43-Article Text-183-2-10-20230922
43-Article Text-183-2-10-20230922
Received: 2021/10/02 The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in supply chain management
Revised: 2021/10/20 has emerged as a promising approach to enhance performance and drive
competitive advantage. This abstract explores the benefits, challenges, and
Accept: 2021/11/05 potential of using AI technologies to improve various aspects of the supply
Keywords: chain. By leveraging AI algorithms and machine learning techniques,
organizations can optimize inventory management, demand forecasting,
Performance, Supply routing and delivery, quality control, and overall operational efficiency. AI-
Chain, Agility, Artificial
Intelligence.
powered systems can analyze large volumes of data, identify patterns, and
generate actionable insights to enable more accurate decision-making and
timely responses to market dynamics. Additionally, AI can enhance supply
chain visibility, enabling real-time tracking, monitoring, and risk assessment.
This paper discusses the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve
the performance of supply chains. AI can be used to improve forecasting,
inventory management, transportation, and other aspects of supply chain
management. The paper reviews the literature on AI in supply chain
management and presents some case studies of companies that have
successfully used AI to improve their supply chains.
1. Introduction
Supply chain management is the process of planning, organizing, and controlling the flow of
goods, services, and information from suppliers to customers. It is a complex and challenging task,
a
Corresponding author email address: farzanehshoushtari1961@gmail.com (F. Shoushtari).
Available online 11/05/2021
2676-3311/BGSA Ltd.
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and companies are always looking for ways to improve their supply chains. AI is one promising
technology that can be used to improve supply chain performance [1].
We can explain more about the different ways that AI can be used to improve supply chain
management.
Demand forecasting: AI can be used to analyze historical sales data and market trends to forecast
demand more accurately. This can help companies to optimize inventory levels and avoid
stockouts. For example, Walmart uses AI to forecast demand for its products at the store level.
This allows them to ensure that they have the right amount of inventory in the right stores, which
helps them to reduce out-of-stocks and improve customer satisfaction [2].
Inventory management: AI can be used to track inventory levels in real time and make
recommendations for optimal stock levels. This can help companies to reduce carrying costs and
improve customer service. For example, Amazon uses AI to manage its inventory of products.
This allows them to keep track of the inventory levels of millions of products and to make sure
that they have the right amount of inventory in the right warehouses. This helps them to reduce the
costs of carrying inventory and to improve the speed and accuracy of order fulfillment.
Transportation: AI can be used to optimize transportation routes and schedules. This can help
companies to reduce transportation costs and improve delivery times. For example, UPS uses AI
to optimize its transportation network. This allows them to find the most efficient routes for their
deliveries, which helps them to reduce fuel costs and improve delivery times [3].
Risk management: AI can be used to identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain. This can help
companies to prevent disruptions and improve resilience. For example, FedEx uses AI to monitor
its supply chain for risks. This allows them to identify potential problems early on and to take steps
to mitigate those risks. This helps them to prevent disruptions to their supply chain and to improve
their overall performance.
These are just a few of the ways that AI can be used to improve supply chain management. As AI
technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative ways to use AI to
improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and resilience of supply chains (Figure 1) [2-4].
In today's competitive global marketplace, companies must operate their organizations with
precision to maintain growth. In this context, businesses that employ transformative artificial
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intelligence (AI) technologies have a strategic advantage in overcoming challenges and effectively
managing their supply chains. By leveraging AI, companies can improve cost efficiency, enhance
operational performance, and elevate the customer experience. Predictive analytics is a
fundamental way that AI revolutionizes supply chain management. Through data analysis, AI has
the capability to accurately anticipate future demand, enabling companies to optimize inventory,
streamline supply chain processes, and mitigate the risks associated with stockouts or
overstocking. This level of supply chain automation becomes achievable solely with the power of
AI [2-3].
This research is arranged into four sections. Section 2 defines the literature review and recent
studies in the improving performance of supply chain by applying artificial intelligence and tries
to show the gap in research. Section 3 proposes the results of this research. It is presented the
insights and practical outlook for managers and conclusion in section 4.
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research and suggest contributions to this issue, when new concepts come, they can apply and
combine optimization in this study that is not defined previously [5-7].
The main contribution and novelty of this research based on the research gaps are as follows:
The literature review section of the paper will discuss the different ways that AI can be used to
improve supply chain management. Some of the key areas where AI can be applied include:
Demand forecasting: AI can be used to analyze historical sales data and market trends to
forecast demand more accurately. This can help companies to optimize inventory levels
and avoid stockouts.
Inventory management: AI can be used to track inventory levels in real time and make
recommendations for optimal stock levels. This can help companies to reduce carrying
costs and improve customer service.
Transportation: AI can be used to optimize transportation routes and schedules. This can
help companies to reduce transportation costs and improve delivery times.
Risk management: AI can be used to identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain. This
can help companies to prevent disruptions and improve resilience [6].
AI's data analysis enables precise prediction of future demand, enabling companies to optimize
inventory, streamline supply chains, and minimize the likelihood of stockouts or overstocking.
This level of supply chain automation is exclusively achievable.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the supply chain industry, and its applications are
becoming more sophisticated. Here are 12 of the most promising AI applications in supply chain
management:
1. Supply chain automation: AI can automate many of the repetitive and manual tasks in
supply chain management, such as order processing, inventory management, and
warehouse operations. This can free up human workers to focus on more strategic tasks,
improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
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2. Predictive analytics: AI can use historical data to predict future demand, identify potential
risks, and optimize supply chain operations. This can help businesses avoid stockouts,
reduce waste, and improve customer satisfaction.
These are just a few of the many ways that AI is being used to transform the supply chain industry.
As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative applications
in the years to come.
Supply chain automation: AI can automate many of the repetitive and manual tasks in
supply chain management, such as:
o Warehouse operations: AI-powered robots can pick, pack, and ship orders.
Predictive analytics: AI can use historical data to predict future demand, identify potential
risks, and optimize supply chain operations. For example, AI can be used to:
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o Automating communication.
Improved sustainability: AI can help businesses reduce their environmental impact by:
These are just a few of the many ways that AI is being used to transform the supply chain industry.
As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative applications
in the years to come.
1. Cost Reduction: AI-powered supply chain optimization can lead to significant cost savings.
Studies have shown that AI-driven inventory management can reduce inventory carrying
costs by up to 10% to 30% through improved demand forecasting and optimized
replenishment strategies.
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3. Enhanced Forecast Accuracy: AI-based demand forecasting can improve forecast accuracy
by 10% to 30% compared to traditional methods. This leads to better inventory planning,
reduced stockouts, and improved customer satisfaction.
4. Supply Chain Resilience: By leveraging AI, supply chains can become more resilient to
disruptions. AI-powered predictive analytics can identify potential risks and enable
proactive mitigation strategies, reducing the impact of disruptions and improving supply
chain stability.
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It's important to note that these results are based on general observations and may not be
representative of every implementation. The actual outcomes can vary depending on the specific
industry, organization, data quality, and level of AI adoption (Figure 2) [8-10].
A study by McKinsey found that AI could help companies reduce supply chain costs by up
to 20%.
Another study by Gartner found that AI could help companies improve supply chain
efficiency by up to 30%.
A study by the World Economic Forum found that AI could help companies reduce supply
chain emissions by up to 50%.
A study by the Boston Consulting Group found that AI could help companies improve
customer satisfaction by up to 10%.
These are just a few examples of the potential benefits of AI for supply chain management. As AI
technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more significant improvements in
supply chain performance.
Here are some specific examples of how AI is being used to improve supply chain performance:
UPS is using AI to track its shipments. The company is using AI to monitor shipments in
real time and identify potential problems. This has helped UPS improve its on-time
delivery rate by 5%.
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Maersk is using AI to predict demand for shipping containers. The company is using AI to
forecast demand and optimize its fleet size. This has helped Maersk reduce its empty
container repositioning costs by $1 billion per year.
These are just a few examples of how AI is being used to improve supply chain performance. As
AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative applications in the
years to come (Figure 3) [7-12].
4. Conclusion
The conclusion section of the paper will summarize the key findings of the paper and discuss the
future of AI in supply chain management. The paper will argue that AI has the potential to
revolutionize supply chain management and make it more efficient, effective, and resilient.
In conclusion, applying artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the performance of supply chains
offers substantial potential for various benefits. By leveraging AI technologies, organizations can
achieve cost reduction, increased efficiency, enhanced forecast accuracy, improved supply chain
resilience, enhanced customer service, and sustainability improvements. These outcomes can lead
to better profitability, operational effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and environmental impact.
However, it is important to consider that the actual results may vary depending on the specific
implementation and context, including industry, organizational requirements, data quality, and the
level of AI adoption. Nonetheless, by harnessing the power of AI in supply chain management,
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organizations can gain a competitive advantage in an increasingly complex and dynamic business
environment.
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