Is your IT future-proof? Key takeaways from the Digital Transformation Masterclass.  

At the recent Digital Transformation Masterclass, part of the GCCA European Cold Chain Conference, we had the opportunity to participate in a powerful panel discussion on the rapid evolution of IT in the cold chain. Our Commercial Director, Jan-Cornell van Ekris, joined the conversation alongside Ndustrial and Moovu to reflect on the changes reshaping the cold chain and how logistics companies can prepare for what lies ahead. 

In this blog, we share some highlights from that discussion, offering a recap of key insights and practical advice. While the buzz around AI and digital transformation grows louder, we believe the most important question remains: Is your IT future-proof? 

Seeing through the AI hype

AI is everywhere. But as we shared during the panel, not all AI is immediately relevant. Still, it’s absolutely something to prepare for. We distinguish three types of AI usage that are shaping how businesses evolve: 

1. Personal AI: Already in play today. Think ChatGPT or tools like Perplexity. In our own teams, we see marketers becoming prompt engineers instead of text writers, and developers focusing more on architectural decisions than writing code line-by-line. Supporting and encouraging this kind of personal AI usage is a step toward readiness. 

2. Hybrid AI: Used to optimize support desks or enhance search engines with more tailored, prompt-based answers, like an AI chatbot.  

3. Embedded AI: The next frontier, where AI integrates directly into core business processes and starts to add real operational value. 

At Boltrics, we’re actively investing in making our SaaS platform flexible and adaptable, so our customers are ready to embrace embedded AI when it becomes viable at scale. Not because AI is a silver bullet today, but because we believe in laying the groundwork early. “We are exploring opportunities to make our IT platform adaptable for future AI integration. When AI matures, we and our customers will be ready.” said Jan-Cornell during the session. 

Cybersecurity: from afterthought to top priority

As digitalization expands, so do the threats. From AI-driven hacks to quantum-powered cyber risks, cybersecurity is no longer optional, it’s a business-critical foundation. We emphasized that, too often, security has been treated as an afterthought. Many companies are now scrambling to build protections internally, facing shortages of skilled professionals and rising costs. 

But is that really core business?

For us, the answer lies in true SaaS solutions. Not just for convenience, but for resilience. Our platform, built on Microsoft Business Central, benefits from Microsoft’s scale, workforce, and certifications. This means that compliance, security updates, and regulatory requirements like NIS2 are all part of the package. “It’s about more than just ticking boxes. It’s about protecting your ability to operate in a secure, compliant way,” Jan-Cornell shared. 

What it means for cold chain operators today

For those in cold logistics and 3PL, digital transformation isn’t a future goal, it’s already underway. From voice and form recognition in Microsoft Cognitive Services to email parsing and structured data tools, our customers are finding real-world benefits from digital enhancements. However, unlocking these innovations depends on making the shift: from on-premise legacy setups to modern cloud-based platforms. It’s a prerequisite for accessing APIs, real-time data, hybrid AI, and future technologies. “We see AI already impacting IT strategies across our customer base. But the true potential only becomes accessible once you’ve made that foundational shift,” Jan-Cornell noted during the discussion. 

What you can do today

The session ended with a call to action for all logistics companies: focus on the fundamentals. Here’s the advice we shared: 

1. Choose flexibility 
   The old debate — build or buy — is outdated. Building is not scalable in today’s fast-moving landscape. Step away from the idea that doing it yourself is a lasting solution. It makes you inflexible and diverts your time away from your core business. 

2. Lean on collective strength 
   You do not have to go it alone. Benefit from the scalability that Microsoft offers, and the vision of Boltrics, where we continuously draw on best practices to improve together. 

3. You do not have to be a forerunner 
   You do not have to be the first to adopt the newest technology. Make sure you choose an IT solution that can. One that can embrace the latest AI advancements and protect against the biggest threats. That is when you know you are future-proof. 

“To truly future-proof your IT, ask the right questions now.” Jan-Cornell concluded. And we fully agree. 

Get started: your IT future-proofing cheatsheet

To support logistics companies in making the right decisions, we’ve developed a Future-Proofing Cheatsheet, a practical tool to help you assess where your IT stands today and what’s needed for tomorrow.  

Curious to know if your systems are ready for what’s next?