Scenario planning has been a hot topic for us, and our network, this month, which is no surprise given the constant barrage of change and challenges.
It’s clear that many teams still treat scenario planning as an annual, or at best quarterly, exercise, rather than something dynamic and built into day-to-day decision-making; mainly because it’s hard to do when it involves lots of people and lots of data spread across lots of systems.
But the world’s moving too fast for this sort of planning. Embedding ongoing scenario modelling in workflows is needed to help teams stress-test assumptions, spot vulnerabilities early and stay agile when demand, labour or trade conditions shift overnight.
It’s one of the capabilities our Labour Decision Intelligence platform puts front and centre, turning planning into an always-on capability rather than a once-in-a-while task.
Are you doing something similar?
AI in Logistics
Business Insider has been running a series of articles under the heading of “How AI Is Changing Everything: Supply Chain“, and they’re worth checking out. The series includes features on:
- Walmart and Target betting big on AI to reduce inventory gaps. (11 mins)
- McDonald’s and TacoBell using AI to spot supply chain bottlenecks before they impact customers. From forecasting bun shortages to rerouting fry deliveries, fast food’s getting faster data. (10 mins)
- Given the above it’s no surprise that AI is also reshaping the cold chain. From monitoring produce freshness to preventing spoilage in transit, new agent-based systems are helping operators protect margins and shelf life. (10 mins)
Morrisons is testing a digital twin of its full supply chain.
The goal?
To model disruptions before they happen, then adjust on the fly. (6 mins)
Closer to home, we’ve published an article – Five Macroeconomic Forces Retailers Can’t Ignore – exploring how external data sources can enhance the accuracy of demand and productivity forecasts. It builds on insights from our earlier piece, The Power of External Data: Why Good Planning Goes Beyond Your Internal Data.
AI in Business
Debenhams Group has teamed up with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate its adoption of AI across its brands. The businesses have entered into a multi-year agreement designed to streamline Debenhams Group’s operations and rapidly scale new brands using AI-driven tools. (7 mins)
Currys has rolled out an AI-powered idea hub to capture employee ideas and it’s already saved 3,000+ labour hours. Proof that some of the best ideas aren’t in the boardroom – they’re on the shop floor – and that AI can help get to them. (2 mins)
OpenAI just released a new ChatGPT agent that can handle full online grocery shops.
You give it your preferences, budget and needs – and it fills your basket, brand substitutions and all. Read more here. (5 mins – registration needed)
AI Everywhere
Google has launched its AI-powered search experience. For over two decades, traditional Google Search returned lengthy lists of links in response to short, simple queries, shaping how people phrase their searches to get more accurate results. This is a big change likely to reshape how we search and what we find. (6 mins)
Staying with Google for a moment, its AI is now helping decode ancient Roman inscriptions, some of which have puzzled human scholars for decades. (5 mins)
Netflix has used generative AI in a full-length production for the first time. El Eternauta (which is brilliant, by the way) blends human and machine creativity and it’s already sparking debate in the industry. (4 mins)
And finally: Isambard-AI, one of the most powerful AI supercomputers in Europe, just launched in Bristol. Its goal? Accelerate breakthroughs in climate science, healthcare and national defence. (5 mins)
About Predyktable
We’re continuing to learn from and share with people across retail, groceries, ecommerce fulfilment, and third-party logistics. Front of mind for us right now is which areas to prioritise as we develop even deeper capabilities.
For example, how can we even more closely model the impact of equipment bottlenecks and overcapacity on workforce productivity, service levels and budgets, so that we can make better recommendations?
We’ve got a decent backlog, which we’re continuing to refine.
We’re always keen to meet people ‘in the know’ so, if you know someone who fits that description, and would be keen for a 15-min chat to swap insights and share ideas, please do point them our way!
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