Author: Tom Raftery
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Your Supply-Chain AI Pilot Worked. So Why Didn’t It Scale?
This post examines why supply-chain AI pilots often fail to deliver lasting value, focusing on the importance of operational capability over technical success. Based on 43 interviews, it identifies key mechanisms like data production and decision authority, emphasising that without proper integration and organisational support, even successful models can falter.
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The Visibility Trap: Why Seeing More Does Not Make Supply Chains Resilient
Despite significant investments in technology, businesses often fail to act effectively on incoming data due to various operational hurdles. Resilience requires not just visibility, but proper decision-making, accountability, and action to enhance operational performance.
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The Supply Chain Transformation Isn’t the Technology
Researchers analysed interviews from a podcast archive of over 400 episodes, revealing that technology alone does not ensure supply chain sustainability. Instead, management practices, such as sustainable risk management and collaboration, were crucial for achieving outcomes. The study urges leaders to focus on management problems and the appropriate technology needed to address them.
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AI Is Not Software. It Is Infrastructure
Water disputes highlight the urgent need for sustainable practices amid increasing AI infrastructure demands. With AI moving from a technology-driven focus to an infrastructure and governance concern, organisations must integrate sustainability into their AI strategies. This careful approach can mitigate risks related to energy use, water scarcity, and community impact.
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How I Produce Two Professional Podcasts Every Week: My Podcast Workflow
There is a myth that interviews are the core of podcasting, whereas the real work lies in the comprehensive production process, from guest selection to post-production. My workflow has evolved, adapting to the changing landscape of podcasting, and underscores the importance of consistency, quality control, and continuous improvement in podcast production.
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Carbon Data Is Becoming Permission to Sell
The landscape of corporate sustainability is shifting, as poor carbon data now impacts product viability and market access. With regulations like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, accurate carbon data is essential. Companies must embed this data into operations and decision-making to remain competitive and compliant.
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Bad Emissions Data Is Now a Supply Chain Risk
In Spain, rising olive oil prices due to climate impact have highlighted the urgency of credible emissions data for businesses. As emissions data influences financial costs, customer trust, and talent retention, companies must prioritise accurate reporting. Effective strategies involve utilising primary data, addressing Scope 3 emissions, and embedding carbon considerations into decision-making processes.
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Ireland’s Nuclear Power Debate Has a Grid Problem
Ireland is having a nuclear power debate. While rising energy costs prompt discussions for a nuclear solution, the country’s grid configuration and demand patterns make nuclear impractical. Instead, investment in renewables, energy flexibility, and grid enhancements offers a more viable pathway for Ireland’s energy future, aligning with clean and resilient solutions.