New logistics: the change in the freight transportation market was discussed in Moscow

The cargo transportation market is undergoing a stage of structural adjustment. Demand is starting to stabilize, companies are looking for new ways to increase efficiency, and online platforms are becoming a full-fledged part of the industry's infrastructure. These changes became one of the key topics of the first Avito Services conference for the field of cargo transportation "Routes of Development". The details are in the Izvestia article.

Demand is returning, but the market is already different

After a period of slowdown, the market is showing signs of improving dynamics. According to Wordstat data for the query "Cargo transportation" in Russia, the dynamics of the decline decreased from 25.7% in April (compared to April 2025) to 5.8% in May (compared to May 2025). The improvement in the situation is also noted by online platforms. Thus, according to the internal analytics of Avito Services, a noticeable improvement in the dynamics of demand for cargo transportation over the year was shown by the Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Voronezh, Volgograd regions and the Republic of Tatarstan.

From carrier search to transportation management

At the same time, the behavior of customers and the very logic of interaction between market participants are changing. According to the ORO marketing agency, 52% of business customers and 47% of private customers choose cargo transportation providers on Avito, while the service requirements vary. Analysts note that the cost of the service remains a key factor for private customers. Business is increasingly focused not only on price, but also on the predictability of interaction.: 27% of respondents note the importance of ratings and reviews, and another 26% — the availability and speed of the performer's response.

According to Evgeniya Lazareva, head of the Transport and Delivery business at Avito Services, the market is gradually moving away from the manual search model, in which customers independently called carriers, and performers depended on incoming requests.

"We see that users need different work scenarios. The usual search format is suitable for single shipments, but companies with regular cargo flows need tools that allow them to create applications, compare offers, and manage multiple shipments simultaneously," Lazareva said.

The expert also noted that Avito Services has recently launched a Cargo Transportation Exchange in a test mode. It allows the cargo owner to place requests for transportation with clear cargo parameters, and the performers to respond on their own terms. For carriers, this means more manageable loading and reduced downtime.

In fact, online platforms are beginning to serve as a market infrastructure, helping participants not only find each other, but also manage the transportation process.

From experimentation to performance: how AI is changing logistics

Experts also noted during the conference that artificial intelligence is gradually becoming part of the daily processes of logistics companies. At the same time, the main question is no longer whether to use AI or not, but how effectively a business is able to integrate it into real tasks.

"Most companies in logistics are already testing generative AI, but they do not always switch to the systematic use of technology," said Jan Alexandrovsky, an expert on AI solutions and Director of Development at SASCO Logistics.

According to him, the key problem is the introduction of AI without a clear understanding of the expected result.

"Processes with repetitive operations, such as document processing, data reconciliation, and standard solutions, have the greatest effect. Such scenarios reduce manual labor and speed up information processing," he stressed.

In Marshaltech's digital logistics platform, AI is already being used in operational tasks. For example, an AI assistant helps newcomers understand internal processes, individual solutions are used to fix agreements and structure tasks. An AI dispatcher for working with drivers clarifies the status of transportation, helps to receive documents, accompanies the flight and participates in the search for backloading.

"We want to increase labor productivity per person several times, in fact, to move away from a model where a logistician handles several applications manually, to a model where an operations manager manages dozens of processes, and AI helps him at every stage of work," said Mikhail Belousov, founder of Marshaltech.

If platforms change the interaction between market participants, then AI is changing the internal economics of the logistics business, allowing operations to scale without comparable staff growth.

How regulation changes the rules of the market

In parallel with technological changes, the market is moving towards a more formalized work model. The rules of document management, confirmation of the status of participants and data exchange are changing.

"Have they decided to count us? Decided. Is logistics becoming more transparent? Becomes. Is it necessary to introduce an electronic bill of lading? Yes, it is absolutely necessary," transport lawyer Sergey Bogatov said during the event.

At the same time, the system of industry registers is developing. The register of freight forwarders is already in operation, and the next stage in the development of regulation should be the register of carriers. For businesses, this is an additional tool for verifying partners and reducing dependence on manual evaluation of counterparties.

"In fact, the company makes its work easier with these registries: part of the basic verification is already being transferred to the digital environment. To put it bluntly, you were tested for you to some extent," said Jan Alexandrovsky.

Following the results of the conference, the participants came to the conclusion that transparency of processes, speed of decision-making and digital tools will become key factors of market change in the coming years.