In a globalized world and with increasingly expressive and rapid technological advances, there is an urgent need to prepare supply chains, in order to make them capable of withstanding and recovering from the impacts of events that affect their supply and performance. usual operation.
This need for resilience in the supply chain had already become evident in Brazil with the 2018 Truckers' Strike, during which several highways were paralyzed in a protest against the frequent increase in fuel prices, causing several companies to reflect on reducing the reliance on road transport, still predominant in the country, and consider the incorporation of other modes of transport in their logistics chains.
In the recent global context, a succession of major events has caused – and has been causing – great disorder and the risk of shortages in supply chains around the world, especially in the food sector and other basic inputs. Climate change, the covid-19 pandemic – which even resulted in the blockade of important Chinese port cities -, the War in Ukraine and the consequent economic sanctions imposed on Russia have had effects (discussed in recent post prepared by Matheus Macedo) that impact even the most structured logistics chains.
Figure 1: Succession of major events in recent years has strongly impacted supply chains around the world. Source: Pexels
Faced with this, tools involving digital transformation and the use of machine learning algorithms (machine learning) and Artificial Intelligence enable visibility of all network operations and enable companies to react faster in the face of adversity and ruptures, optimizing and adapting processes and logistics in real time. According to analysts consulted by the Reuters, the technology-focused supply chain services market could be worth more than $20 billion per year over the next 5 years, with around 2025% of new supply chain applications using Artificial Intelligence and data science by 80. data. Thus, such resources have proven to be important allies in the search for better decisions and practices involving supply chains, either to obtain a more efficient operation or to reduce risks and damages in the face of a disruption.
According to Forbes, Interos, Fero Labs and KlearNow are some of the companies that use Artificial Intelligence and other tools so that industries and their customers can react faster to problems in supply chains. Among the tools used by these companies, the platform that automates customs clearance processes and machine learning algorithms to monitor business and alert on possible events that have the potential to cause interruption in supply chains and to monitor and adapt stand out. how raw materials from different suppliers affect product quality, allowing factory workers to adjust manufacturing processes to maintain final product quality.
Still, according to Reuters, logistics companies are also implementing machine learning to increase their competitiveness. An example of this is Ryder System Inc (RN), a US truck fleet operator that uses real-time data from its fleet and that of its customers and partners to create algorithms to predict traffic patterns, truck availability and prices. Another example is Autotech Ventures, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, which has invested in tools that aggregate data from transportation management systems in the trucking industry to anticipate price changes.
Recently, FedEx, a reference in global transport and cargo logistics services, announced partnership with FourKites, which provides real-time tracking and visibility solutions to provide shippers, with the help of machine learning and artificial intelligence, information and resources to help them address supply chain challenges and increase efficiency and find new growth opportunities.
Like many adversities, which, despite the evils, end up promoting – or accelerating – necessary changes, it is hoped that, in the field of logistics, the obstacles faced in recent years will contribute to the development and adoption of safer, more efficient and safer processes. sustainable supply chains.
References:
– CNT – CNT Transport Yearbook
– Forbes – Startups apply artificial intelligence against supply chain disruptions
– FedEx – FedEx and FourKites Announce Alliance to Make Supply Chains Work Smarter
– G1 – Truck drivers protest on the roads against fuel hikes
– ILOS – Is deglobalization a trend that is here to stay?
– Reuters – Startups apply artificial intelligence to supply chain disruptions
