As 2025 comes to a close, one theme stands out across the logistics world: change arrived faster than anyone expected.
The supply chain industry continued its rapid push toward AI intelligence, reshaping how teams analyze data, forecast costs, and respond to market shifts. Shippers faced new cost pressures, shifting carrier policies, and an increasingly complex delivery landscape. But alongside the uncertainty came innovation and new opportunities for teams willing to adapt.
We asked three Sifted leaders to share their biggest lessons from 2025 and what they believe will matter most in the year ahead.
Perseverance Defined 2025 for Shippers
Heather Guerry, SVP Client Experience & Operations
For Heather Guerry, 2025 can be summarized in a single word: perseverance.
Despite a year filled with unexpected challenges, she saw shippers make meaningful strides in controlling their parcel spend, often in areas that had long been overlooked.
“This year brought more challenges (and surprises) than most shippers expected, but it also revealed bigger opportunities to take control of their spend.”
—Heather Guerry, SVP Client Experience & Operations
Key themes stood out:
- Teams found new savings opportunities in address corrections, late fees, and other often-hidden cost drivers.
- Shippers began adopting SiftedAI more seamlessly, gaining clearer insights faster.
- Custom reports built in the Reporting Studio unlocked visibility that many teams had never had before.
- Excitement grew around SiftedAI Copilot, which will bring Agentic AI directly into the Sifted platform in 2026.
It was, as Heather put it, “a challenging year, but a transformative one.”
2025 Required Every Team to Pivot
Nick Giuliani, Director of Business Development & Partnerships
In Nick Giuliani’s first year at Sifted, one word captured the state of the industry: pivot.
“Flexibility mattered more than having the perfect plan, and that showed up in everything from how shippers made decisions to how our teams connected with them.”
—Nick Giuliani, Director of Business Development & Partnerships
Here are the insights Nick is carrying into 2026:
- Cold email has lost effectiveness as buyers gravitate toward personal, relevant outreach and tune out automated messages.
- Time spent with shippers at PARCEL Forum clarified their daily challenges and reinforced the importance of listening first.
- Direct phone conversations became more effective than email as inbox noise increased and teams sought faster paths to alignment.
- Acting early proved more valuable than reacting later, especially as tariffs and market shifts accelerated throughout the year.
A Year of Unrelenting Change in Parcel Shipping
Will Green, Principal Solutions Engineer
For Will Green, 2025 marked a new pace for the parcel industry’s evolution.
Carriers updated pricing and policies at a rate many shippers struggled to keep up with—from fuel adjustments to new additional handling criteria. And the landscape became even more dynamic as emerging carriers accelerated their growth.
“The speed of change has become a challenge in itself.”
—Will Green, Principal Solutions Engineer
Key trends from Will’s perspective:
- Shippers increasingly explored a diversified carrier mix. Companies like Amazon, UniUni, Uber, and DoorDash gained traction quickly.
- Internally, Sifted’s Solutions Engineering team expanded its impact, helping clients navigate complex environments.
- Product advancements in 2025 laid the foundation for even stronger decision-making next year. Expanded carrier support, Scenario Modeling enhancements, and the coming rollout of SiftedAI Copilot will give shippers tools designed for a world where conditions change weekly, not annually.
Despite a turbulent year, Will remains optimistic: innovation is accelerating, and shippers have more ways than ever to respond intelligently.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Across all three perspectives, the message is clear:
Visibility, agility, and data-driven decision-making will define the next chapter of parcel shipping.
As costs continue to shift and carrier networks evolve, the shippers who thrive will be the ones equipped with tools like SiftedAI that not only analyze the past but also anticipate what’s next. And with advancements like SiftedAI Copilot coming to the platform, teams will have an even deeper level of intelligence guiding their day-to-day operations.
How are you preparing for 2026?
If you’re rethinking your shipping strategy, planning for uncertainty, or looking for clearer visibility into your shipping profile, our team is here to help. Connect with one of our leaders to explore how SiftedAI can support your goals and strengthen your entry into the new year.
You can find Sifted experts on LinkedIn:
- Heather Guerry, SVP Client Experience & Operations
- Nick Giuliani, Director of Business Development & Partnerships
- Will Green, Principal Solutions Engineer
