Speed, logistics efficiency, artificial intelligence and data-driven decisions are no longer future trends to become central factors of competitiveness in the e-commerce and supply chain market. This scenario is reflected in the study The Future Shopper Report 2025, from VML, which points out that 57% of Brazilian consumers expect to receive their purchases within 24 hours. The data shows how agility, predictability and operational efficiency have come to directly influence the shopping experience, accelerating investments in automation, artificial intelligence, logistics integration and strategic use of data throughout the chain.
The themes were at the center of the discussions of the first edition of the DHL E-commerce Day, held in Sao Paulo (SP). The event brought together executives and industry experts to discuss the paths of evolution of digital retail, reinforcing that the integration of technology, data and logistics operations is no longer differential and became a basic condition for competitiveness.
“O e-commerce has entered a new phase, in which it is not enough to grow 'IT is necessary to execute with excellence. Logistics, data and technology are no longer areas of support and become the strategic core of companies. Whoever can integrate these pillars with speed and consistency will have a clear competitive advantage in the coming years”, he says Solon Barrios, VP of E-commerce and Retail at DHL Supply Chain Brazil.
“Today, in e-commerce, the customer experience does not end in the purchase, it consolidates in delivery. Artificial intelligence has an increasingly strategic role in this process, allowing greater operational predictability, route optimization, anticipation of demand peaks and more transparent communication with the consumer in real time. In a scenario where speed and convenience are crucial for loyalty, integrating technology and logistics is no longer a differential and has become essential for the competitiveness of companies”, says Patricia Starling, Vice President of DHL Express Brazil.
DHL synthesized five trends centers discussed at the event that are already impacting the market and should guide the strategies of companies:
1- Data as a strategic asset for operational efficiency
The basis of modern logistics operation is the ability to collect, integrate and interpret data in real time, ensuring more accuracy in demand planning, better inventory allocation and greater ability to anticipate seasonal peaks in e-commerce. Rather than drive operational efficiency, data has come to occupy a strategic role in understanding the buying behavior and the consumer journey, allowing to identify navigation patterns, recurrence of consumption, cart abandonment and regional preferences to guide more assertive decisions of assortment, pricing, media and relationship. In this scenario, brands that can transform data into applied intelligence gain competitive advantage by creating more relevant and personalized experiences, strengthening the connection with the consumer and increasing their capacity to generate sustainable conversion.
2- Artificial Intelligence in the core of e-commerce and supply chain operations
From a solid data base, artificial intelligence starts to act directly in decision making. In the market, it is already applied to predict demand, optimize delivery routes, automate customer service and even adjust levels of formadinamics inventory. The most relevant advance is the evolution to more autonomous systems, capable of responding in real time to changes in consumer behavior and operating conditions.“Artificial intelligence is already transforming e-commerce and supply chain operations, bringing more efficiency, predictability and real-time responsiveness.The breakthrough now is to integrate data and AI to support increasingly autonomous decisions across the” chain, affirms Rafaela Braga, Mr. Data Science Manager at Itau Unibanco.
3-Growth of operational complexity requires technological integration
The increase in order volume, the diversity of channels and the expectation for faster deliveries make the operation more complex. This requires integration between systems, sales platforms, logistics operators and transport partners. Without this integration, there is loss of visibility, increased errors and operational inefficiency. The trend is the consolidation of technological ecosystems capable of orchestrating the entire operation in an integrated way.
4- Logistics on the basis of reputation and competitiveness of digital experience
Logistics is no longer just an operational step and has become decisive in consumer choice.Delivery time, freight cost and reliability are factors that directly impact conversion. Companies that invest in more efficient logistics networks, with greater customer proximity and better transport management, can differentiate themselves in the market.
5- Adaptability as a survival factor at this moment of market reconfiguration
In a rapidly changing environment, with new technologies and business models constantly emerging, adaptability becomes essential. Companies need to continually review their logistics strategies, adjust their operations and respond quickly to market changes. Operational flexibility becomes one of the main success factors. “We are living a moment of market reconfiguration, in which the ability to adapt has become more important than scale or history. Companies that can quickly adjust their operations and strategies will have more competitiveness in the coming”, or, affirms Piero Franceschi, CEO at StartSe.
The program was attended by executives and experts who are at the forefront of the transformation of the sector, including Piero Franceschi (StartSe), RafaelaBraga (Itau Unibanco), Diego Kawaoka Melo (Dafiti Group), Erik Parronchi (doTERRA), Leandro Gravena (Intelipost), Omar Pucci (Fullcommerce Brazil), Julio Nishino (Fullcommerce Brazil), Luiz Garcia Ferreira (Nuvemshop), Monique Prince (REDE ItaGrechrech and Rapha 2).
The event was supported by relevant companies in the digital ecosystem, such as Fullcommerce, Intelipost and Nuvemshop, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between technology, operation and strategy for the development of the sector.