reach customers on behalf of their retail/e-commerce clients. For instance, in China, demand for rail freight transport has risen as a mean bypassing the sea and air shipments. Retailers need supply chain partners with the technology capabilities and agility to make fast re-routing possible. Machine learning can help to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Having a cognitive AIdriven automated platform offers a unified data layer revealing the cause and effect, help us to eliminate bottleneck operations and focus on process improvement. The big benefit is the use of real-time data instead of redundant historical data. By implementing AI, supply chain managers can enhance their decision making by spotting abnormalities such as shipping capacity shortages and blocked transit routes – and take action before the full brunt of the problem has taken effect.
AI IN THE PICKING PROCESS, INCORPORATING ROBOTICS AND DATA ANALYTICS Everyone is seeking the most efficient way to operate in e-commerce, and those who dare to try the newest technologies are likely to win. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs), sometimes known as Goods to Person (GTP) robots are fast being deployed in large e-commerce fulfilment centres. Amazon can now boast over 200,000 GTP robots operating in its global fulfilment centres, while Alibaba has committed $15 billion by 2022 to expand its worldwide logistics network, with the smart warehouse model at the fore. Data collected from these digitised workers will provide the algorithms necessary for future smart decision-making, planning for peak and operational innovations. At Asendia, we are investing in automated and robotic picking facilities in our specialist fulfilment centres for this very reason.
AI TO DRIVE CARBON EFFICIENCY AND SUPPORT ESG REPORTING Efficiency protects the environment. By gathering data on operational performance, machine learning can begin to spot patterns of waste in fuel usage, idle time, and carbon emissions per shipment. These are likely to become essential for ESG reporting as governments around the world commit to ambitious net-zero targets. Enhancing efficiency in logistics and delivery is a great place to start, and reputable supply chain operators do this as a matter of course. With AI-enhanced data analytics, it’s possible to track performance and drive improvements over time, allowing the greenest decisions to be made. For logistics service providers in the APAC region, excellence in supply chain management powered by the latest advances in AI will make you stand out, and it is a smart way to serve the burgeoning e-commerce market. APAC Outlook issue 50 | 9