friendly processes. In addition, reduced paper consumption through the increased use of digital technologies is seen as an important contribution to sustainability. For example, more and more companies are abandoning printed receipts in favour of digital alternatives, which significantly reduces the use of paper and helps to conserve resources.

Sustainability in the Supply chain – A Common Goal

The environmental friendliness of supply chain partners is important for two thirds (67% globally and 62% in Australia) of respondents worldwide. In Australia, 66% of respondents stated that it is difficult to be “green” - i.e. sustainable - in the T&L industry. However, 62% of Australian respondents also agree with the statement that using technology to track and manage the supply chain helps to improve a company's environmental footprint. Half of Australian employees (51%) say that complying with sustainability policies sometimes makes their day-to-day work more difficult, highlighting the importance of innovation and adaptation to integrate sustainable practices effectively.

About SOTI

SOTI is a proven innovator and industry leader for simplifying business mobility solutions by making them smarter, faster and more reliable. With SOTI’s innovative portfolio of solutions, organisations can trust SOTI to elevate and streamline their mobile operations, maximise their ROI and reduce device downtime. Globally, with over 17,000 customers, SOTI has proven itself to be the go-to mobile platform provider to manage, secure and support business-critical devices. With SOTI’s world-class support, enterprises can take mobility to endless possibilities. For more information, visit soti.net.