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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
The new age supply chain: AI, automation and always-on optimisation
Supply chains today are under immense pressure. With rising consumer expectations, global disruptions, and the push for faster delivery, companies can't afford delays or inefficiencies. The old ways of manual processes, siloed systems, and reactive planning no longer hold up. What's emerging instead is a more connected, intelligent, and continuous system powered by artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and real-time optimisation. AI (Pixabay) In recent years, the pace of investment in these technologies has been significant. The market for AI in supply chains grew from $5.05 billion in 2023 to $7.13 billion in 2024, and it's projected to reach $51 billion by 2030. Nearly half of all supply chain organisations are now investing in AI and advanced analytics. For logistics alone, the AI sector is worth over $20 billion, and the returns are already becoming visible in how businesses operate. Take demand forecasting. Not long ago, it relied mostly on past sales data and broad seasonal trends. Now, AI models are reading signals from weather changes, social patterns, and event calendars to predict what customers will want and when. Forecast errors have dropped by up to 35%, and procurement costs are down nearly 30%. Retailers like Walmart and Target are using these models to keep shelves stocked with just the right amount, avoiding both overstocking and stockouts. Warehousing has also changed significantly. AI-powered robots are picking, sorting, and scanning inventory with high speed and precision. Amazon's DeepFleet system has improved internal fleet efficiency by 10%, showing how machines and people can work together. Robotics has helped increase warehouse productivity by about 30% while maintaining near-perfect picking accuracy. That level of performance allows businesses to offer same-day or next-day delivery with confidence. The journey from warehouse to doorstep is also seeing major transformation. The last mile of delivery is notoriously complex and often accounts for more than half of total logistics costs. AI now maps smarter routes, predicts traffic, and adjusts plans in real time. Amazon is using generative AI tools to help drivers navigate more efficiently, with hands-free support and improved planning. It's not just about saving time. It's about operating more efficiently at scale. Some companies are implementing agentic AI systems that go beyond supporting decisions. These agents actively make decisions across procurement, logistics, and warehouse task planning. They learn continuously from results and adjust strategies over time. In some warehouses, this has led to 95% task optimisation and 60% faster processing compared to traditional systems. These changes are already visible in large operations. Maersk is using AI to predict vessel equipment failures before they occur, reducing downtime by 30%, saving $300 million annually, and cutting emissions by 1.5 million tons. Unilever is using AI to plan its supply chain more flexibly across global markets. Retailers like Target are also relying on internal systems to reduce waste and improve inventory accuracy. Adopting AI is not always straightforward. Many companies still rely on legacy systems that trap valuable data. Around 77% of potentially useful supply chain data remains siloed. Up to 70% of AI implementation budgets are spent just on cleaning and preparing data. There is also a shortage of skilled talent. About 68% of organisations say they struggle to find professionals who understand both supply chains and AI. Training and internal capability building are essential. Despite these challenges, supply chains are becoming more continuous and self-adjusting. This does not mean constant human monitoring. Instead, systems now track, predict, and act in real time. Tools like digital twins let companies simulate scenarios such as shipment delays or demand spikes in specific regions. Connected sensors allow for instant action, including rerouting deliveries, updating orders, and triggering maintenance before issues escalate. AI-led supply chains are expected to expand further, with growing emphasis on sustainability, energy efficiency, and transparency. Companies are adopting blockchain for traceability, edge AI for on-the-ground decisions, and intelligent systems that operate around the clock. Supply chains are no longer just support functions. They are strategic levers. They have been driving global trade since the Silk Route. What's changing now is how intelligently and autonomously they operate. As the world grows more connected, their role will only continue to expand, powering everything from factory floors to front doors. This article is authored by Somdutta Singh, founder and CEO, Assiduus Global.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Collaborative robotics to drive greater societal impact: Amazon's Brady
Amazon sees a future centered around 'collaborative robotics' where machines are geared to amplify human capability and potential, rather than replace them, according to Tye Brady, chief technologist at the e-commerce giant's robotics unit. Amazon, which recently deployed one-millionth robot in its global operations and introduced 'DeepFleet', an AI technology to optimally coordinate movement of robots across fulfilment network (its intelligent warehouses), asserts that robotics will play a key role in building more capable societies. The company has grown from deploying a single robot type that moved inventory shelves across warehouse floors in 2012, to operating a diverse fleet of robots aimed at boosting operational efficiency. Amazon's lineup of robots includes 'Hercules', which can lift and move up to 1,250 pounds of inventory, 'Pegasus' robots that use precision conveyor belts to handle individual packages, and 'Proteus'. 'Proteus', in fact, is a fully autonomous mobile robot, that navigates around employees in open and unrestricted areas of Amazon sites while moving heavy carts filled with customer orders. "I really believe that over the long term, we will have physical AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems that we are pioneering which will really change society for the better," Tye Brady, chief technologist at Amazon Robotics, told reporters. The future of robotics will ride on collaboration, that is, building machines that extend human capability and amplify human potential, Brady said, adding that Amazon sees robotics amplifying human impact, not replacing humans. "We are pioneering a new body of work that we call 'collaborative robotics' and I really see that in the future. How can we build our machines to extend human capability, human potential? How can we build machines that are tools for people to use, for them to gain more efficiencies, whether you're at work or at home. I think the work that we're doing today in our fulfilment centres is forerunner to a greater societal impact that robotics will have with the mindset of putting people at the centre of robotics universe," he said. Speaking to reporters recently on the sidelines of Amazon 'Delivering the Future' event in Tokyo, that showcased the company's latest innovations and technologies, Brady emphasised that the future isn't about people competing with machines, but rather about people and machines working together. "It's not people versus machines but it is people and machines working together. And the onus is on us, the roboticists, to build those machines in a way that people naturally want to use, in a way that creates a safer environment, and to build them in a way that's efficient and more productive for our customers," he said. Amazon last week announced it has deployed 1 millionth robot, building on its position as the world's largest manufacturer and operator of mobile robotics. The robot was recently delivered to a fulfilment centre in Japan, joining global network that now spans over 300 facilities globally. It also introduced a new generative AI foundation model to make the fleet of robots smarter and more efficient. Christened DeepFleet, the AI technology will coordinate the movement of robots across fulfilment network, improving the travel time of robotic fleet by 10 per cent and enabling the company to deliver packages to customers faster and at lower costs, Amazon said. The company likened DeepFleet to a smart traffic control system. Much like intelligent traffic systems streamline car routes in a busy city and reduce delays for drivers, DeepFleet optimises robot movement, minimising congestion, raising efficiency, and boosting processing of customer orders, as per the company. On public apprehensions about robots and AI eventually displacing global workforce, Brady said while change can feel uncomfortable to some, AI is the most transformative technology in his career. "I've been in robotics for a while. It has taken us a long time to get to this stage where we're actually doing utility and function with our machines that enable people to do things more efficiently, more safely. So, I would say the future is very bright," Brady said, advocating that human potential can, indeed, be optimised through machines.
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Collaborative robotics will drive greater societal impact with people at centre: Amazon Robotics chief
New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) Amazon sees a future centred around 'collaborative robotics' where machines are geared to amplify human capability and potential, rather than replace them, according to Tye Brady, chief technologist at the e-commerce giant's robotics unit. Amazon, which recently deployed one-millionth robot in its global operations and introduced 'DeepFleet', an AI technology to optimally coordinate movement of robots across fulfilment network (its intelligent warehouses), asserts that robotics will play a key role in building more capable societies. You may be interested in The company has grown from deploying a single robot type that moved inventory shelves across warehouse floors in 2012, to operating a diverse fleet of robots aimed at boosting operational efficiency. Amazon's lineup of robots includes 'Hercules', which can lift and move up to 1,250 pounds of inventory, 'Pegasus' robots that use precision conveyor belts to handle individual packages, and 'Proteus'. 'Proteus', in fact, is a fully autonomous mobile robot, that navigates around employees in open and unrestricted areas of Amazon sites while moving heavy carts filled with customer orders. "I really believe that over the long term, we will have physical AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems that we are pioneering which will really change society for the better," Tye Brady, chief technologist at Amazon Robotics, told reporters. The future of robotics will ride on collaboration, that is, building machines that extend human capability and amplify human potential, Brady said, adding that Amazon sees robotics amplifying human impact, not replacing humans. "We are pioneering a new body of work that we call 'collaborative robotics' and I really see that in the future. How can we build our machines to extend human capability, human potential? How can we build machines that are tools for people to use, for them to gain more efficiencies, whether you're at work or at home. I think the work that we're doing today in our fulfilment centres is forerunner to a greater societal impact that robotics will have with the mindset of putting people at the centre of robotics universe," he said. Speaking to reporters recently on the sidelines of Amazon 'Delivering the Future' event in Tokyo, that showcased the company's latest innovations and technologies, Brady emphasised that the future isn't about people competing with machines, but rather about people and machines working together. "It's not people versus machines but it is people and machines working together. And the onus is on us, the roboticists, to build those machines in a way that people naturally want to use, in a way that creates a safer environment, and to build them in a way that's efficient and more productive for our customers," he said. Amazon last week announced it has deployed 1 millionth robot, building on its position as the world's largest manufacturer and operator of mobile robotics. The robot was recently delivered to a fulfilment centre in Japan, joining global network that now spans over 300 facilities globally. It also introduced a new generative AI foundation model to make the fleet of robots smarter and more efficient. Christened DeepFleet, the AI technology will coordinate the movement of robots across fulfilment network, improving the travel time of robotic fleet by 10 per cent and enabling the company to deliver packages to customers faster and at lower costs, Amazon said. The company likened DeepFleet to a smart traffic control system. Much like intelligent traffic systems streamline car routes in a busy city and reduce delays for drivers, DeepFleet optimises robot movement, minimising congestion, raising efficiency, and boosting processing of customer orders, as per the company. On public apprehensions about robots and AI eventually displacing global workforce, Brady said while change can feel uncomfortable to some, AI is the most transformative technology in his career. "I've been in robotics for a while. It has taken us a long time to get to this stage where we're actually doing utility and function with our machines that enable people to do things more efficiently, more safely. So, I would say the future is very bright," Brady said, advocating that human potential can, indeed, be optimised through machines.
Sky News AU
05-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Amazon deploys its one millionth robot in fulfillment center
Tech Guide Editor Stephen Fenech has discussed the 'remarkably efficient' one-millionth robot, which has been deployed at a fulfillment center in Chibaminato, on the outskirts of Tokyo. 'These robots that can guide all these pods, the storage pods, to the pickers,' Mr Fenech told Sky News Australia. 'The storage shelves actually come to the pickers, and they're all guided using this new AI platform called DeepFleet. Mr Fenech says the robots have improved efficiency by up to 10 per cent.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Amazon reaches new milestone, becomes world's largest manufacturer and operator of…
Amazon has announced that it has reached a significant milestone, deploying its millionth worker robot across its global network of over 300 facilities. The company also revealed plans to power its entire robot fleet with a newly launched generative artificial intelligence (AI) model named " DeepFleet ." This expansion comes soon after company CEO Andy Jassy talked about job cuts and increasing automation. Amazon developing AI-powered robot fleet to boost efficiency According to Scott Dresser, Vice President of Amazon Robotics , this achievement solidifies Amazon's position as the world's largest manufacturer and operator of mobile robotics . Dresser stated that the new DeepFleet AI model will change how robots move within fulfillment centers, aiming to reduce fleet travel time by 10%. This efficiency gain is expected to lead to faster and more cost-effective package deliveries. Amazon began integrating robots into its operations in 2012, initially to transport inventory shelves. Since then, the roles of these automated workers have expanded, now including robots capable of lifting up to 1,250 pounds and fully autonomous units navigating facilities with customer orders. The company's continued investment in robotics and AI contrasts with some tech industry trends, though AI-powered humanoid robots are also anticipated to be deployed in Tesla factories this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available Original Adidas Shop Now Undo Robots to work alongside humans: Amazon Dresser, while addressing anxieties about AI-led job cuts, emphasised that Amazon's robots 'work alongside our employees, handling heavy lifting and repetitive tasks while creating new opportunities for our front-line operators to develop technical skills.' He pointed to Amazon's new fulfillment center in Shreveport, Louisiana, which opened late last year and reportedly required 30% more employees in specialised roles like reliability, maintenance and engineering. However, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently told CNBC that the company's aggressive adoption of generative AI will inevitably lead to 'fewer people doing some of the jobs that the technology actually starts to automate.' While Jassy also stated that Amazon would continue to hire in AI and robotics, he admitted in an internal memo earlier this June that he expects the company's overall workforce to 'shrink in the coming years' due to technological advancements. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
