Technology enabling transparency in the supply chain
The supply chain process involves multiple links, and the biggest challenge is that each link has its weak point. While each link has its own challenges, the issue of transparency and real-time tracking is likely a common problem for everyone. Just imagine how annoying and unbearable it would be if a coworker or software kept asking you every second, “Did it arrive? Did it arrive?” in order to stay updated in real time. But if there are bots that can communicate with each other, why not have them ask each other and automatically update themselves?
In general, bots gather information and perform actions in a similar way to regular user interaction. That is, if a regular user, a human, enters the system and enters the order number to see its status, the bot does it automatically, all the time, thereby allowing the system to track the status and update in real time. The first bots started their journey in the e-commerce world, as chatbots conversing with customers. However, in the supply chain management world, they took inspiration and said that they don’t need to only talk to customers; they can also communicate with each other throughout the entire supply chain process – procurement, orders, tracking, feedback on shipments, and much more.
Full optimization of ERP systems is in progress. When we add the integration capabilities of bots operated by AI systems to IoT systems, we understand the true power that lies in this revolution.
Today, there are shipping vessels that, with the help of AI systems, identify weather patterns and obstacles at sea to shorten delivery time. Even in land transportation, these systems identify the best routes based on the division of peak hours and the urgency of the shipment, in order to generate optimal travel routes.
If robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles are the executing arm in the supply chain, bots are the brain behind the entire automation process. There is almost no aspect of the supply chain in 2019 that bots are not involved in.
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