Hackers, not robots, are winning the logistics investment race 

The figures come from the inaugural Logistics Investment Insight Report 2026, produced by Logistics UK and HSBC UK in conjunction with research company Analytiqa. It is based on responses from more than 100 senior executives working for UK logistics companies.

More than 77% of respondents increased their technology spending in 2026, while 70% expect to spend still more next year. Yet 70.5% said their business had delayed or deferred planned investment during the past 18 months.

The contrasting results indicate that logistics businesses are not abandoning investment altogether. Instead, they appear to be prioritising expenditure considered necessary to protect existing operations, while projects that can be postponed are being subjected to greater scrutiny.

Cyber security narrowly leads AI

When respondents were asked which technology applications they were currently prioritising, cyber security ranked first, although only narrowly. It was selected by 20.9%, compared with 20.5% for artificial intelligence and the same proportion for upgrading or replacing existing software.

Together, cyber security and software modernisation accounted for 41.4% of the stated priorities. This suggests that much of the current technology push is defensive: companies are protecting core systems and replacing ageing infrastructure rather than concentrating exclusively on futuristic automation.

Cloud services were identified by 12.8% of respondents, followed by technology supporting training and HR initiatives at 9.9%. Robotics and automation accounted for 7.7%, big data and analytics for 7.3%, and the Internet of Things for just 0.4%.

The results complicate the idea that logistics companies are rushing headlong into a fully automated future. AI has become a mainstream priority, but physical automation remains secondary to cyber resilience and core software.

It is also important to distinguish between overall technology spending and spending specifically on AI. The research shows that overall technology expenditure increased and that AI is one of the three leading priorities. It does not establish how much companies are spending on AI or how quickly AI expenditure itself has grown.

Access to finance is not the main obstacle

The caution surrounding wider projects does not appear to be caused primarily by a shortage of finance. Some 70.4% of respondents described securing financial support as easy or straightforward, while only 2% said it was very difficult.

Nevertheless, more than seven in ten had deferred or delayed investment. Uncertainty about business growth was cited by 19.8% of respondents, while 16.3% pointed to uncertainty over government policy.

Taxation emerged as an even more significant concern. More than half of respondents said tax policy was making them less likely to invest, with operating costs, fuel duty and employment taxes among the issues highlighted.

The findings point to a confidence problem rather than a simple lack of available capital. Businesses may be able to finance new projects, but many remain reluctant to commit while future demand, taxation and government policy are difficult to predict.

Expectations for corporate debt underline this cautious outlook. Half of respondents expect their debt to remain unchanged during their next financial year. Around 28.4% anticipate an increase, while 21.6% expect debt levels to fall.

Investment intentions remain positive

Despite the high proportion of postponed projects, more than nine in ten businesses expect their overall investment to remain stable or increase next year. This indicates that projects are being rescheduled or reprioritised rather than abandoned across the board.

Technology appears to be among the areas most likely to survive that selection process. Cyber attacks can interrupt warehouse systems, transport planning, customer communications and other connected operations, making security expenditure increasingly difficult to postpone.

Phil Roe, president of Logistics UK, said technology had traditionally offered logistics companies a competitive advantage but was now also crucial to operational resilience. He added that the research showed AI and cyber security had moved firmly into the mainstream.

The report also identified demand for better road, rail, port and airport infrastructure. Logistics UK argued that decarbonisation was increasingly an infrastructure challenge rather than simply a vehicle challenge, particularly where operators require commercially viable charging facilities before investing in electric fleets.