INDUSTRY News
ANTICIPATE, RATHER SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES
ANTICIPATE, RATHER THAN REACT TO,
I
n today’s hyperconnected and unpredictable world, supply chains are more critical – and vulnerable – than ever. From raw material shortages to geopolitical instability, shifting consumer demands and even natural disasters, disruptions can derail operations and damage trust. But there are also opportunities to rethink how we manage and mitigate risk. The solution lies in using AI and predictive analytics to more intelligently manage supply changes and mitigate disruption.
Flag early warning signs Supply chains today are increasingly complex, and hard to manage. AI is becoming essential to access data across entire supply chains in real-time and identify risks long before they escalate. For example, warning signs like raw material shortages or port congestion, and give companies a chance to intervene before bottlenecks arise. AI also allows companies to model scenario, simulate potential risks and pre-emptively design response strategies. Predictive analytics takes companies beyond merely reacting to disruptions. By analysing historical and real-time data, it’s possible to forecast future demand patterns and streamline operations.
8 April 2025 | Automation
THAN REACT TO, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES
Martin Tombs, VP of Move to Cloud at Qlik, discusses how AI and predictive analytics are transforming supply chain resilience
To go one step further, predictive AI can help to combat net-new challenges, such as the emerging impact of climate as it becomes more unpredictable – or as we saw with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Consolidating data
Penske, a leader in logistics and supply chain management, is a great example of how data analytics can support supply chain management. Penske faced the challenge of management systems, logistics platforms, and customer demand data – to improve decision- making. With Qlik’s analytics platform, Penske has consolidated all its data into a single, actionable view. AI-driven predictive analytics helped Penske anticipate issues before they occurred, maintenance, predicting delivery delays, or preparing for demand spikes. These insights enabled Penske to optimise routes, reduce operational costs, and improve delivery times – which helped the business to become more resilient and keep customers happy. In another example, Whitworth’s, a major UK supplier of dried fruit and nuts, has also used data analytics to manage its supply chain and mitigate risk. With Qlik, real-time insights have helped Whitworth’s to respond proactively to disruptions, pool inventory to
meet demand during peak times, and decide Whitworths has added features like inventory alerts and real time shipping updates, which can be accessed by everyone from factory workers to executives, so everyone has a better understanding of the supply chain status. Now, Whitworth’s has enhanced relationships with both customers and suppliers and can better manage an unpredictable supply chain landscape.
Being able to understand and respond to events that impact supply chains is no longer a luxury; it’s a business imperative. Companies that embrace AI and predictive analytics now will be better equipped to weather future storms – some literal – while those that rely on outdated, reactive methods risk being left behind.
Start small, but think big The future of supply chain management is one of anticipation, not reaction. So my advice to leaders is this: start small but think big. Identify a critical pain point in your supply chain where predictive insights could make a tangible team has the tools and training they need to fully leverage these capabilities.
Qlik
www.qlik.com
automationmagazine.co.uk
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