Sarah Schaumann (MIT CTL) leads a project on prescriptive intelligence as part of the MIT–Mecalux research collaboration. Optimising order distribution with self-learning AI models aims to help companies select the ideal shipping points for their goods.
Mecalux uses simulation software to create virtual replicas of its clients’ warehouses and optimise operations. The software generates a digital twin, a virtual representation that employs real data to predict system performance.
AI‐enabled analytics will be part of all businesses. But this integration will depend on the type of business and what each executive knows and understands about AI. Implementations are just scratching the surface, underlining the chasm between early adopters and the rest of the pack.
Interview with Eva Ponce, research scientist and Director of MIT CTL’s Omnichannel Supply Chain Lab, on the evolution of the omnichannel customer experience. According to Ponce, automation will drive warehousing, one of the supply chain areas most impacted by the growth of e-commerce.
According to Capgemini, GenAI, quantum computing, semiconductors, batteries and space tech will play a significant role in the near future. Business leaders will be impacted by these transformative technologies aimed at improving energy storage and data collection.
Researchers Alinda Kokkinou, Hans Quack, Ondrej Mitas and Albert Mandemakers analyse the effects of incentives on online shopping processes. Charging customers for next-day delivery was the most effective way to stimulate them to choose the more sustainable option.
According to Gartner experts, business leaders can already implement five strategies to attract the increasingly numerous custobots. These AI-driven programs are capable of buying and selling products automatically.
More and more organisations are incorporating a Chief Data Officer (CDO) in their strategies to leverage big data and artificial intelligence (AI). A study explores the profile of these professionals tasked with spearheading their companies’ digital transformation.
Guy Treguer is the Managing Director of Schaal Chocolatier, a leading producer of high-end chocolate and a benchmark in the sector. Treguer explains how the company enhanced the quality of its products by insourcing their storage and keeping them at a constant temperature.
Low-code programming systems are taking off among businesses interested in customising their software. A quarter of the companies surveyed by KPMG have already implemented low-code programming processes, and 19% expect to do so in the coming year.
Beatriz Royo, an Associate Professor at the MIT-Zaragoza Program, analyses how technology enhances supply chain resilience. Businesses must be able to operate in VUCA environments, and the response to these challenges lies in strengthening the resilience of manufacturing companies.
Researchers Dong Hoang and Els Breugelmans study the effects of substituting out-of-stock groceries with other items in online retailing. Consumers prefer products they are familiar with as substitutes for products found to be out of stock following their purchase.
Researchers from Bath and Cambridge analyse the results of integrating picking and packing planning in e-commerce warehouses. How should pickers be allocated? How and in what sequence should pick lists be assigned to packers after picking is completed?
Humanoid robots, the ultimate form of robots that mankind has long dreamed of, seem to be on the verge of becoming a reality. Inspired by human anatomy, humanoid robots’ most critical three elements are the brain, the cerebellum and the body.
Matthias Winkenbach, Director of Research of the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, explains how AI will transform traditional route management. The aim is to devise route plans that are not just short, cost-effective and fast, but are effective for drivers.
The metaverse is set to transform industries such as consumer goods, healthcare, training and supply chain management. According to Capgemini experts, businesses will need to meet the digital expectations of the new generations.
People want to leverage technology to make better purchasing decisions, but retailers and brands are falling behind. A study from the IBM Institute for Business Value concludes that just 14% of consumers are satisfied with their online shopping experience.
Although 96% of businesses believe generative AI will affect their projects, a mere 9% have begun deploying it in their organisations. Those that have not yet taken the leap plan to partner with other firms to kick-start their transformation.
Researchers Negin Jamili, Pieter L. Van den Berg and René De Koster study the impact of sharing pickers and docks in a collaborative warehouse. Companies can jointly use warehouses belonging to logistics service providers to gain greater flexibility in storage space.
Cloud computing will become a requirement for competitiveness within the next four years. Gartner experts affirm this prediction, highlighting the use of AI-driven applications in the cloud.
