This is the story of how a global giant in the transportation and logistics industry is proactively addressing the increasing demand for AI while ensuring that AI-based product development and AI usage in DSV is responsible, secure and compliant.
It’s early 2024 and it occurs to Thomas Zakarias, CISO at DSV, that AI tools are already everywhere. In business analytics and DSV’s own digital products.
The rapid proliferation of generative AI in 2023 had been met with the usual entrepreneurial optimism and enthusiasm in DSV, a publicly listed Danish giant in the transportation and logistics industry. Why? For the simple reason that DSV’s competitive advantage relies as much on the digital products and services it provides, as on the physical transportation of goods.
DSV was obviously eager to embrace AI and unleash its potential in the organisation. Empowering both developer teams in charge of digital services, as well as other employees, could be a game changer.
But from a CISO perspective, it was also important to have information and data security under control.
No Track & Trace
Without a common playbook or security controls, the AI tools being used in DSV were like goods in transit with no way of tracking or tracing: Impossible to manage at scale! Even if the goods weren’t necessarily dangerous or lost.
And as always in DSV, business was moving fast and fully focused on fulfilling customer needs for transport and logistics across the global – on land, sea and in the air.
So, the question seemed to be: Should the DSV leadership pull the hand break on AI – or risk not being in control?
DSV is a global leader in transport and logistics, providing dependable freight forwarding and supply chain solutions to major industrial and commercial clients worldwide.
The model that made it simple
DSV was serious about protecting the company from both internal and external threats. But how could they achieve this without killing momentum and the monumental potential of AI in the organisation?
In an introductory meeting with VENZO, DSV was presented with a five-part AI Governance model consisting of AI Literacy, Risk Management, Governance, Security and Compliance.
It was a model that taps into the foundational, operational, tactical and strategic levels of AI Governance that are all necessary to unlock the real value of AI.
But simple as it was, it was exactly what DSV needed to plan and communicate what had to be done.
The battle of priorities
Shortly afterwards, and with the support of VENZO, DSV established an AI Governance Board – a small group of five representatives charged with unfolding the AI governance model and paving the way for future developments.
DSV’s size and critical importance to supply chains across the globe made the task seem even more important. And the speed of development in AI made it even more urgent.
The mandate was now clear. But unfortunately, clarity on paper doesn’t always make execution easy.
The most difficult part was allocating enough of the right resources to the challenge.
The fact that most surplus time and energy in DSV was concentrated on successfully integrating newly acquired DB Schenker’s many customers and eighty thousand employees, into the family, meant that the new AI Governance Board had to choose and plan their route carefully.
Green lights
Together with VENZO, the board set about prioritising initiatives.
The first big initiative was a new Risk Assessment approach for AI models. These new control steps were specifically designed for AI models, and VENZO made sure that the risk analysis and documentation required for vendor selection meant that new models were synchronised with the policies and risk profiles established by the new governance board.
The control steps are also set to be integrated into DSV’s well-established “Inbound Process” for IT application approvals.
Building on existing processes makes it easier and quicker for DSV’s development teams to get the necessary green lights.
However, a governance model and updated processes wasn’t enough. Everyone in DSV would have to understand AI, and how to use it responsibly.
"Implementing AI governance, supported by VENZO, has provided DSV with predictable control over a rapidly evolving technology. By embedding AI‑specific risk management and clear decision rights into our existing intake and audit processes, we accelerate innovation with confidence, knowing what is running where, and that it aligns with our policies and regulatory obligations."
Thomas Zakarias, CISO & Head of Group IT Compliance at DSV
AI literacy success
So, together with HR, they launched an AI literacy programme for the majority of DSV’s workforce.
A 30-minute scenario-based training designed to answer, equip and empower employees in DSV with a deeper understanding of AI.
Everyone had high hopes, but moderate expectations, as they geared down and prepared for summer vacation.
But over the summer something remarkable happened.
Within just a few months, more than 41,000 employees had completed the AI training. An 89 percent adoption rate, without escalation to or any other heavy-handed enforcement.
It seemed that regular employees were as eager to support the responsible use of AI as Thomas. And not only that. The average score was 9.7 out of 10, indicating both a high degree of curiosity, but also a willingness to properly understand the power and potential of AI.
Predictability achieved
There is still work to be done, but the AI Governance Board now meets regularly, confident that DSV has the governance and knowledge necessary to stay on track while accelerating integration and innovation.
Risk assessments are tailored to the new reality of constantly evolving AI models. Audit processes are being aligned to future regulations. And a massive AI literacy push has helped the entire workforce in DSV understand the dos and don’ts of AI.
By December 2025, DSV had established a way of managing AI, both current and future models, without touching the hand brake or even taking the foot off the accelerator.
The future of AI is unpredictable, but now DSV can rely on the AI Governance Board to know exactly what is going on in DSV.
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