New experimental estimates from the OECD indicate that digital trade comprised one-quarter of all exports across its member countries in 2023. This figure underscores the growing importance of digital technologies in shaping global commerce. Historically, the focus has predominantly been on digitally delivered trade, which involves services or goods transmitted electronically. However, these new estimates suggest that digitally ordered trade, where goods are ordered online but delivered physically, holds comparable significance.
For freight forwarders and logistics professionals, this trend signifies a continued shift towards e-commerce and digital platforms driving a substantial portion of international freight volumes. The rise of digitally ordered trade implies sustained demand for efficient last-mile delivery, integrated visibility solutions, and robust cross-border logistics infrastructure to handle the physical movement of goods initiated through digital channels. This could lead to increased pressure on carriers and forwarders to offer seamless digital booking, tracking, and customs clearance processes to cater to the evolving needs of digitally-driven supply chains.