SIBUR’s Digital Breakthrough in Logistics
Russia’s largest petrochemical holding, SIBUR, has completed a large-scale logistics digitalization project, connecting 98% of all company road shipments to an online monitoring system.
Revolution in the Operating Model
Before implementing the tracking system, SIBUR’s logistics staff collected vehicle location data manually each day, relying on constant phone calls to contractors. This created delays in informing customers. Now, routes are fully synchronized with the corporate ERP system, drivers receive automatic reminders to connect to tracking, and customers are instantly notified of any deviations from the delivery schedule.
The integration of Yandex Routing has enabled 98% coverage of shipments along the entire route from loading to unloading. Real-time cargo movement data has fundamentally changed the company’s customer service.
This breakthrough is one of the most striking examples of industrial digitalization in Russia. With minimal costs—less than 0.05% of the cost of a ton of product—the company achieved complete transparency of logistics processes and reduced cargo tracking time from three hours to just a few seconds. Within six months, the project evolved from a pilot test in Perm into a full-fledged digital ecosystem covering all of SIBUR’s sites.
Prospects for Digital Logistics
The successful implementation of SIBUR’s project opens broad prospects for the development of Russian IT solutions in logistics. The application of Yandex technologies in industry strengthens the potential of domestic platforms and creates opportunities for exporting expertise to friendly markets.
According to company plans, the share of tracked routes should rise to 100%, making SIBUR’s case a benchmark for other major players.
The company’s example is spurring the adoption of real-time technologies, ERP integrations, and digital traceability across other industrial enterprises. This is raising the overall technological level of Russia’s logistics sector, which in 2025 is rethinking pricing models and seeking cost reductions through digitalization and business process automation.
The domestic application of such solutions has enormous potential. Other industrial companies are already using this case as a standard, introducing tracking, routing, automated notifications, and analytics directly into ERP environments. Integration with warehouse and transportation management systems allows the creation of comprehensive digital platforms that unite all links of the logistics chain.
Digital Transformation of the Industry
Over the past five years, Russian logistics has shown a steady trend toward digitalization and technology integration. WMS warehouse management systems, TMS transport platforms, IoT solutions, and artificial intelligence are being actively implemented by the largest logistics operators.
According to research by Skolkovo and IT holding T1, 47% of Russian companies are already using RPA technologies to automate routine processes, 42% employ machine learning for analytics, and 40% have adopted digital twins to optimize operations.
SberLogistics, Ozon, and Wildberries have become pioneers in adopting intelligent systems for optimizing warehouses and routes.
Wildberries has automated 30% of warehouse processes and plans to reach 70%, investing 150 billion rubles (about USD 1.7 billion) in 2024 in digitalization, with plans to double this to 300 billion rubles (about USD 3.3 billion) in 2025.
Ozon is developing its own robotics lab to create conveyor control systems and software capable of handling 3.7 million items per day.
Globally, the digital logistics market is experiencing explosive growth—from USD 33.5 billion in 2023 to a projected USD 67 billion by 2032, at an average annual growth rate of 20%. The logistics automation systems market is expected to reach USD 78.2 billion in 2025, with 40% of spending coming from North America. Adoption of electronic shipping documents is also gaining momentum—by 2030, digital documents are expected to cover 90% of the market, with a fourfold increase already projected for 2025.
The Future of Integrated Digital Logistics
SIBUR’s real-time tracking project confirms that digitalization has become a critical tool for ensuring the resilience and efficiency of modern business. Integration with ERP systems brings transparency, automates processes, and reduces the impact of human error. With minimal investments, companies achieve significant operational and economic efficiency.
Industry forecasts indicate an accelerated rollout of real-time tracking, ERP integrations, and intelligent routing in industrial logistics systems. The development of digital platforms incorporating TMS, WMS, IoT, and artificial intelligence is becoming standard among major players. Experts estimate that the logistics digital twins market will grow by 25.7% annually, reaching multibillion-dollar volumes by 2032.
The rapid transition to electronic document management is laying the foundation for a comprehensive digital infrastructure as an industry standard. Russia’s logistics sector now has the opportunity not only to catch up with global leaders but also to create unique technological solutions capable of competing internationally and ensuring the country’s technological independence in this critical field.
