Tag: artificial intelligence

Meet the AI-Enabled Supply Chain: KlearNow’s Rick Tellez Explains How It’s Transforming Logistics

As a supply chain enthusiast and host of the Digital Supply Chain podcast, I’m always fascinated by the ever-evolving role of technology in the industry. In a recent conversation with Rick Tellez, Founder of KlearNow, I was reminded of the power of AI to simplify customs processes and address labor shortages in the logistics sector.

Customs brokers and logistics professionals have long grappled with the complexity of managing shipments, documentation, and compliance across borders. With the advent of AI and advanced data analytics, we are now seeing a significant shift in the way these processes are managed. By leveraging AI-driven platforms like KlearNow, customs brokers can streamline their operations and better serve their clients.

During our podcast episode, Rick shared how KlearNow’s platform provides real-time visibility into the customs process, allowing for more informed decision-making and greater efficiency. This level of transparency is crucial in a world where supply chain disruptions have become increasingly common, and businesses need access to accurate, up-to-date information to navigate these challenges.

One of the key benefits of using AI to simplify customs processes is its ability to address labor shortages in the industry. With the global economy facing unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, companies are under more pressure than ever to maintain efficient operations with limited resources. By automating certain tasks and providing data-driven insights, AI-driven solutions can help customs brokers and logistics professionals do more with less.

Rick recounted a customer success story from a multinational chemical company that adopted KlearNow’s platform. The company quickly recognized the value of the platform’s centralized reporting, data analytics, and real-time visibility, which allowed them to expand their use of the platform across multiple business units and divisions. This success story highlights the potential of AI to not only simplify customs processes but also to bring about a paradigm shift in how supply chains are managed.

Incorporating AI-driven solutions in the logistics industry has the potential to improve work-life balance for customs brokers and logistics professionals. As Rick mentioned in our conversation, many employees in the sector are incredibly loyal and take pride in their work. By providing them with powerful tools that can streamline their workload, companies can help their employees achieve a better balance between their professional and personal lives.

As supply chain professionals, it’s essential that we stay informed about the latest technological advancements and embrace the potential of AI to transform our industry. By leveraging AI-driven solutions like KlearNow, we can simplify customs processes, address labor shortages, and ultimately create more resilient, efficient, and transparent supply chains.

I encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode with Rick Tellez, where we dive deeper into the power of AI in simplifying customs processes and addressing labor shortages in the logistics industry. As we continue to explore the role of technology in supply chain management, I invite you to join me in this ongoing conversation and share your thoughts on how AI can shape the future of our industry.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with others who may be interested. And as always, if you find the podcast of value, and you’d like to help me continue to make episodes like this one, you can go to the podcast’s Support page and become a Digital Supply Chain podcast Supporter for less than the cost of a cup of coffee!

And if you’re interested in having your brand associated with the leading Supply Chain podcast, don’t hesitate to check out these sponsorship packages and how I can help your company gain exposure and establish yourself as a thought leader in the supply chain industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you!

Photo credit Merlijn Hoek on Flickr

Unleashing the Power of ChatGPT and AI in Supply Chain

As the host of the Digital Supply Chain podcast, I am always on the lookout for innovative ways to improve and streamline the supply chain process. That’s why I was excited to welcome Doug Marinaro from Riptide on the latest episode to discuss the potential uses of ChatGPT and AI in the supply chain. And for the first time, a video version of this podcast is available at https://youtu.be/UB8HQ-ZfjYo

ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by OpenAI, has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach supply chain management. In our conversation, Doug and I dive into the various ways that ChatGPT can be utilized in the supply chain, from helping to streamline communication and decision-making processes to providing data analysis and even helping with forecasting and planning.

One of the most exciting potential uses of ChatGPT in the supply chain is its ability to improve communication. The model’s advanced language capabilities can help supply chain professionals quickly and efficiently respond to customer inquiries and provide insightful and professional responses to emails. This not only saves time, but also helps to ensure that all communication is well thought out and professional.

Another potential use of ChatGPT in the supply chain is its ability to provide data analysis and insights. With its advanced language and analytical capabilities, ChatGPT can help supply chain professionals quickly and accurately analyze large amounts of data to make informed decisions. This can be particularly useful in areas such as demand forecasting, where ChatGPT can help predict future demand for products based on historical data and current market trends.

In addition to its data analysis capabilities, ChatGPT can also help with planning and decision-making in the supply chain. By providing real-time data and insights, ChatGPT can help supply chain professionals make informed decisions about everything from inventory management to production scheduling.

Despite its many potential uses, ChatGPT is still a relatively new technology, and there are certainly some challenges to be addressed. For example, there have been some concerns about the accuracy of the model’s responses, particularly when dealing with complex questions. However, as Doug mentioned in our conversation, these issues are being addressed through updates and improvements to the model, and the future looks bright for ChatGPT and its potential uses in the supply chain.

In conclusion, the potential uses of ChatGPT and AI in the supply chain are exciting and wide-ranging. From improving communication to providing data analysis and insights, there are many ways that ChatGPT can help streamline and improve the supply chain process. If you’re interested in learning more about the potential uses of ChatGPT and AI in the supply chain, I highly encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the Digital Supply Chain podcast.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with others who may be interested. And as always, if you find the podcast of value, and you’d like to help me continue to make episodes like this one, you can go to the podcast’s Support page and become a Digital Supply Chain podcast Supporter for less than the cost of a cup of coffee!

And if you’re interested in having your brand associated with the leading Supply Chain podcast, don’t hesitate to check out these sponsorship packages and how I can help your company gain exposure and establish yourself as a thought leader in the supply chain industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you!

Making Waves in International Trade: The Benefits of AI in Simplifying Customs Processes

Hello everyone! As the host of the Digital Supply Chain podcast, I’ve been exploring the latest trends and innovations in the world of supply chain management and logistics. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Oscar Morales, the CEO of Sifty, a company that is leading the charge in the use of AI and ML to simplify customs processes for customs brokers and improve efficiency in international trade.

In our conversation, Oscar highlighted the importance of data and the role it plays in the logistics industry. He explained that the more data that is shared about the various variables involved in an import/export transaction, the better the AI systems can become. This is because the more information that is fed into these systems, the better the outcome will be. This is why Sifty is dedicated to curating data automatically to extract the relevant information and provide its customers with actionable insights.

One of the major pain points that customs brokers face is the time-consuming and often complicated process of clearing goods through customs. Sifty is changing this by using AI and ML to automate many of the tasks that were once performed manually. This not only saves time, but it also reduces the risk of errors, making the entire process more efficient and streamlined.

Oscar also discussed the potential of the “digital ecosystem” in the logistics industry and how Sifty is working towards becoming the “operating system of the logistics industry”. By connecting with other participants in the industry and sharing data, Sifty is able to create better products and offer its customers a set of interconnected AI solutions to increase their efficiency.

One of the key takeaways from my conversation with Oscar is that Sifty is all about efficiency. The company produces software to decrease the time spent on certain bottlenecks in the customs process and make it easier for customs brokers. Sifty uses a lot of machine learning and advanced technologies, but it also works with humans, as the human element is critical for the efficiency of the technology to be effective.

Another important point that Oscar made was that there is often a fear surrounding AI and how it may replace jobs in various industries. However, he believes that this is not the case with Sifty. In fact, Sifty needs humans to be successful, as they play a crucial role in ensuring that the technology is used effectively.

In conclusion, the use of AI and ML in the customs process is a game-changer for customs brokers and those involved in international trade. By simplifying the process and reducing the risk of errors, companies can save time and increase efficiency, leading to increased revenue. If you’re a supply chain professional, I highly recommend checking out Sifty and learning more about the incredible work they’re doing in this space. And of course, be sure to listen to the podcast episode with Oscar Morales to hear more about this exciting topic!

If you enjoy this episode, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with others who may be interested. And as always, if you find the podcast of value, and you’d like to help me continue to make episodes like this one, you can go to the podcast’s Support page and become a Digital Supply Chain podcast Supporter for less than the cost of a cup of coffee!

And if you’re interested in having your brand associated with the leading Supply Chain podcast, don’t hesitate to check out these sponsorship packages and how I can help your company gain exposure and establish yourself as a thought leader in the supply chain industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you!

Photo credit Shawn Harquail on Flickr

5 Ways to Make Your Supply Chain More Sustainable

As the world becomes more digitized, companies are under increasing pressure to improve the sustainability of their supply chains. Here are 5 ways to make your supply chain more sustainable, from using artificial intelligence to increasing visibility.

  1. Use AI to stay ahead of emissions regulations.
    As climate change continues to be a pressing global issue, emissions regulations are only going to become more strict. Use artificial intelligence to stay up-to-date on the latest emissions regulations and ensure that your company is compliant. AI can also help you identify ways to reduce your emissions and improve your overall sustainability.
  2. Increase visibility into your supply chain.
    Visibility is key to managing a sustainable supply chain. You need to know where your materials are coming from, how they’re being produced, and where they’re going after they leave your facility. By tracking this information, you can make changes to reduce your carbon footprint and improve overall sustainability.
  3. Make sustainability a priority for suppliers.
    Sustainability should be a key criteria when choosing suppliers. Working with supplier who share your commitment to sustainability will help you further reduce your carbon footprint and have a positive impact on the environment.
  4. Invest in renewable energy sources.
    Investing in renewable energy sources is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your supply chain. Solar and wind power are becoming increasingly cost-effective, so now is the time to make the switch! Not only will this help the environment, but it will also save you money in the long run.
  5. Educate employees on sustainability practices.
    Your employees play a big role in making your supply chain more sustainable. Educate them on best practices and encourage them to come up with new ideas on how to improve sustainability throughout the entire organization. Creating a culture of sustainability will help facilitate lasting change that benefits both the environment and the bottom line!


There’s no question that sustainability is important for businesses today. But with so many different aspects of supply chain management to consider, it can be difficult to know where to start! By following these 5 tips, you can make your supply chain more sustainable and better prepared for the future!

If you’d like to know more about supply chains and sustainability, don’t forget to check out my Digital Supply Chain podcast – the number one podcast focussing on the digitisation of supply chains

Photo credit Rab Lawrence

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Jobs

My role here at SAP is IoT Evangelist. It’s my job to go around and speak about how the Internet of Things is changing the way we live, work, and run our businesses. IoT Evangelist is a job title that didn’t exist 5 or 10 years ago – mainly because the Internet of Things wasn’t a “thing” 5 or 10 years ago. Today it is, so here I am.

The fact is, technological change has a tremendous impact on the way we spend our working lives. Many of today’s jobs didn’t exist in the past. Of course, the reverse is true as well: a lot of jobs – mostly tedious/manual labor of some variety, think miners, lift operators, or similar – have gone away.

Robots and much more

Much of the discussion today about the relationship between technology and jobs is a discussion about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Robots in manufacturing is the most obvious example. A lot of AI has to do with big data analysis and identifying patterns. Thus, AI is used in data security, financial trading, fraud detection, and those recommendations you get from Google, Netflix and Amazon.

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But it’s also used in healthcare for everything from identifying better subjects for clinical trials to speeding drug discovery to creating personalized treatment plans. It’s used in autonomous vehicles as well – to adjust, say, to new local conditions on the road. Some say it’s also coming for professional jobs. Think about successfully appealing parking fines (currently home turf for lawyers), automated contract creation, or automated natural language processing (which someday could be used to write this blog itself – gulp!).

The spinning jenny

Will AI continue to take jobs away? Probably. But how many new jobs will it create? Think back to the spinning jenny – the multi-spindle spinning frame that, back in the mid-18th century, started to reduce the amount of work required to make cloth.

By the early 19th century, a movement known as the Luddites emerged where groups of weavers would go around smashing these machines as a form of protest against what we’d now call job displacement. But these machines helped launch the industrial revolution.

As a result of the spinning jenny’s increased efficiency, more people could buy more cloth – of higher quality, at a fraction of the cost. This led to a massive uptick in demand for yarn – which required the creation of distribution networks, and ultimately the need for shipping, an industry that took off in the industrial revolution.

As the spinning jenny came into use, it was continuously improved – eventually enabling a single operator to manage up to 50 spindles of yarn at a time. Other machines appeared on the scene as well. This greater productivity, and the evolution of distribution networks also meant there was a need for increasingly comprehensive supply chains to feed this productivity boom.

Muscle vs caring

Economists at Deloitte looked at this issue of technological job displacement – diving into UK census data for a 140-year period stretching from 1871 to 2011. What they found, not surprisingly perhaps, is that over the years technology has steadily taken over many of the jobs that require human muscle power.

Agriculture has felt the impact most acutely. With the introduction of seed drills, reapers, harvesters and tractors, the number of people employed as agricultural laborers has declined by 95% since 1871.

But agriculture is not alone. The jobs of washer women and laundry workers, for example, have gone away as well. Since 1901, the number of people in England and Wales employed for washing clothes has decreased 83% even though the population has increased by 73%.

Many of today’s jobs, on the other hand, have moved to what are known as the caring professions, as the chart below shows. The light blue bars represent muscle-powered jobs such as cleaners, domestics, miners, and laborers of all sorts; the dark blue, caring professions such as nurses, teachers, and social workers. As you can see, these have flipped.

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The Deloitte study also points out that as wealth has increased over the years, so have jobs in the professional services sector. According to the census records analyzed, in England and Wales accountants have increased from 9,832 in 1871 to 215,678 in 2015. That’s a 2,094% increase.

And because people have more money in general, they eat out more often – leading to a fourfold increase in pub staff. They can also afford to care more about how they look. This has led to an increase in the ratio of hairdressers/barbers to citizens of 1:1,793 in 1871 to 1:287 today. Similar trends can be seen in other industries such as leisure, entertainment, and sports.

Where are we headed now?

Will broader application of AI and other technologies continue the trend of generating new jobs in unexpected ways? Most assuredly. Already we’re seeing an increased need for jobs such as AI ethicists – another role that didn’t exist 5-10 years ago.

The fact of the matter is that technology in general, and AI in particular will contribute enormously to a hugely changing labour landscape. I mentioned at the start of this post that my role in SAP is IoT Evangelist – this is a role I fully expect to no longer exist in 5 years time, because by then everything will be connected, and so the term Internet of Things will be redundant, in the same way terms like “Internet connected phone”, or “interactive website” are redundant today.

The rise of new technologies will create new jobs, not just for people working directly with the new technologies, but also there will be an increasing requirement for training, re-training, and educational content development to bring people up-to-speed.

Will there be enough of those jobs to go around – and will they pay enough to support a middle-class existence for those who hold them? That’s another question – but it’s one that’s stimulating a lot of creative, innovative ideas of its own as people think seriously about where technology is taking us.

 

Photo credit Jessie Hodge