As the person responsible for driving efficiency and innovation in logistics operations, you're no stranger to complexity: temperature-sensitive supply chains, strict compliance requirements, and intense cost pressure. You spot inefficiencies and tech opportunities every day — but turning those ideas into action means winning over leadership.
Convincing leadership to invest in technology isn’t about showcasing every feature or buzzword — it’s about clearly demonstrating value. Here’s how to prove the ROI of your tech initiatives in just 6 slides and show clear business value.
Slide 1: Present the problem (and what's costing you)
Start with a distinctive problem that leadership can’t ignore. Quantify how it affects the bottom line — in wasted fuel, labor hours, stockouts, or customer satisfaction.
Example:
“40% of outbound loads are scheduled manually — causing daily delays and an estimated $1.4M in excess annual freight costs.”
Tip: Tie the pain to performance KPIs: OTIF (on-time in-full), cost per shipment, spoilage rate, etc.
Slide 2: Mention what’s at stake
Highlight what could be gained — and what’s at risk by doing nothing. Frame this in business terms, not tech specs.
Better: “Optimizing route planning with predictive demand data could cut empty miles by 18%, reducing fuel costs and emissions.”
Avoid: “We want to integrate an AI-based routing engine.”
This slide should create urgency and excitement.
Slide 3: Propose the solution (Why this and why now)
Now bring in your proposed tech initiative — briefly. Focus on fit for logistics in your industry:
Is it proven to work in your industry?
Can it handle high variability and different needs?
Is it scalable across teams, locations, or geographies?
Example:
“We propose deploying [Tool X], already in use at [relevant peer or customer], with a proven track record reducing dispatch time by 30%.”
Slide 4: Show all calculations for ROI
This is your strongest slide. Use actual or benchmark data to model the return on investment (ROI).
Show where savings come from:
Fewer empty runs
Faster dock turnaround
Lower spoilage
Reduced overtime
+Bonus: Include sustainability gains (CO₂ reduction, fuel savings), especially important in food logistics.
Slide 5: How success will be measured
Outline how success will be measured — and how you’ll minimize disruption.
KPIs:
% empty miles
On-time delivery rate
Average shipment cost
Order lead time
% temperature violations
Risk example:
Risk: Warehouse team resists workflow changes
Mitigation: Cross-functional pilot at 1 site + SOP alignment with current operations
Slide 6: Present a clear plan and next steps
Close with a clear proposal and next steps:
Example:
Request: $300K investment for tech deployment across 3 regions
Timeline: Pilot in Q1, full rollout in 6 months
Decision needed by [date] to align with planning cycle
Make it easy for leadership to say “yes” by keeping the ask grounded and executable.
Turn your idea into reality
As a logistics engineer, your job is to connect operations with innovation. But to drive change, you need to speak the language of leadership: efficiency, ROI, and strategic value.
A well-crafted 6-slide deck turns your logistics tech pitch from a “nice idea” into a “must-do initiative.”
If you are looking for a template to start, download this slide deck template.
