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The future of commercial logistics: The decisions defining cost, carbon and competitiveness

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Executive foreword The Hitachi mission is clear; we power good through innovation. With more than a century of innovation in mobility, this commitment shapes how we support the industries keeping societies moving, economies growing and communities connected.

Every vehicle on the road, every depot and every distribution hub plays a vital role in enabling global mobility, from delivering essential goods to supporting global trade. The operators who manage these networks are more than just service providers; they are the backbone of modern economies.

That backbone is under growing pressure. Costs are rising. Digital complexity is increasing. Decarbonization targets are tightening. And resilience is being tested by forces beyond the transport sector. These challenges cannot be addressed in isolation, nor should they be seen as competing priorities. They’re mutually dependent drivers of change. Progress in one depends on progress in the others, and vice versa.

The next five years will be pivotal for operators to maintain this momentum. Decisions made now will define long-term cost structures, regulatory readiness and competitiveness for decades to come. Those who act decisively will be best positioned to turn disruption into advantage.

Hitachi partners with operators to build logistics systems that are cleaner, leaner and ready for the future. Together, we turn everyday operations into smarter, more profitable networks, powering the flow of commerce today and tomorrow.

Jun Taniguchi

Senior Vice President and Executive Officer, Hitachi Ltd.

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Introduction

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Commercial and logistics operators are in a period of profound transformation. Electrification, digital technologies and rising sustainability expectations are reshaping not only how fleets operate, but how entire logistics ecosystems are designed and managed.

At the same time, pressure to improve efficiency is growing. Rising energy costs, labor challenges and customer expectations are all increasing the need for smarter operations and investments, while adding to the list of demands operators face daily.

Simplifying that complexity relies on integrating the right technologies to deliver truly measurable outcomes. Logistics is no longer a hardware challenge; it’s one of data, giving operators who bring the right partners on their journey the chance to boost efficiency, cut emissions and improve competitiveness.

This guide will set out how operators can decarbonize with confidence, optimize every mile and unlock new revenue streams.

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Digitalization – Turning data into advantage

Resilience in an uncertain world

Integrating energy, data

and operations

Energy hubs, logistics and process

improvement and data monetization

Decarbonizing with confidence

Logistics as critical

infrastructure01 Logistics as critical infrastructure Logistics sits at the heart of modern economies and communities. It keeps industries productive and communities connected. But until recently it was often treated as a background cost, invisible until disruption strikes.

The shift is clear. Global health events, geopolitical tension and extreme weather have exposed how fragile supply chains can be, while also raising expectations on the logistics operators who keep goods moving. Reliability, predictability and continuity are now just as important as cost efficiency, meaning operators are vital stewards of essential services.

Moreover, logistics is no longer just a collection of vehicles and depots. Fleet, energy and digital systems form an interconnected physical and digital ecosystem in which decisions in one area ripple across the network. Understanding logistics through this wider lens is the first step in building operations that are optimized and fit for the future while keeping industries and people connected and moving.

Partnership in Action: Western Sydney Aerotropolis In partnership with the Western Sydney Aerotropolis authorities, Hitachi helped co-create a digital supply chain ecosystem designed to streamline the movement of goods from farm gate to export destination. Leveraging its co-creation model and digital expertise, Hitachi worked alongside the Western Parkland City Authority and local partners to explore a fully digital supply chain that replaces paper-based processes with trusted, secure digital transactions – improving traceability, efficiency and speed across international trade.

This initiative, part of the broader Aerotropolis vision around the 24/7 Western Sydney International Airport, aims to bridge primary producers with global markets using data-driven integration across stakeholders and government agencies.

Key takeaways: Reframe the role of logistics: Treat fleets and depots as critical infrastructure that underpins economic resilience.

Plan for continuity: Reliability, predictability, uptime and last mile performance are now as important as efficiency in meeting public, customer and regulatory expectations.

Think system-wide: Vehicles, energy and digital platforms form one interconnected system – decisions in isolation create risk elsewhere.

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Partnership in Action: Penske Hitachi and Penske Truck Leasing have partnered to reimagine depot charging as critical logistics infrastructure through the deployment of a centralized EV charging system at its California depot.

The solution supports Penske’s expanding EV fleet while maintaining reliability and performance, delivering multi-megawatt DC fast charging, managing up to 10 trucks at 100kW or five at 200kW simultaneously. Designed for scale, it has reduced Penske’s space requirements by up to 60% and cabling by 40% versus conventional systems, enabling efficient, high-throughput operations.

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Decarbonizing with confidence Decarbonization is both urgent and complex. The issue for many is how quickly it can be achieved without undermining service, cost efficiency or stakeholder confidence.

Pressure is coming from regulators, boards and society. In response, logistics operators must understand that decarbonization isn’t a single technology choice but a strategic transformation. There are many pathways to this, but true carbon reduction goes beyond the vehicle itself. It calls for grid connections, depot charging, smart energy management, new workforce skills and seamless integration with existing operations. At its heart, this is about interoperability and having the confidence to implement new assets and infrastructure.

It’s exactly where the right partnership makes a real difference. Decarbonization must be a phased program, not a one-off replacement exercise. With careful planning, operators can minimize disruption, manage costs and build resilience while laying the foundation for long-term growth.

While this complexity presents challenges, it also creates opportunities. When batteries and vehicles are treated as valuable, revenue-generating assets, including through second life use, operators can go beyond compliance. It’s not decarbonization for the sake of it. It’s turning sustainability into a source of new revenue and a driver of greater efficiency.

Partnership in Action: EV Smart Charging Hitachi’s EV Fleet Smart Charging solution helps electric commercial fleets cut carbon emissions while managing energy with real-time scheduling and AI-driven insights. By connecting vehicles, charging infrastructure and digital platforms, it allows fleet operators to make smarter charging decisions that reduce emissions. With a real-time view of charging status and actionable guidance on when and where to charge based on vehicle use, trip plans, load and battery state, this data-led approach removes guesswork from depot and on-route charging.

Key takeaways: Decarbonize with intent: Move beyond one-off vehicle replacement to a phased, system-wide transition that protects performance and growth.

Open up new revenue streams: See decarbonization as a driver of new revenue opportunities.

Unlock asset value: Use software and data to extend vehicle and battery life, improve use and create value beyond upfront investment.

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Digitalization – Turning data into advantage

Resilience in an uncertain world

Integrating energy, data

and operations

Energy hubs, logistics and process

improvement and data monetization

Logistics as critical

infrastructure

Decarbonizing with confidence

Partnership in Action: A leading courier in Japan Hitachi is supporting one of Japan’s leading couriers shift to electric logistics across more than 60 bases, managing hundreds of EVs and chargers through AI-driven smart charging and real-time demand control. The system optimizes charging using battery state of charge, route plans and depot energy demand, preventing power spikes and avoiding capacity overload while ensuring uninterrupted operations. With coordinated data across the courier, OEMs, utilities and charging partners, it automates when and where vehicles charge, improving efficiency at scale and supporting a projected 46% CO₂ reduction by 2030 (vs. 2019 levels).

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03 Digitalization – Turning data into advantage

Logistics generates billions of data points every day covering everything from vehicle telematics and driver behavior to energy consumption and depot operations. The real advantage though, comes from bringing all this data together.

Many operators struggle with independent systems that don’t communicate, such as GPS platforms separate from energy meters, maintenance software disconnected from fleet telematics and warehouse management systems that don’t speak to distribution hubs. This lack of integration and the range of disparate systems creates siloes while making it hard for operators to turn the sheer amount of raw data they collect into actionable insight.

AI and advanced analytics are transforming the industry from predictive to prescriptive. Instead of merely anticipating a breakdown, fleets can automatically schedule repairs, adjust routes in real time and optimize energy use. Predictive insights evolve into prescriptive action.

Software has become the primary driver of efficiency. Even small operational adjustments when powered by intelligent software can unlock marginal gains across fleets, far beyond what hardware improvements alone can achieve.

Platforms and interoperability are critical to scaling results. Connected platforms let operators integrate new technologies seamlessly over time, protecting investment and driving continuous improvement. Fleets can then move from reactive management to intelligent, AI-enabled and faster decision making, improving operational efficiency, lowering costs all while boosting revenue and protecting margins.

Partnership in Action: Insights in real-time Hitachi Digital Services partnered with a leading logistics provider that faced challenges with old, disconnected systems. Information from GPS, maintenance software and warehouse operations were scattered, making it hard for teams to see the full picture and make informed decisions.

Working with Hitachi, the company brought these data sources together, creating a single view of operations. Teams could now find the information they needed quickly, spot patterns and act on insights in real time. The result was smoother operations, fewer delays and better decisions, transforming day-to-day logistics.

Key takeaways: Bring data together: Real advantage comes from a single, trusted view of data, not collecting more of it.

Move from data to insight: AI and analytics help teams make clearer decisions that improve safety, efficiency and energy use.

Build for the future: Interoperable platforms reduce tech complexity and make it easier to integrate new technologies over time.

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Digitalization – Turning data into advantage

Resilience in an uncertain world

Integrating energy, data

and operations

Energy hubs, logistics and process

improvement and data monetization

Decarbonizing with confidence

Logistics as critical

infrastructure

Partnership in Action: Posten Bring Hitachi is helping Posten Bring digitize EV fleet operations through Hitachi ZeroCarbon Charge, giving the operator complete visibility across vehicles and chargers with remote monitoring, dynamic load balancing and optimized charging schedules. Built on real-time data and insights, the platform helps Posten Bring improve vehicle availability and energy efficiency at scale while supporting its goals of converting all vans and 80% of trucks to fossil-free alternatives by 2030, reaching net zero road emissions by 2040 and becoming fully net zero by 2050.

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04 Resilience in an uncertain world

Uncertainty has become a defining feature of commercial and logistics operations. As such, resilience must be reevaluated. The focus must shift from mere survival to protecting long-term growth, revenue and operational continuity; we need to ensure fleets, depots and networks can withstand external shocks while maintaining service levels and profitability.

With disruption no longer rare or predictable, traditional approaches relying on buffers or contingency plans aren’t sufficient. True resilience comes from real-time data and predictive analytics, which enhance visibility, inform smarter planning and deliver measurable results by reducing downtime, optimizing assets and protecting both margins and customer trust.

Operational flexibility is equally critical. Dynamic routing, adaptive scheduling and flexible charging strategies allow fleets to maintain performance as conditions change, preserving service levels while reducing exposure to price spikes and grid constraints.

Most importantly, resilience must be built into operations from the start. When embedded into broader strategies, such as electrification and energy transition, it becomes more than a safeguard. It enhances efficiency, supports sustainability and creates a lasting competitive advantage.

Partnership in Action: Proactive planning for smooth operations In collaboration with Hitachi Vantara, a global logistics operator introduced a service parts planning platform to make managing complex supply networks simpler and more reliable. By combining operational data from across regions with predictive forecasting, the platform improved demand planning, cut excess inventory and helped ensure parts were available worldwide.

The result was a shift from reactive to proactive planning, allowing teams to anticipate demand and keep operations running smoothly across global operations. It’s an example of how better data insight can turn service logistics into a strategic advantage.

Key takeaways: Rethink resilience: Focus on continuity, growth and revenue, not just risk mitigation.

Anticipate and act: Visibility and predictive analytics outperform static contingency plans allowing for quicker responses to market change.

Build in flexibility: Adaptive operations, from routing to charging, are essential for maintaining service under uncertainty.

Make resilience part of the plan: Resilience should be integrated into electrification and energy management initiatives to drive true business value.

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Digitalization – Turning data into advantage

Resilience in an uncertain world

Integrating energy, data

and operations

Energy hubs, logistics and process

improvement and data monetization

Decarbonizing with confidence

Logistics as critical

infrastructure

!

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05 Integrating energy, data and operations

As fleets electrify and digitalize, commercial and logistics operations are evolving from traditional dispatch-based models to an interconnected ecosystem, with vehicles, depots, energy systems and digital platforms now functioning as parts of a single operational network.

Many operators make the mistake of pursuing isolated ‘do-it-yourself’ investments in vehicles, chargers or software. While each has standalone benefits, disconnected systems rarely reach their full potential. Disparate vehicles, charging infrastructure and software platforms do not naturally work together and deliberate orchestration is required to unlock true value. Treating energy, data and operations as one system transforms fleet performance.

With AI and analytics-enabled systems, operators can also monitor and adjust their operations dynamically in response to changing conditions and operational needs, while balancing competing priorities with minimal disruption.

Long-term partnerships are increasingly vital here. Building and maintaining a connected fleet network requires system-level thinking and ongoing collaboration, not one-off technology deployments. Operators see the greatest benefit when solutions are co-designed and continuously refined with trusted partners, turning investments into efficiency gains, lower operating costs and improved service reliability.

Partnership in Action: Optimise Prime initiative Hitachi led the Optimise Prime initiative, the world’s largest commercial EV trial, bringing together fleets, energy networks and technology partners in the UK. The goal was to gather advanced charging and operational data at scale to understand how electric fleets interact with the grid.

By collecting telemetry from thousands of EVs and testing innovative charging control techniques, the project showed how fleets can draw power more intelligently, reducing stress on electricity networks, avoiding costly infrastructure upgrades and lowering the overall cost of electrification.

The insights and datasets from Optimise Prime are now being integrated into larger scale solutions, helping fleets and energy partners plan infrastructure and manage energy demand in real time. The result is more efficient and cost-effective fleet electrification.

Key takeaways: Avoid isolated investments: Vehicles, chargers and software deliver full value only when deliberately orchestrated.

Act in real time: A connected, data-driven system lets operators respond instantly and keep disruptions down.

Partner to combat complexity: Managing evolving mobility, energy and digital networks requires long-term collaboration, not one-off deployments.

8 88

Digitalization – Turning data into advantage

Resilience in an uncertain world

Integrating energy, data

and operations

Energy hubs, logistics and process

improvement and data monetization

Decarbonizing with confidence

Logistics as critical

infrastructure

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06 Energy hubs, logistics and process improvement, and data monetization As commercial and logistics operators expand their ecosystems, depots and infrastructure are evolving from passive operational assets into integrated platforms that connect energy, operations and data. Electrification and digitalization are changing the role of depots, allowing them to support cost control and more informed decision- making.

System-wide visibility across vehicles, depots, energy flows and routes allows operators to better connect energy management with operational scheduling, charging strategies and fleet performance. This reduces inefficiencies and strengthens operational resilience.

Beyond efficiency gains, operational data can also become a commercial asset. Data can provide insights into new services and revenue streams while also improving customer experience, making true intelligence a source of competitive advantage and growth. Success in this evolving landscape depends on treating energy, operations and data as one connected system.

Partnership in Action: Microgrid Energy Supply Services Hitachi’s Microgrid Energy Supply Services allows organizations to make the most of their energy while supporting their journeys to carbon neutrality. By combining high-efficiency energy equipment with advanced data analytics – powered by Hitachi’s Lumada platform – the service helps monitor, manage and improve energy use while reducing operational costs and resources.

By integrating renewable sources with storage and energy management systems, Hitachi enables customers to reduce emissions and streamline operations, making electricity and heat use smarter and more sustainable.

Hitachi is also partnering with commercial and logistics operators to reimagine depots as green energy hubs. These sites could generate, store and even produce hydrogen, giving operators the chance to commercialize surplus energy, create new revenue streams and build resilience – all while taking meaningful steps towards sustainability.

Key takeaways: Rethink the depot: Treat depots as integrated energy and data hubs that actively manage cost, resilience and performance.

Improve continuously: Visibility across vehicles, energy and routes boosts ongoing process optimization.

Integrate for success: Energy, operations and data perform best when connected across platforms and supported by long-term partners.

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Digitalization – Turning data into advantage

Resilience in an uncertain world

Integrating energy, data

and operations

Energy hubs, logistics and process

improvement and data monetization

Decarbonizing with confidence

Logistics as critical

infrastructure

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The next five years represent a critical window for commercial and logistics operators. Decisions made during this period will shape cost structures, regulatory compliance and competitiveness for decades to come. Those who act decisively and strategically will turn complexity into long-term advantage.

How to approach transformation:

The next five years: A practical roadmap

Take stock of where you are Start by understanding current fleet, depots and energy operations. Know what’s working and where the gaps are so every next step is effective.

Lay the data foundations Bring fleets, depots and energy systems together into a connected, data-driven ecosystem. Establish robust analytics and AI capabilities to enable real-time insights and help teams make smarter decisions.

Test before you scale Pilot new initiatives like EV deployments, smart depot charging or energy management systems in controlled environments to validate performance and ROI.

Roll out with confidence Expand successful pilots across the fleet and network, connecting vehicles, depots, energy systems and software platforms to maximize efficiency and work together seamlessly.

Learning and continuous improvement are essential throughout this journey As technologies evolve and regulations shift, operators must adapt quickly to leverage operational data to refine processes and optimize outcomes. Transformation is not a one-off project; it is an ongoing evolution. Operators who plan thoughtfully, act decisively and iterate continuously will position themselves as leaders in the next generation of logistics, turning disruption into opportunity.

Key takeaways: Build from the ground up: it’s about having strong data foundations first and then scaling integrated energy and digital solutions.

Continually learn and adapt: Consistent evaluation and improvement is essential as technology, regulation and markets evolve.

Measure what matters: Success should be judged by uptime, service quality and resilience – not cost and carbon alone.

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Explore our offering below to see how you can energize your infrastructure and connect your operations. Let’s work together to transform commercial and logistics operations - today for tomorrow.

Wayside / DepotGrid

Data flow – integrating data from different assets across the whole system

Energy flow from grid to wheel

Vehicle

Business / Service

Manage fleets, charge vehicles, and protect assets

Optimize operational efficiency and passenger

experience

Manufacture, test, control and track vehicles

Snapshot of our solutions and services

Secure the energy supply for depots and fleets

Solutions

• Energy management

• Battery storage power stations (BESS)

• Microgrid integration

• Charging infrastructure

• Energy as a service

Solutions

• Semiconductor Manufacturing

• Vehicle components

• Factory automation

• In vehicle software

• Battery testing

• Vehicle intelligence (GPS etc)

Solutions

• Assets and workforce scheduling

• Warehousing and palletization

• Transport and route optimization

• Shipment visibility

• Omni-channel logistics

• Utilities and energy monitoring

Solutions

• Charging management

• Charging solutions

• Battery usage management

• Battery health and charge monitoring

• Battery as a service (BaaS)

• Asset fleet management

• Charge optimization

• SCADA asset management

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Unlocking what’s next Hitachi brings together expertise in energy, digital innovation and commercial mobility to support the transformation of logistics and fleet operations globally. From zero-emission fleet transitions and intelligent energy management to AI-powered operational insights and data-driven logistics optimization, our end-to-end solutions not only streamline operations but also reduce costs, improve efficiency and unlock new revenue in real-world commercial environments.

With Hitachi, operators can turn complexity into control, integrate fleets and depots, harness operational data and optimize every mile — powering the flow of commerce today while shaping a cleaner, smarter and more profitable future for the next generation of logistics.

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For more information visit: explore.hitachi.com/commercial-and-logistics

https://explore.hitachi.com/commercial-and-logistics https://explore.hitachi.com/commercial-and-logistics