We see rapid technological development in the fields of big data, algorithmic development, connectivity, cloud computing and processing power every day. These new technologies have made the performance, accessibility, and costs of AI more favourable than ever before. With the introduction of many modern and new technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain has transformed the unorganised and fragmented logistics sector. These technologies bring modifications in logistics industries such as predictive analytics, autonomous vehicles, and smart roads. Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning are capturing more and more industries in every sector and spheres of our lives and logistics is not an exception. AI and machine learning can be of a great help when it comes to the supply chain sphere, which can be conducive in optimizing the processes, avoid mistakes which humans can make, reduce time, and predict future opportunities and challenges. Logistics is one of the industries where AI has started showing its influence by making supply chain management a more seamless process. It has now become an important part of every company and its future software system.
Role of Artificial Intelligence in Logistics sector
AI plays a pivotal role in saving time, reducing costs, increasing productivity and accuracy with cognitive automation. It allows us to save time and money because it helps in automating various time-consuming processes and helps in demand forecasting. AI helps in logistics route optimization, which helps in reducing the costs of shipping, which further aids in generating more profits. Computers using artificial intelligence can gather, analyse information to make informed decisions within the matter of seconds and save time for humans.
AI helps to completely transform warehousing operations in the form of collecting and analysing information or inventory processing. Robots are already being used widely for instance, inside warehouses to move, track and locate inventories. Through AI, logistics players are able to leverage data platforms and create datasets to regulate patterns and anomalies.
Role of Machine Learning
With the assistance of Machine learning the patterns in supply chain data are often discovered by counting on algorithms which may quickly pinpoint the foremost influential factors. Machine learning algorithms and therefore the logistics companies using this technology are capable of analysing large, diverse data sets fast, improving demand forecasting accuracy. Machine learning helps to reduce freight costs, improve supplier delivery performance, and minimize the supplier risk in the collaborative supply chain and logistics segment.
When we speak of logistics, everything is time-bound and there are minor unpredictable issues. Every process in this sector depends on the one preceding it and a minor delay on one stage causes a magnified ripple effect on all the other stages. At the time of delivery, there ends up being a delay of days because of a few hours of down-time. The digitization of logistic planning through machine learning can help to predict unforeseen circumstances, which can further reduce the chances of any mishappening during the delivery of goods. Machine learning in the logistics industry replaces the complicated steps of planning and scheduling, working with more accuracy and efficiency, thus streamlining the processes efficiently.
Factors which affect the logistics Industries to use AI and Machine Learning
Many logistics companies are mostly dependent on third party logistics which includes common carriers, staff on subcontract, charter airlines and other third-party vendors who are required for the operation of core functions of their business. It increases the load of the accounting team of logistics in the companies which process millions of invoices from thousands of vendors, partners, or providers annually. With AI, many logistics companies are able to access vital information such as billing amounts, account information, dates, addresses, and parties involved from the sea of unstructured invoice forms received by the company. These are the reasons which made the companies to adapt Artificial Intelligence (AI) for better service.
Machine learning helps the logistics service providers to analyse large sets of data and make the logistics management system smarter and better. At the time of delivery and management, predicting future results and needs, is a difficult and important task. Machine learning helps the companies to predict and track the future demands for production like forecasting demand for new products. Machine learning helps to combine the strength of supervised, unsupervised and reinforced learning that makes it a very efficient technology.
Conclusion
These modern technologies like AI and Machine Learning aids in bringing truckloads of data, which the transportation industry has been capturing data for years. Few years back, trucking, rail and sea cargo were tracked by satellite via telematics. This sudden and rapid growth of digitization and transformation is making more and more companies to add artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning to their supply chain in order to maximize their resources by reducing the time and money spent on tracking the goods to send a package to any location. Today, There is a huge pressure in every field be it manufacturing, energy, or transportation to adopt AI and machine learning to help improve efficiencies in operations, enhance business decisions through futuristic systems. These technologies can also help the logistics players to provide an opportunity for different levels of optimization in manufacturing, logistics, warehousing and last mile delivery with the high set-up costs deterring early adoption in logistics. It also helps the consumers to have their goods delivered where and when they need them by using flexible courier services. It helps to create a platform and interface which makes management easier than ever, helping a business to grow in better ways.
About the author:
The Author is the Founder & Director of Gxpress (https://gxpresss.com/), a full service global logistics company that offers the entire suite of logistics services: delivery, warehousing, distribution, labelling, retail management etc. He can be reached at sales@gxpresss.com
