How AI solutions are boosting supply chain resilience and agility across industries
Founder, Director of Avaali Solutions Pvt Ltd, Ms. Srividya Kannan’s a interview published in manufacturingtodayindia website.
In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and transforming global trade, Avaali Solutions stands out as a pioneer in leveraging AI-led automation to drive business success. The recently released WTO report, “Trading with Intelligence: How AI Shapes and is Shaped by International Trade,” highlights the profound impact of AI on streamlining logistics, automating customs processes, and reducing trade-related costs. With digitally delivered services projected to grow by nearly 18 percentage points by 2040 under universal AI adoption, the potential for AI-driven transformation is immense.
Against this backdrop, Avaali Solutions has emerged as a trusted partner for organisations seeking to optimise their operations. Under the visionary leadership of Srividya Kannan, Founder and CEO, Avaali has delivered tangible results, achieving process cycle time reductions of 35-50% and cost savings of 10-15% across sectors. Leveraging advanced technologies like Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Hyperautomation, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning, the company addresses complex business challenges, enhances productivity, and drives efficiency.
In this exclusive interview, Srividya Kannan shares her insights into how Avaali’s solutions are unlocking significant value for its clients, the role of AI in shaping the future of manufacturing, and the opportunities and challenges in deploying automation at scale.
How is Avaali leveraging AI-driven automation to streamline logistics and reduce trade costs for its clients?
Logistics processes are inherently complex, plagued by manual tasks, fragmented documentation, and unpredictable delays. Businesses face constant pressure to streamline workflows, reduce trade costs, and improve shipment visibility to remain competitive. Challenges such as repetitive data entry, shipment tracking updates, and document reconciliation are time-intensive and error-prone. Fragmented documentation among various stakeholders increases the risk of errors and complicates compliance tracking, while a lack of centralised shipment tracking hampers real-time visibility.
Avaali addresses these challenges through automation and digitisation. AI-powered tools automate shipment updates by extracting real-time data from multiple sources, reducing errors and freeing employees for strategic tasks. Automation of regulatory processes like customs declarations minimises manual interventions and delays.
Avaali’s centralised document management consolidates trade-related documents into a unified platform, enhancing collaboration and compliance. Real-time tracking solutions monitor shipments at every stage, providing alerts for delays. These solutions reduce manual processing time by over 60% and significantly lower trade costs.
Can you share examples of how AI solutions have enhanced supply chain resilience and agility across industries?
AI is revolutionizing supply chain management in the manufacturing industry, driving efficiency, enhancing decision-making, and enabling real-time problem-solving. Below are key ways businesses are leveraging AI to improve resilience and agility in their supply chains:
Demand forecasting in automotive manufacturing
Automotive manufacturers, like BMW, have adopted AI-driven demand forecasting tools to predict car model demand by analysing historical sales, market trends, and external factors such as economic conditions. This advanced forecasting helps manufacturers:
- Align production with market demand.
- Avoid overproduction or underproduction.
- Optimize inventory levels across global facilities.
Predictive maintenance in equipment manufacturing
Heavy equipment manufacturers like Caterpillar use AI-powered predictive maintenance to monitor real-time equipment data and predict wear and tear. These systems reduce:
- Unplanned downtime on production floors.
- Maintenance delays, ensuring timely repairs.
- Costs by preventing major equipment failures
Inventory optimization in electronics manufacturing
Electronics manufacturers like Foxconn use AI to manage inventory by analyzing data from warehouses, suppliers, and distributors. This allows manufacturers to:
- Maintain just-in-time inventory, minimizing costs.
- Avoid bottlenecks due to component shortages.
- Enhance flexibility in responding to sudden demand spikes.
Supplier risk management in pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical manufacturers like Pfizer use AI to assess supplier reliability and risks, considering factors like delivery records and geopolitical issues. This helps:
- Diversify supplier bases to reduce risks.
- Respond swiftly to disruptions, such as natural disasters or political instability.
- Ensure consistent raw material availability in production pipelines.
Route optimization in consumer goods manufacturing
Companies like Unilever utilize AI for route optimization, factoring in traffic, fuel costs, and delivery time windows. This results in:
- Faster deliveries to retailers and customers.
- Lower transportation costs.
- Increased flexibility to adapt delivery routes during disruptions.
Real-time quality control in food & beverage manufacturing
Food and beverage manufacturers like Nestlé employ AI-based computer vision for quality control during production. This ensures:
- Fewer recalls due to quality issues.
- Consistent product quality, boosting customer trust.
- Reduced manufacturing wastage.
Resilient supply chain networks in aerospace
In aerospace, companies like Boeing have integrated AI tools to optimize complex global supply chains. AI enhances visibility into supplier operations and helps manufacturers:
- Identify alternative suppliers in case of disruptions.
- Monitor real-time shipment statuses.
- Quickly adjust to delays or changing customer demands.
By implementing AI solutions, manufacturers can transform their supply chains into more agile and resilient networks. From demand forecasting to logistics optimization, AI is helping businesses stay ahead in volatile markets, improving competitiveness and responsiveness to customer needs. Manufacturers investing in AI technology are securing long-term success by enhancing their supply chain capabilities.