Applications Of Artificial Intelligence In The Supply Chain

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Supply chain management accounts to a huge portion when it comes to the finances of a manufacturing or a logistics-driven business. Even the smallest improvements can make the flow more fluid which can result to more efficient processes, increased productivity, higher yield, or more deliveries. With today’s supply chain becoming more advanced, companies have turned to artificial intelligence to help manage their supply chain. Here are some useful applications of AI in the supply chain.

AI can augment certain processes in a way that benefits their human counterparts. There are some functions that simply take humans too much time to do such as complex computations or data analysis. AI can be employed in these situations to reduce errors and risks.

Automating machines help reduce human errors to almost zero in the supply chain. By removing human workers from the equation, this can bring work-related risks to an all-time low. This also makes the workplace much safer for people who operate these automated machines.

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Automated machines can also work non-stop which can boost productivity even further. It can have the capacity to monitor itself and alert people in charge if there is any problem in the system.

Lastly, AI can be used to help managers create forecast strategies based on existing data. This can very well optimize supply chain decision-making.

Eddie O'Brien is the CEO of the Americas at Arvato Bertelsmann, overseeing the growth and execution of a multibillion-dollar business that delivers a host of BPO services including SCM, CRM, financial and IT solutions. He worked for several multinational companies in locations as varied as Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Spain. For more reads on technology, visit this

Notable supply chain management trends for 2018

With customers now having access to the limitless amount of information and choices, businesses need to stay ahead of the curve. One way of doing so is to be aware of supply chain management trends that are expected in 2018. Some of them are listed below: 

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• Going digital: More and more companies now realize that they have to transition their supply chain into digital to make it more intelligent, scalable, and efficient. With brands becoming more transparent nowadays, a digital supply chain management strategy also boosts to their competitive advantage. 

•  Artificial intelligence: Some of the world’s largest companies have begun to use AI as part of their supply management strategies. Examples of these are Facebook, Google, Apple, and Tesla. Mark Zuckerberg explains the strategy, “You can think of it kind of like Jarvis in Iron Man.” There are companies that also already utilize such technology, in the form of machine vision and robotics in industrial applications, such as warehousing. By 2021, it is expected that one in four large global companies will be using AI automation or AI-powered assistants in SCM. 

•  Elastic logistics: Demand and market fluctuations means there are business operations that have to be flexible or agile. In 2018, many experts predict that elastic logistics will make its way to countless companies. 

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Edmund O' Brien has had a long and storied career working for many international companies, including Arthur Anderson, Coca-Cola, Reckitt Benckiser, and Microsoft. For more business insights, follow this Facebook page.

Optimizing Business Efficiency: Recommended SCM Solutions

A business owner or manager must know everything going on in his company, and should have easy access to pertinent information. He or she should get a good look at environments both internal and external to the business. That is where supply chain management comes in, since it mainly involves the oversight of materials, information, logistics, and finances upon which entire operations and production rests. SCM traces the path of such materials from the supplier to the business, from wholesaler to retailer, and finally, the consumer.

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The entire concept is simple, but in practice, it is mired in details and a surfeit of information. CEOs often struggle with handling supply chain methods. Furthermore, they are not always equipped with the necessary information to compute increasing profitability within the supply chain. For this reason, supply chain management software has been created and developed.

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There are numerous supply chain management software in the market for SMEs, but among them, the most recommended would be Oracle, Blue Ridge, and GAINsystems. Oracle offers an impressive and comprehensive repertoire, with over 420,000 customers and deployments in more than 145 countries. Included in their package is the E-Business Suite, ERP, and retail offerings.

Blue Ridge, meanwhile, is a cloud-based planning platform, making it a favorite among retailers and distributors. They determine customer demand forecasts with the bonus of creating a precise plan of meeting demands. GAINSystems uses an advanced planning and profit optimization method with their technology which will allow businesses to identify improvements and adopt these, with room for adjustments and transitions.

Edmund O' Brien is the CEO of the Americas at Arvato Bertelsmann. He oversees the multibillion-dollar BPO services (including SCM, CRM, financial and IT solutions) provider's operations in several countries. For similar articles, visit this page.