Insider Spotlight
Speaking during the Logistics Services Philippines Conference & Exhibit 2026 on May 6, FAST chief information officer Leo Sacamos Jr. said outdated and largely manual logistics systems continue to limit operational efficiency and increase supply chain costs nationwide.
Why it matters
The logistics sector plays a critical role in supporting trade, retail, manufacturing, and e-commerce growth in the Philippines.
Industry leaders said digitalization could help reduce transport inefficiencies, improve shipment visibility, and strengthen supply chain resiliency amid rising customer expectations and operational disruptions.
“Digitalization is a major turning point for logistics. It enables agility and resiliency,” Sacamos said in a press statement on May 8, 2026. “At FAST’s scale, with more than one million pallet positions across 160 hubs and over 3,100 transport assets nationwide, technology is what allows us to stay agile, responsive, and operationally synchronized,” he added.
The big picture
Sacamos said blockchain technology could improve traceability, transparency, and transaction security across supply chains, but broader adoption would require enabling policies, stronger government support, and expanded digital infrastructure.
He joined Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda and Blockchain Council of the Philippines founding president Donald Lim during panel discussions on logistics digitalization and emerging technologies.
FAST highlighted long-standing transport inefficiencies that continue to increase logistics costs across the industry.
Around 70 percent of trucks in the Philippines still return empty after completing deliveries, while trucks delivering fast-moving consumer goods to retail stores operate at only 32 percent to 42 percent capacity, according to Sacamos.
“In logistics, inefficiency always translates into higher costs somewhere down the chain, and eventually consumers feel that impact,” he said.
“When trucks run empty on return trips or operate below capacity, we are wasting fuel, time, and resources.”
What FAST is doing
FAST said digital tools and analytics can help improve fleet visibility, identify backhaul opportunities, and optimize delivery networks.
The company is transitioning from its in-house Transport Management System to FarEye’s logistics technology platform to improve route optimization, shipment visibility, and customer experience.
FAST is also deploying AI-powered dashcams, Warehouse Management Systems, and Honeywell-powered Voice-Pick Technology across its operations.
“Technology and AI should remove repetitive and manual work so people can focus on higher-value and more strategic decision-making,” Sacamos said. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
