Cognizant is widening its footprint in global logistics, announcing an expanded partnership with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a leading provider of Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) shipping and finished vehicle logistics.

Under the new agreement, Cognizant will deliver technology services spanning core applications and infrastructure—effectively moving from service vendor to strategic digital partner. The goal: modernize legacy systems, streamline digital operations, and help Wallenius Wilhelmsen sharpen its positioning as an integrated supply chain provider.

For an industry built on physical movement—cars, heavy machinery, rolling cargo—the next competitive frontier is increasingly digital.

From IT Support to Strategic Partner

While financial terms were not disclosed, the scope signals a deeper level of integration. Cognizant will support core business applications and underlying infrastructure, areas that directly influence operational efficiency, data visibility, and customer experience.

That shift is significant.

Core application modernization is rarely cosmetic. It often involves untangling decades-old systems, rationalizing overlapping platforms, and migrating workloads to cloud or hybrid environments. For global shipping and logistics companies, the stakes are particularly high: downtime or integration failures can ripple across ports, terminals, and supply chain partners worldwide.

Saket Gulati, SVP and Head of Northern Europe at Cognizant, framed the move as a natural progression in a long-term relationship—transitioning from delivering discrete services to supporting Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s broader digital ambitions.

The emphasis on “modernizing legacy portfolios” and introducing “practical AI-driven efficiencies” suggests the mandate goes beyond infrastructure stability. It points to automation, analytics, and possibly predictive optimization layered on top of core logistics systems.

AI Moves Deeper Into Maritime Logistics

AI adoption in supply chain management has accelerated since the pandemic exposed structural fragilities in global logistics networks. Shipping lines, ports, and logistics operators are increasingly turning to machine learning for route optimization, demand forecasting, capacity planning, and document automation.

For a RoRo specialist like Wallenius Wilhelmsen—whose operations revolve around moving finished vehicles and rolling equipment efficiently—digital precision matters. Scheduling inefficiencies, documentation delays, or siloed data can quickly erode margins.

By embedding AI capabilities into core systems rather than treating them as standalone pilots, Cognizant’s expanded role could help Wallenius Wilhelmsen operationalize intelligence at scale.

That approach aligns with a broader industry pattern: AI initiatives that live outside core systems tend to stall. AI embedded into ERP, fleet management, and customer portals has a better chance of reshaping daily workflows.

Building an Integrated Supply Chain Model

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has been positioning itself as more than a shipping company—aiming to operate as an integrated supply chain partner. That evolution requires end-to-end visibility across ocean transport, inland logistics, processing centers, and customer interfaces.

Richard Åstrand, SVP Digital Strategy Lead at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, underscored the need for collaborators who understand the business and can drive efficiency without introducing unnecessary complexity.

In practice, that means harmonizing systems across geographies, ensuring data consistency, and enabling real-time insights for customers and internal teams alike.

For Cognizant, the deal reinforces its strategy of embedding deeply within enterprise clients, particularly in asset-heavy industries undergoing digital reinvention. IT services firms are under pressure to demonstrate tangible business outcomes—reduced operating costs, faster cycle times, improved resilience—rather than simply delivering technical upgrades.

The Competitive Context

The global logistics and maritime sector is in the midst of a technology reset. Major players are investing in:

• Cloud migration to replace aging on-premise systems

• Automation to reduce manual documentation and customs processing

• Predictive analytics to manage capacity and disruptions

• Cybersecurity upgrades as attack surfaces expand

As shipping becomes more data-driven, IT partners that can manage both foundational infrastructure and forward-looking AI initiatives stand to gain strategic influence.

For Cognizant, expanding within an established client signals confidence in its ability to deliver at scale. For Wallenius Wilhelmsen, it’s a bet that digital modernization—done pragmatically—can strengthen its competitive edge in a volatile global trade environment.

The takeaway: in maritime logistics, digital transformation is no longer about incremental upgrades. It’s about rebuilding the core while layering intelligence on top.

And in that race, partnerships matter as much as platforms.

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