A survey by the IBM Institute for Business Value reveals that AI adoption is accelerating across retail and consumer product companies. AI is already being used by 88% of organizations for demand forecasting and 81% for inventory and order management.
Lise Magnier and Ignacio Gil-Pérez analyze the effect of reusable packaging on consumers’ intentions to purchase and recommend products. Overall, consumers have positive attitudes towards reusable packaging, even for perishable products.
Kearney partners Suketu Gandhi, Michael F. Strohmer, Marc Lakner, Tiffany Hickerson, and Sherri He pool their decades of experience in Strong Supply Chains Through Resilient Operations. The book explains how to redefine operational strategies to ensure business profitability.
Interlake Mecalux uses software powered by adaptive algorithms to configure storage solutions tailored to each client’s needs. The system determines the optimal layout based on factors such as available space and product characteristics.
Consulting firm PwC maintains that drones will transform last-mile delivery, particularly in suburban and rural areas. In 2034, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could serve 67% of the population, replacing 389 billion traditional deliveries worldwide.
A floor-mounted electric monorail system (EMS) comprises automatic carriers or trolleys that move along an electrified rail embedded in the floor. This solution is ideal for businesses looking to streamline operations and increase efficiency, regardless of their industry.
Consulting firm Capgemini highlights the importance of semiconductors and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for supply chains. This technology has the potential to analyze aspects such as transportation methods, delivery times, and packaging options.
MIT CTL’s Rodrigo Hermosilla and Willem Guter are researching the collective intelligence of AMRs as part of the collaboration between MIT and Mecalux. The new control algorithm they are developing will increase AMR efficiency and enable these robots to further optimize their processes.
Vikram Agarwal oversees Danone’s supply chain and brings over 30 years of leadership experience from roles at Unilever, Avon, and Dole. Radu Palamariu and Knut Alicke interview Agarwal in From source to sold: Stories of leadership in supply chain, where each chapter is devoted to an industry professional.
KPMG finds that 77% of executives believe that GenAI is the emerging technology with the greatest potential to boost productivity and enhance collaboration. The consulting firm has identified three common use cases among companies specializing in supply chain management.
Lighting typically accounts for 65% of warehouse energy demand, significantly impacting both operational costs and carbon footprint. Smart lighting systems can reduce energy consumption in logistics facilities by up to 87%.
Sarah Schaumann (MIT CTL) leads a project on prescriptive intelligence as part of the MIT–Mecalux research collaboration. Optimizing order distribution with self-learning AI models aims to help companies select the ideal shipping points for their goods.
Experts at McKinsey Technology highlight that companies now expect CIOs, CTOs, and CDIOs to turn the promise of tech into business value. Chief technology officers must take on the roles of orchestrators, builders, protectors, and operators to meet these expectations.
A report by the consulting firm Capgemini argues that a new era is emerging where retail sales will become increasingly immersive. The aim is to make users feel as if they have entered a different dimension and to build stronger relationships between customers and brands.
Alicia Martínez de Yuso, a Project Manager at the Zaragoza Logistics Center, analyzes how businesses need effective solutions to prevent supply chain disruptions. Companies need a resilient and sustainable supply chain, adopting innovative practices and leveraging technology.
Researchers Diego Augusto de Jesús Pacheco, Daniel Møller Clausen, and Jendrik Bumann study how to improve efficiency in a distribution warehouse. Implementing a warehouse management system (WMS) significantly changes the performance of a distribution warehouse.
Virginia Fani, Ilaria Bucci, Romeo Bandinelli, and Elias Ribeiro da Silva analyze the sustainability of returns and reverse logistics. The strategic decentralization of warehouses and stores dedicated to returns balances lead time and sustainability.
Interlake Mecalux uses simulation software to create virtual replicas of its clients’ warehouses and optimize operations. The software generates a digital twin, a virtual representation that employs real data to predict system performance.
AI‐enabled analytics will be part of all businesses. But this integration will depend on the type of business and what each executive knows and understands about AI. Implementations are just scratching the surface, underlining the chasm between early adopters and the rest of the pack.
Interview with Eva Ponce, research scientist and Director of MIT CTL’s Omnichannel Supply Chain Lab, on the evolution of the omnichannel customer experience. According to Ponce, automation will drive warehousing, one of the supply chain areas most impacted by the growth of e-commerce.
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