Autonomous advances will transform—not replace—jobs in the delivery sector
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) advances are coming in hot across sectors and in everyday life. While the new ways to use AI are exciting, they’re also a source of fear for many who work in the $136.6 billion U.S. package delivery industry.
The sector is ripe for automation from the factory floor to the warehouse to the highway because smart machines offer more accurate, faster and safer ways to produce, package and ship products. Done right, autonomy will save money, and as always, it’s the opportunity for cost savings that will drive adoption.
The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, 85 million jobs may be displaced by a shift in the division of labor between humans and machines. That same report goes on to predict that 97 million new roles will emerge from this autonomous shift.
That growth is where I believe the logistics industry and its workforce should focus. By exploring ways to upskill the current logistics workforce, we can minimize replacement and create new opportunities for workers while improving companies’ bottom lines.
I believe autonomous delivery will do for the logistics industry what robotics have done for the manufacturing industry. An October 2024 report issued by Conexus Indiana showed Indiana manufacturers are increasingly turning to automation, robotics and digital systems to boost productivity and alleviate workforce challenges. Among other highlights, the report said this tech adoption, on average, has led to four new jobs and an expected $177,000 in wage growth per company. Sixty percent of the companies contributing to the report were upskilling their workforce to meet the demands of new technology and addressing labor shortages through targeted training.
Currently, delivery industry workers spend long hours on the road, navigating traffic, dealing with parking challenges and lifting heavy packages. Autonomous delivery systems will enable humans to focus on more strategic and customer-focused roles like delivery logistics, route optimization and post-delivery support. All of that should make for happier customers, fewer returns and lost or damaged packaging.
Below are four new career opportunities expected to emerge that should be able to be assumed by the current workforce with minimal upskilling. Two of the four are positions that already exist, but are largely executed in traditional ways, relying on gas or electric-powered vehicles. One is a position that has already embraced software and other technology to accomplish what was once a largely paper-based management system.
1. Autonomous Fleet Managers: Fleet managers will be responsible for monitoring autonomous vehicle performance, scheduling maintenance and optimizing fleet operations to ensure maximum efficiency and uptime.
2. Autonomous Vehicle Technicians: These roles will involve diagnosing and resolving issues related to sensors, software and vehicle components and require skilled workers with technical expertise in automotive repair and advanced robotics.
3. AI and Robotics Specialists: These engineers, data scientists and programmers with expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning will ensure effective autonomous systems operations, safety standard compliance and response to real-world challenges.
4. Logistics Coordinators: Logistics coordinators will monitor and optimize delivery schedules, communicate with customers and address any issues that arise. Roles will require logistics, customer service and problem-solving skills.
Replacing heavy ledger books, clipboards and paper filing systems with tech has long been accepted. Automation is a natural next step and is particularly relevant in the healthcare sector where customer service can mean life or death.
Autonomous delivery of medications and medical supplies will enable healthcare workers to spend more time providing direct patient care and may even speed delivery of essential products to those healthcare practitioners.
As business leaders, it’s up to us to stay abreast of operational advances, but it’s just as important to check the temperature of our workforces. As we all focus on wrapping up the current year and planning for the next one, it would be smart to factor upskilling into our budgets and routine team discussions.
Few of us embrace change, but it’s always on the horizon. Helping your workforce meet it successfully should be an essential best practice in any sector.