Artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and automation are among the cutting-edge technologies being incorporated into the digital supply network, which combines data and information from various sources to support the distribution of manufactured goods along the value chain.
Fremont, CA: Modern consumers' baseline standards have been raised as a result of advancements in commerce. The emergence of next- and same-day delivery has generated a new standard of demand, putting companies under further strain. As a result of the rise in demand, the entire supply chain is increasingly transforming from a functional to a global and interconnected network of data and processes. Businesses are changing their supply chains in various new and emerging ways to meet modern consumer demands.
Here are three technologies transforming the supply chain sector:
Blockchain
Blockchain distributes the process of verification for anything from financial transactions to logging shipping information. This is an essential advantage in the supply chain because it increases the level of trust for documenting any contact that a product or shipment might have by needing everybody in the "chain" to validate the data being input and ensuring that the data cannot be altered once it is submitted to the digital ledger.
Businesses now have a permanent record of a product's progress through the supply chain, including from place to delivery time, as well as any environmental factors encountered along the way. The aggregated blockchain ledger knowledge can uncover supply chain vulnerabilities over time, enabling companies to develop their operations continuously.
Delivery Automation
The demand for products has exceeded many companies' ability to meet it. Even though more than half of retailers offer same-day delivery, consumers still demand the same price. Automating some of their last-mile distribution systems is one-way forward-thinking companies are transforming to meet customer expectations while keeping operating costs down. The work of distributing packages can be accomplished by combining conventional shipping, autonomous vehicles, and even drones, with smaller, last-mile fulfillment centers being established no more than six or nine miles from major metropolitan areas.
The delivery methods of these goods can be further expanded with the construction of more small and specialized last-mile distribution centers for various products and needs. Finally, autonomous vehicles and drones will be able to assist retailers in substantially reducing the expense and infrastructure strain of last-mile delivery.
Artificial Intelligence
Modern supply chain optimization largely relies on artificial intelligence (AI) technology. AI and location intelligence will help retailers retain a competitive advantage in product distribution and supply chain operations when it comes to warehousing products. Multi-faceted big data from specific geographic locations combined with online interactions can expose purchasing trends within specific consumer segments based on particular times, activities, and conditions.
As a result, a retailer may use AI to predict which goods would be more cost-effective to store in a specific warehouse based on its proximity to specific areas. How and what will be stocked is dictated by the demographics and other behavioral information in that area, and this information can be changed based on changes in behavior or external factors.
See also: Top Supply Chain Consulting/Service Companies
