AI Can Help with Routing-But It Can’t Fix a Broken Process

Your Routing Process Matters More Than AI

AI in logistics is like a GPS in your car. It can guide you on the fastest route, avoid traffic, and reroute when needed. But if the car has no fuel, the engine is faulty, or the road is blocked, even the smartest GPS won’t get you there.

The same applies to supply chains. AI routing tools can optimize paths and reduce costs, but if your data is scattered, your visibility is poor, or your processes are broken, the results will still fall short.

That’s why the smartest logistics leaders don’t just ask, “Which AI tool should we use?”

Instead, they ask, “Are our processes strong enough for AI to make a real difference?”

At Cozentus, we believe AI creates real value only when the foundation is strong. This includes data, visibility, and operational clarity. Because AI can help with routing, but it can’t fix a process that is broken.

AI Alone Won’t Solve Broken Operations

AI is like a skilled driver. But if the map is outdated, the fuel tank is leaking, and the road is blocked, even the best driver won’t get you there on time.

In logistics, the "map" is your process. If your shipment visibility is fragmented, if your planning and execution are not connected, or if your teams are working in silos, AI routing tools will only highlight the cracks, not close them.

For example:

• AI may recommend a route that looks the best, but if your warehouse is still struggling with inventory issues, shipments won’t even leave on time.
• AI may suggest switching carriers, but if you don’t have a centralized BI system to evaluate performance and costs across carriers, that decision could backfire.

Routing is just one piece of the logistics puzzle. The real challenge is creating a seamless flow of information and decisions across the supply chain.

Real Value Lies in Centralized BI and Operational Clarity

A routing engine becomes truly valuable only when it sits on top of reliable, centralized intelligence. Business Intelligence (BI) in logistics is not just about dashboards - it’s about connecting the dots across planning, execution, and decision-making.

• See all shipments in one place - not in ten different systems.
• Track carrier performance, costs, and exceptions in real-time.
• Predict not only where a truck should go, but also where risks may occur.
• Make decisions with data-backed clarity, instead of gut feeling.

Cozentus brings clarity to messy data, unifies it, and builds a platform for smarter decisions. Routing, risk monitoring, testing, or shipment visibility - they all rely on the same foundation: clean, connected processes.

Pain Points That Executives Often Ignore

When speaking with senior logistics leaders, a common theme emerges: they want faster results, but the underlying bottlenecks often get ignored. Here are some pain points AI alone cannot fix:

• Data Silos – Routing depends on shipment data, warehouse data, carrier data, and more. If these don’t talk to each other, even AI won’t know what’s happening.
• Lack of Real-Time Visibility – You can’t optimize what you can’t see. If your visibility is delayed by hours or days, routing suggestions come too late.
• Reactive Operations – Most teams fix issues only after they occur. AI may alert you to a disruption, but if your process is broken, the response will be slow.
• Disconnected Planning and Execution – The plan may look great on paper, but if execution tools don’t align, routing becomes a short-term fix, not a long-term gain.

These challenges require more than algorithms. They require a structured process, along with the right BI and visibility tools.

How Leaders Should Use AI in Logistics

Senior executives often ask, “Where should I use AI first?” The answer is: use AI where your processes are already strong.

AI is an amplifier. It makes good processes great and bad processes worse. So before deploying an AI routing engine, ask:

• Do we have accurate, real-time shipment data?
• Do our teams trust a single source of truth, or are they reconciling Excel files?
• Do we know which carriers and routes consistently deliver?
• Can our system handle exceptions, not just averages?

When these answers are clear, AI becomes a game-changer. When they aren’t, AI just adds complexity.

Fix the Foundation First

At Cozentus, we work with global supply chains and logistics teams facing these exact challenges. Our approach is simple but powerful:

• Centralize the Data – We unify your shipment, carrier, and operational data into a single, reliable source of truth.
• Bring Visibility – We give your teams real-time dashboards, predictive alerts, and clear insights into what’s happening across shipments.
• Enable Decision-Making – With BI tools tailored to logistics, leaders can see not just “what went wrong,” but also “what to do next.”
• Add AI Where It Matters – Once the foundation is solid, AI-driven routing, demand forecasting, and exception handling create measurable improvements.

This sequence ensures that AI isn’t solving issues; it’s driving lasting, long-term transformation.

Why Centralized BI Is the Game-Changer

Let’s zoom in on BI for a moment.

The old way: each department pulls its own reports. Operations has shipment logs. Finance has cost breakdowns. Sales has customer complaints. Leaders spend hours reconciling, and decisions are delayed.

The new way with centralized BI:

• Every leader sees one version of the truth.
• Routing suggestions are backed by carrier performance data.
• Exception alerts are linked to financial impact.
• Teams spend less time collecting reports and more time acting on them.

This shift is what separates companies that just use AI for the sake of it from those that truly gain value from it.

Real-World Example: AI Routing vs. Broken Process

Consider a logistics company that introduced AI-powered routing to cut costs. The system optimized miles and saved fuel, but customer complaints about delays increased.

Why?

Because the warehouse team was still dealing with inaccurate order picking. The shipments left late, making even the best route irrelevant.

When the company worked on process clarity (i.e., fixing data flows, enabling real-time visibility, and integrating warehouse performance into BI), the routing AI finally started showing results.

The lesson: AI enhances whatever your process is, whether it is stronger or weaker.

Final Word: Build Strong Processes, Then Add AI

AI is not a magic wand. It is a powerful tool, but only when processes and data are aligned. In logistics, this means fixing the foundation, which includes data integration, real-time visibility, and centralized BI.

Routing engines, predictive alerts, and optimization tools are valuable, but they cannot replace process clarity.

For senior executives, the priority should be:

• Build connected processes.
• Ensure data accuracy and centralization.
• Empower teams with visibility and BI.

Then, use AI to scale efficiency and resilience.

At Cozentus, we help companies achieve exactly that. We help transform broken processes into intelligent, connected operations where AI can truly thrive.

Because at the end of the day, AI can help with routing - but it can’t fix a broken process.

Ready to discuss your challenges with us? Here’s our contact info !