Interview with Chirag Shah, Professor at the University of Washington, on AI agents and their impact on human–machine collaboration and business decision-making. According to Shah, AI agents will automate complex tasks and negotiate on behalf of companies, transforming supply chains and operations.
The invention of self-adhesive labels, along with the rise of supermarkets and big-box stores, cemented their role as essential identifiers. Today, labels are crucial for maximising space and improving logistics process efficiency through warehouse automation.
Selene Silvestri is a Research Scientist at MIT’s Center for Transportation & Logistics. As part of the collaboration between MIT and Mecalux, she works on improving distributed order management across multiple warehouses and stores.
Advisory and brokerage firm WTW surveyed 400 executives from five continents. Business leaders are prioritising investments in infrastructure and technology to decarbonise operations and mitigate risks.
Futurist theorist, author and storyteller Ian Khan argues that robotics and automation are essential pillars of Industry 4.0. In Undisrupted, Khan provides organisations with strategies to thrive in an uncertain future where technology will take centre stage.
An AI agent is a software application that interacts with its environment, gathers data and uses it autonomously. Capgemini argues that companies should prepare to deploy AI agents, as this technology will soon be available in multiple business functions.
Consultancy KPMG advises retailers to devote time to developing a strategic perspective on AI. The industry is starting to roll out applications aimed at boosting brand image, supporting product development and enriching the shopping experience.
Over the past two years, supply chains and their efficiency have grown increasingly important to executives, becoming their number-one challenge. IBM IBV’s 2025 CEO Study finds that supply chain performance, talent management and business model innovation are the most pressing issues.
Boston Consulting Group interviewed more than 570 executives to identify the strategies shaping their business priorities for 2025. CEOs are paying close attention to efficiency in their operations, including supply chain optimisation and product portfolio simplification.
Hank Ingram is the CEO of Brown Water Spirits and O.H. Ingram River Aged, a producer of bourbon and rye whiskey. Ingram explains how incorporating a racking system for barrels has optimised their storage on a floating barge.
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 organisations for demand forecasting and 81% for inventory and order management.
Lise Magnier and Ignacio Gil-Pérez analyse 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.
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.
Consultancy Capgemini highlights the importance of semiconductors and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for supply chains. This technology has the potential to analyse aspects such as transport 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 optimise 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 consultancy has identified three common use cases among companies specialising in supply chain management.
