Enhancing AI Chatbot Interactions with Context-Rich Personas
Imagine having access to the expertise of a lawyer, accountant, or warehouse manager, wherever and whenever you like, for pennies. I’ll show you how. Last month’s issue laid the foundation for effectively prompting Generative AI-powered chatbots (such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini). This month, I’ll delve into customizing these interactions to suit your business needs better through the use of personas. What is a persona? Think of a persona as a character the chatbot adopts during interactions. A persona encompasses tone, expertise, language style, personality traits, and response tendencies. The clearer we define these elements, the better the AI can tailor its responses to meet our specific needs. For instance, you can expect a more useful response to a request to resolve your laptop issue if you first instruct the chatbot to be a “laptop support specialist”. Building a persona Here’s a summary of the key elements to consider when creating an effective persona. While it’s not necessary to include every detail, generally, the more information you provide, the better and more tailored the response will be. Job Title and Experience Specify the desired job title, position, and years of experience that you want. You can also consider any relevant professional qualifications. You can never make the chatbot too overqualified. Example: “You are a Human Resources Director with a SHRM-CP qualification and 20 years of experience in handling employee relations, tracking HR metrics, and managing compensation and benefits at an OEM dealership.” Industry and Company Include the relevant industry and company details. Specifying the industry helps generate general best practices while including specific company information—such as size, locations, and customer base—can produce more tailored insights and actionable recommendations. Example: “You are a Sales Manager working in the manufacturing industry, with a focus on material handling equipment.” Tone and Personality Describe the personality and tone you want the responses to convey. The tone should be appropriate for the target audience. Example: “You are a Customer Support Specialist for an e-commerce retailer. You are friendly and empathetic when interacting with customers, ensuring a positive and supportive experience.” Goals and Objectives Describe the goals and objectives you want the chatbot to achieve. This will guide the development of responses that align with the desired outcome. Example: “You are a Project Manager with 15 years of experience in the construction industry. Your primary objectives are to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget and to improve project efficiency.” Content Format Specify the format you prefer for the responses, such as a bulleted list for quick reads, step-by-step guides, or full paragraphs for in-depth articles. Example: “You are a Warehouse Operations Manager. The preferred format of your outputs are step-by-step guides, to ensure clarity and comprehensive procedures.” Approach to Unknown Even with its vast intelligence, the chatbot may not always have the answer. It’s helpful to instruct it to let you know when it doesn’t know something instead of guessing. Example: “If you don’t know the answer, tell me “I do not know” instead of guessing.” By clearly defining these key elements, you can create a well-rounded persona that enables the chatbot to deliver more accurate, relevant, and engaging responses. Tip: Once you’ve created a persona you’re happy with, save a copy so you can easily reuse it later. Example persona: Below is an example persona you can try today. Update the wording in [brackets] according to your needs and enter them into your chatbot of choice. Feel free to add as many details as you’d like. “You are a [job title] with [number of years] of experience in the [industry name] industry and [company details]. You are [desired personality traits and/or tone], and your objectives are to [goals or objectives]. Your preferred format is [content format]. If you don’t know the answer, tell me “I do not know” instead of guessing.” Completed example: “You are a Warehouse Manager with 20 years of experience in the logistics and supply chain industry, specializing in small replacement parts. You are authoritative yet approachable, and your primary objective is to optimize the layout of your warehouse, measured by improved packing efficiency of 5% and reduced shrink of 2%. Your preferred format is bulleted lists. Tell me “I do not know” instead of guessing if you don’t know the answer. Let’s Try It Out As an experiment, try this prompt without a persona: “Give me best practices and a detailed how-to guide on warehouse layout optimization for my warehouse.” Your response will likely be suitable as an introductory guide but will lack the customized, actionable steps that would most benefit your unique warehouse and optimization efforts. Now, start a new chat, copy in the ‘completed example’ persona above, and add the same prompt immediately after it. The updated response likely offers a more in-depth and accurate response tailored to your specific industry and operational goals. Moreover, when the chatbot is equipped with a persona, it vastly improves its ability to answer follow-up questions in a way that is relevant to your business needs. The Bottom Line AI-powered chatbots can be customized in various ways to meet your unique and business needs. Incorporating a well-defined persona into your prompts is a great way to get more accurate and relevant responses from your AI Chatbot. As I often advise my clients, education, and experimentation are the keys to kickstarting their AI journey. Try the tech today; your organization will be much further ahead tomorrow. If you have any questions or need help getting started, please contact me at ai_automation@connorgp.com. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn for the latest trends and insights in AI and automation. About the Author: Jason Pikoos is a managing partner and leads Connor Group’s technology and innovation, which includes AI-driven solutions. He brings over 20 years of accounting, operational, and technology experience, working with high-growth and technology companies. Jason is a leader in helping companies drive operational excellence through process improvement, technology and automation, data and analytics, and effective governance.
September 2024 Manufacturing Technology Orders jump as IMTS returns to Chicago
Orders of manufacturing technology, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, totaled $450.6 million in September 2024. These orders for metalworking machinery increased 24% from August 2024 and increased 14.6% over September 2023 orders. Year-to-date orders reached $3.35 billion, a decline of 7.7% compared to the first three quarters of 2023. Orders in September 2024 were at the highest level of the year and 5.1% above an average September. While this may be a good sign for an industry looking to find a bottom after nearly three years of decline, the optimism comes with a major caveat: orders were 9.1% lower than in an average IMTS September. Orders tend to peak for the year in September of even years, when IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, the largest manufacturing trade show in the Western Hemisphere, is held in Chicago. However, this year’s lower-than-average order level may be due to many show attendees planning for longer investment timelines. Contract machine shops, the largest customer segment for manufacturing technology orders, increased their orders to the highest level since March 2023. These job shops are a major bellwether for the wider industry, as sudden demand from this segment indicates that OEMs are increasing orders from them to meet additional capacity needs. If this demand remains elevated, it will typically lead to later investments across customer industries. The aerospace sector pulled back orders by nearly a third from August 2023. This is no surprise because the Boeing machinist strike caused major disruptions to the industry’s output beginning in the latter half of September 2024. Since the strike lasted for the entirety of October 2024, we can expect a similar drop-off in orders in next month’s report. New orders from airlines continued to roll in throughout the strike, and with the strike ending in November, the industry is positioned to finish the year with additional investments should capacity utilization quickly return to its pre-strike level. Orders from the automotive sector have lagged for most of 2024. This changed in September when manufacturers of automotive transmissions increased orders to their highest level since August 2023. This investment is not surprising, as automakers have been reassessing their outlook for the electric vehicle market throughout much of the year. Throughout most of 2024, manufacturers hesitated to invest in manufacturing technology due to concerns over heightened interest rates and November’s U.S. presidential election. In September, the Federal Reserve cut rates after a year of its “higher for longer” monetary strategy to reduce inflation. We may not see the effects of this development until the October 2024 data is released, and the effects of a further rate cut and the effects of the presidential election may not be seen until the November data is released. While these political and economic events may prove consequential to buying decisions, another major factor that could spur additional investment in the remaining few months of 2024 is the next step in the phase-out of the bonus depreciation allowance from the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017. While investments in capital equipment are subject to 60% additional depreciation in 2024, that bonus will decrease to 40% in 2025. As the gap in orders between 2023 and 2024 has narrowed over the last two months, the reduction in headwinds puts the manufacturing technology industry in a position to end the year strong.
AutoScheduler adds Vice President of Customer Success to reinforce focus on successful customer implementations
AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Orchestration Platform and WMS accelerator, announces that. He will replace Stephen Zujkowski, who is retiring. Ian has over a decade of experience in supply chain operations, logistics management, and strategic leadership. He will use his expertise to help AutoScheduler’s customers gain value and success from deploying AutoScheduler solutions. He will be the face of success for all AutoScheduler’s customers, ensuring the talented implementation team continues delivering exceptional services and fostering true partnerships. “As a leader within Amazon, Ian has demonstrated a deep understanding of operational planning and championed many technology implementations that enabled transformative changes within numerous operations,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “His rich and diverse experience in leading and supporting innovation and a keen understanding of driving customer excellence make him a perfect fit for this pivotal role at AutoScheduler.AI.” “I am looking forward to setting new benchmarks for excellence in customer success with the best project delivery experiences, clear communications, and robust customer relationships, enabling AutoScheduler.AI to be the market leader in warehouse orchestration,” says Ian Johnston, Vice President, Customer Success, AutoScheduler.AI. “I am dedicated to driving value for clients through our innovative solutions and aligning AutoScheduler’s capabilities with customer needs.” As Vice President of Customer Success, Ian oversees the strategy, execution, and management of all customer deployment and satisfaction aspects. He will ensure that customers derive maximum value from AutoScheduler, leading to improved fulfillment, better labor utilization, and lower costs. As the leader in the Customer Success organization, he will drive measurable positive business outcomes, customer satisfaction, retention, and expansion across the customer base. Before joining AutoScheduler.AI, Ian served as Director of Supply Chain at Amazon, overseeing North America’s largest heavy, bulky logistics network, which included managing demand forecasting, capacity management, and product development for the U.S. and Canada. Ian’s leadership contributed to significant advancements in operational efficiency, including developing several novel planning products that enhanced forecast accuracy and capacity flexibility, reducing Amazon’s service cost and improving delivery speeds. Before Amazon, Ian served as a Marine Infantry Officer, leading combat operations in Afghanistan and deterrence operations in Southeast Asia. He later served at the White House, supporting two administrations and several high-profile events. Ian holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a BA in Political Science with a minor in Spanish from The Citadel. He is pursuing a Master of Science in Real Estate at the University of San Diego.
Demand for Industry specific AI drives increasing adoption of IFS.ai
IFS has boosted its offering in the six hardcore industries it serves to 60+ in-depth Industrial AI scenarios, which are available in the IFS Cloud 24R2 release. More than 300 additional scenarios are in the process of MVP (minimum viable product) validation. Despite the noise around generic co-pilots and consumer-focused AI, IFS is driving change and adoption of arguably the most impactful application of AI: Industrial AI. IFS.ai is Industrial AI, with customers already using and able to immediately implement IFS.ai without the need for expensive investments in toolkits or additional implementation resource. The Industrial AI scenarios available today with IFS.ai fit within the following Classes, and span both Generative AI and Predictive AI: Generative AI Content generation (personalized training; autogenerated project reporting) Recommendation (configuration to improve production quality; sourcing and supplier decision support) Contextual knowledge (assembly instruction and real-time guidance; unstructured data knowledge retrieve) Predictive AI Event forecasting (automated risk and mitigation; simulate product and asset behaviors) Optimization (optimize task sequencing; optimize vs. resources vs. capacity) Anomaly detection (proactive quality control and monitoring) Customers already using IFS.ai are reporting rapid returns. Ependion has turned to IFS.ai to improve efficiencies in the Manufacturing space. CIO, Joakim Stolt said: “IFS.ai Manufacturing Scheduling and Optimization (MSO) will help us increase productivity by automating our production planning process. We can quickly respond to changes based on external factors with AI-driven optimization designed to maintain high utilization of our critical resources to better meet customer demand. Ultimately, we are able to deliver optimal outcomes to our customers and product planners.” Noble Corporation, a world-class offshore drilling company, is using IFS.ai to boost productivity and efficiency. Kristian Mortensen, Manager, Maintenance Process & Solutions, said: “Ideally we only want to service or replace a component when it is within 80% of its predicted failure time or lifetime. IFS.ai promises to help us get a lot closer to that more efficient maintenance scenario. It also promises to make our systems perform better because we know what it is that we need to do – the critical failure point – from the legacy and analytics projections. If we want to change the maintenance interval, IFS.ai will help us to justify decisions to authorities and OEMs based on the historic data and insight available within the system.” IFS.ai is the backbone of IFS’s ERP, Asset Management (EAM), and Service Management (FSM and ITSM) solutions. When applied to the industries IFS serves, the impact is profound: 8 out of 10 of the leading U.S. energy companies use IFS.ai to deliver power to American homes 200 million + Americans connect every day using cell phone networks maintained with IFS.ai 200 billion packages a year are sustainably produced and distributed across the world thanks to IFS.ai 2 billion people keep moving on elevators and walkways maintained and services with IFS.ai every day 105 million U.S. households have utilities powered by IFS.ai 9 billion sq ft of construction projects globally are managed with IFS.ai 310 million passengers a year fly safely thanks to aircraft maintained by IFS.ai “Industrial AI is at the very core the solutions we are powering for customers. They are pushing us for ready-to-use AI that they can adopt quickly to solve real industrial challenges like labor shortages, supply chain disruption, stagnated productivity,” said IFS Chief Customer Officer, Cathie Hall. “IFS is the pioneer of Industrial AI, and we are committed to further extending our global leadership position, making more real-world AI use cases available for customers in our hardcore industries. The IFS mission is to accelerate the pace of AI development and adoption throughout our organization and into the products and services we deliver to customers. Our commitment to continued investment in IFS.ai has never been stronger.” “IFS has strength in the breadth of service capabilities that incorporate AI, machine learning, and IoT,” said Aly Pinder, Research Vice President – Worldwide Aftermarket Services Strategies at IDC said. “IFS is helping organizations address the technology opportunities of a rapidly evolving market that is benefiting from advanced tools to insights, collaboration, and action. IFS has been able to incorporate these tools into an Industrial AI offering that drives improved service operations and outcomes.”
Getting started with AI-Powered Chatbots
You’ve heard the buzz around Generative AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. But are they worth the hype? Absolutely. The key to success is learning how to use these tools effectively. With the correct instruction, chatbots can produce detailed, relevant, and tailored results to your specific requirements. No technology expertise is required to become a pro – just a curiosity for exploration. It would be best to learn how to “prompt,” which means providing good instructions to the chatbot, so you get more valuable responses and output. Start with basic experimentation to understand where AI works well (and not well). From there, you can explore how to integrate AI into your workflows to tackle more complex needs. This article will explore using chatbots and provide tips for effective prompting. Where should you start? Many robust use cases are simple and require no prior experience or specific expertise. Start by asking your chatbot the same questions you’d ask a search engine – in many cases, you’ll find the responses more useful. Chatbots can provide personalized, context-aware answers tailored to your criteria. Plus, follow-up questions help refine responses to get exactly what you need. For instance, chatbots can quickly propose a customized travel itinerary, saving you the hassle of researching online. Try out this prompt: I’m flying from [home city] to [destination city] from [start date] to [end date] and want to stay near [insert landmark or area]. I prefer a direct flight and to stay in [insert hotel preference, e.g., preferred hotel chain], but I’m open to alternatives if the price difference is more than [$XX] for the flight or [$XX]/night for the hotel. Please recommend an itinerary, including the best flight times. More prompt ideas are provided at the end of this article. Tips for prompting Chatbots Chatbots respond to “prompts”—instructions or questions you provide. Here are a few tips for writing effective prompts: Speak naturally Ask questions as if you’re talking to a person. This makes it easier for the chatbot to understand and respond accurately. And don’t worry overly about spelling; it will figure it out. Be clear and specific Treat the chatbot like a new employee who needs clear instructions. The more specific you are, the better the response. Example: Instead of “Plan a meeting,” try to “Create an agenda for a 30-minute meeting to discuss quarterly sales targets.” Utilize follow-ups Think of chatbot interaction as a conversation. If the first response isn’t quite right, refine it with follow-up prompts or ask it to try again. Example: “Incorporate a 10-minute Q&A session at the end of the meeting” or “Your response is not to my liking; try again.” Set context To get better responses, tell the chatbot what kind of role, tone, or personality you want it to have. Example: Instead of “Create a marketing campaign,” say, “You are a senior marketing director. Create a professional B2B marketing campaign for warehousing and logistics.” Specify the desired output Let the chatbot know how you want the information presented. It can provide summaries, bullet points, tables, or even images. Example: Instead of “Tell me about the project,” try “Give me a bullet-point summary of the project timeline.” Attach relevant documents Quickly and effectively analyze files, especially documents and PDFs, by attaching them to your prompt. Example: Instead of manually analyzing a customer or vendor contract, attach it to the chatbot and use this prompt: “Summarize the key terms, pricing, and product details in the attached contracts, and provide the output in a bullet form.” Experiment with your scenarios and prompts; the more you try different ways, the better you will get. A reminder While chatbots are powerful, be cautious with data confidentiality. Unless you implement the enterprise version of these chatbots, your data and chat history may be used to train AI models. Final thoughts AI-powered tools, like chatbots, have the potential to deliver efficiency, personalization, and insights at an unprecedented scale. However, success with AI isn’t just about the tools themselves. It starts with understanding how to apply these technologies effectively. Focus on small, practical use cases as you begin experimenting with AI. These could include simple communication, generating content, or automating routine tasks. Over time, this knowledge will open the door to more complex applications, such as predictive analytics or customer service automation. Your business will thrive in the new AI-driven landscape by starting small, experimenting thoughtfully, and staying informed about AI’s evolving capabilities. If you have any questions or need help getting started, please contact me at ai_automation@connorgp.com. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn for the latest trends and insights in AI and automation. Useful prompting tool ChatGPT Prompting Guide (Ruben Hassid, LinkedIn) Example prompts To get started, here are some example prompts you can try today. Update the wording in [brackets] according to your needs and enter them into your chatbot of choice: Writing an Email “Write an email as a [job title] to [name], informing them of [topic]. Use a [desired tone].” Completed Example: “Write an email to John as an Account Manager, informing them about the XAR32, a new forklift that your company is offering, and to offer an on-site demo at their warehouse. Use a warm yet professional tone.” Prepare a “How-To” Guide “You are an experienced [job title]. Give me best practices and a detailed how-to guide on [insert topic]. The guide should cover [insert desired sections].” Example: “You are an experienced Warehouse Manager. Give me best practices and a detailed how-to guide on warehouse layout optimization for perishable food products. The guide should cover safety protocols and tips for energy efficiency.” Contract Review Prompt Attach the contract you’d like to review for a thorough contract analysis. Specify the key terms and clauses you want highlighted. The chatbot can also point out any unusual or non-standard terms for this type of agreement. “Review the attached [contract type] contract and highlight key terms such as [insert specific terms, e.g., payment terms, liability clauses]. Additionally, identify any clauses
Episode 528: Streamlining Inventory and Warehouse Management with Cin7
In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Ajoy Krishnamoorthy, CEO of Cin7, discusses how their platform transforms operations by integrating software solutions for inventory, order, and warehouse management. Cin7’s mission is to streamline processes and foster a better workplace culture by simplifying software systems for their users. The conversation dives into how Cin7’s powerful integrations, efficient onboarding, and broad platform capabilities can eliminate operational silos, ensuring visibility and control over supply chain functions. Streamlining Inventory with Unified Platforms A significant challenge in the supply chain is operating without visibility across different systems. Cin7 aims to fix that. Ajoy explains, “Our customers come to us over ERP because it’s super easy to onboard.” Cin7’s platform offers comprehensive solutions, integrating over 700 systems like Shopify, Amazon, and QuickBooks to ensure smooth workflows and real-time data alignment. This level of integration helps eliminate guesswork in supply chain operations, allowing teams to stay synchronized and efficient. Optimizing Warehouse Efficiency Through Streamlined Processes Warehouse efficiency often hinges on clear visibility and intuitive processes. Ajoy points out that Cin7’s platform allows users to set up various picking mechanisms, such as batch or zone picking, which can drastically reduce the time spent on order fulfillment. He notes, “The purpose of good software is to make the user a superhero.” By ensuring that employees can find products quickly and with confidence, Cin7 enhances both employee satisfaction and operational efficiency. Leveraging Data to Drive Smarter Decisions Cin7 doesn’t just uncover inefficiencies; it actively helps businesses address them. Ajoy shares results from a recent cohort, “Our average customers in that 30 cohort had $500,000 in overstock.” Cin7’s inventory forecasting tools analyze sales patterns and supplier lead times to predict demand more accurately. Ajoy elaborates on how Cin7 tackles overstock issues, explaining, “We’re now starting to surface that information up to our customers to get them to be smarter regarding replenishment.” This approach helps businesses avoid unnecessary reorders and direct their capital toward products in demand, ultimately reducing overstock and stockouts. Key Takeaways Cin7 eliminates operational silos by integrating inventory, order, and warehouse management on one platform. The platform’s efficiency tools, like batch and zone picking, enhance employee productivity and operational speed. Data-driven insights help companies avoid costly overstock and stockouts, leading to better financial outcomes. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 528: Streamlining Inventory and Warehouse Management with Cin7
Episode 527: Digital Transformation with Labeling
In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Josh Roffman, EVP of Marketing at Loftware, explores the pivotal role labeling plays in today’s supply chain. Loftware, a pioneer in the labeling industry with nearly 40 years of experience, assists over 12,000 companies globally in navigating the complexities of product labeling. The conversation delves into how labeling has evolved, the intersection of digital transformation with labeling processes, and the integration of AI and cloud technologies. Roffman highlights the importance of labels in ensuring compliance, traceability, and efficiency within an increasingly complex and globalized supply chain. The Evolution of Labeling and Supply Chain Complexity Labeling has long been a crucial aspect of supply chains, but as technology advances, so too has the function of labels. Roffman states, “The ability to have that label be a connection point between the physical and digital is where things are evolving.” The growth of regulations and the need for traceability have pushed labels beyond basic product identification. Now, labels carry vital information that supports both businesses and consumers in understanding a product’s journey. From tracking pharmaceuticals in the life sciences to providing detailed information in retail, labeling continues to evolve alongside the growing demand for transparency and compliance. Digital Transformation with Labeling: A Path to Efficiency The digitization of labeling processes is central to modernizing supply chains. Roffman explains, “Manual processes have given way to automation, integrating systems of truth like SAP to trigger labeling downstream.” This shift toward digital transformation has automated the creation and management of labels, helping companies address the complexities of geography, regulations, and evolving industry standards. By leveraging cloud-based technologies, companies can centralize their labeling processes, enabling supplier networks to adhere to specific standards, ultimately reducing errors and improving efficiency. AI and Cloud: A Powerful Combination for the Future AI and cloud technologies are transforming supply chain operations. Roffman shared that 76% of supply chain professionals believe AI will transform their operations within three years, but only 17% have begun implementing it. He acknowledges that large organizations face challenges in adopting new technologies but emphasizes the potential: “We’re right at the cusp of what AI can do… It will streamline next-generation labeling solutions.” With AI automating complex labeling changes and ensuring compliance and cloud offering centralized control, companies can unlock new levels of efficiency and accuracy in their supply chains. Key Takeaways Labels have evolved from basic product identifiers to carriers of critical supply chain data. Digital transformation in labeling automates previously manual processes, improving efficiency. AI and cloud technologies offer new opportunities to streamline labeling processes and ensure compliance. The New Warehouse Podcast Episode 527: Digital Transformation with Labeling
Episode 526: AI in Warehouse Management with Chat WMS
In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Danny Glass, co-founder of Cellaware Technologies, explores the innovative ways artificial intelligence (AI) is applied to warehouse management systems (WMS). Danny shares his background in logistics and systems and how his experience led to the development of ChatWMS. This natural language interface allows users to interact with their warehouse management systems using AI. They dive deep into the practical use of AI in streamlining operations and the challenges of AI adoption in the warehousing industry. From Operations to AI: The Birth of ChatWMS Danny’s journey into AI and warehouse management started with his early career at DHL. His operational experience and passion for systems led him to co-found Cellaware Technologies. He recalls, “We decided that we wanted to found Cellaware Technologies with the primary aim of applying artificial intelligence in the supply chain and specifically in the warehouse in a practical way.” The breakthrough came in 2023 when AI, particularly ChatGPT, became mainstream, inspiring the creation of ChatWMS, a system designed to enhance WMS through natural language processing. AI’s Role in Improving Warehouse Efficiency ChatWMS takes AI further by enabling users to interact with their WMS through a simple chat interface. Danny explains, “Using the latest large language model capabilities and technology, you can effectively converse with your warehouse management system in the most comfortable way to derive insights from it. In my experience in operations, there’s a lot of value in that because I know how much smarter I became with respect to my operation when I could interact with the data at that level.” This innovative approach allows managers to access critical data without relying on pre-built reports or complex SQL queries. ChatWMS empowers managers to make informed decisions quickly by simplifying data extraction, enhancing operational efficiency, and reducing errors. Challenges of AI Adoption in Warehousing Despite the benefits of AI, adoption in the warehouse industry has been slow. “There’s a lot of hype around AI,” Danny notes, but actual implementation has lagged. Many companies are cautious about the disruption AI could cause to daily operations. The key, Danny emphasizes, is making AI solutions “minimally invasive” and ensuring that they integrate seamlessly with existing systems. ChatWMS, for instance, works with any WMS that stores its data in a relational database management system, making it adaptable and easy to implement. Key Takeaways on AI in Warehouse Management ChatWMS enables natural language interaction with warehouse management systems. AI adoption in warehousing is slow due to concerns about disruption, but tools like ChatWMS offer minimal implementation risks. Danny Glass highlights the importance of making AI solutions practical and adaptable for real-world warehouse environments. The New Warehouse Podcast Episode 526: Leveraging AI in Warehouse Management with Chat WMS
Orange County Business Journal names Toshiba’s Kerstin Woods 2024 Woman in Business Award Nominee
Award Recognizes Women providing positive impacts for their organizations & within the Orange County, California, Community Orange County Business Journal named Toshiba America Business Solutions‘ marketing leader Kerstin Woods a 2024 Woman in Business Award nominee. Award nominees were selected for accomplishing significant success within their respective organizations while benefiting the greater Orange County, California business community. Judges will additionally consider nominees’ contributions to the Orange County community in general, as well as their commitment to philanthropic causes. Sponsors at the Orange County Business Journal’s annual event will present the six awards at the 2024 Women in Business Awards Luncheon & Program on Oct. 30 at the Marriott Irvine in California. “This event is one of the premier contests in Orange County and which last year attracted an audience of about 800,” says Orange County Business Journal Editor-In-Chief Peter J. Brennan. “Toshiba America Business Solutions is one of the most prominent companies with headquarters in Orange County.” Toshiba & Orange County Difference Maker Woods has notched numerous accomplishments as Toshiba’s vice president of solutions and outbound marketing. Upon joining Toshiba in June 2019, she was tasked with acquainting herself to an entirely new industry while shortly thereafter successfully leading her organization’s marketing department through the pandemic. Woods has since led several profitable product launches, defining and adding new product categories for Toshiba, and launching Toshiba’s popular Elevate Sky® cloud platform, which enables organizations’ print productivity and digital automation across the Americas. Woods received the Stevie® Award for Female Executive of the Year for her marketing excellence at Toshiba. She is also an ENX Magazine Difference Maker, 2024 The Cannata Report Best Female Executive of the Year nominee, and leads the company’s AI Task Force. An advocate for diversity and women in business, Woods is the executive sponsor for engagement, diversity, and inclusion at Toshiba, where she mentors many company employees. She also hosts numerous industrywide women’s events annually. Woods also began Toshiba’s first-ever industry-wide giveback while raising more than $20,000 for Orangewood Foundation, a Southern California nonprofit helping foster youth transition into adulthood. Woods additionally serves on the Executive Committee within the Board of Directors for Ocean Institute, a Southern California nonprofit that provides firsthand STEM education to 13,000+ students annually. Moreover, she has a long history of serving in leadership roles within her two children’s local schools and is an enthusiastic advocate for school funding for sports, arts, and hands-on science. Beyond these good works, Woods conducts admissions interviews on behalf of Stanford University’s (her alma mater) Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a member of the university’s alumni ambassador program. “Kerstin is one of the most impressive and dynamic individuals I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate and work beside,” states Toshiba America Business Solutions President and Chief Executive Officer Larry White. “While her impact on our marketing efforts has been transformative, Kerstin also leads and is a mentor for our engagement, diversity, and inclusion program and is a powerful advocate for worthy causes in Orange County.”
Nucor Promotes two warehousing leaders in anticipation of new initiatives
Nucor is pleased to announce the promotion of two esteemed teammates – Daniel Aguirre who is now Commercial Director and Keavon Anbardan who accepted the position of Construction and Installation Director. Both material-handling industry leaders have played a vital role in developing Nucor Data Systems (NDS) as the ultimate single-source provider of data center essentials. Daniel Aguirre’s career with Nucor began in 2014 at Hannibal Industries as an inside sales representative for its tubing products, where he held various responsibilities until his promotion to Distribution Sales Manager. In 2023, he was promoted to National Sales Manager of Nucor Warehouse Systems. As Commercial Director of Nucor Data Systems, Aguirre will lead the group’s commercial and design teams as it captures the explosive growth within AI and Cloud Computing infrastructures with Nucor Data Systems. In his new role as the Construction and Installation Director at Nucor Data Systems, Keavon Anbardan will lead the growing team of install technicians, project managers, construction engineers and sub-contractors. Anbardan was a key player in the rapid growth of Nucor Data Systems and will explore more growth opportunities for Nucor Fabricated Products in the construction and installation scope for data and warehousing. Previously, Anbardan was the Operations Manager for Southwest Data Products (SWDP), now Nucor Data Systems. “As we grow and expand with these exciting new data and warehouse market opportunities, we need strong leaders to help navigate our teams so that we can best serve our customers with our continuously evolving solutions,” said Dave Olmsted, VP and GM, Nucor Data Systems. “Daniel and Keavon are the best people for the job, with forward-thinking strategies that align with our unique position in the industry. They are going to help our team and customers build towards the future.”
Must read: Dealers, we have an opportunity for you
Another year-end is approaching. But I’m not sure what to expect for next year. Before we do anything further, I wanted to review the AI program we have made available to you. Some of you must be thinking, WHAT IS BARTECKI UP TO NOW? Well, let me tell you. The goal is to produce a dealer standard for investigating AI, to determine if your system and data can provide meaningful data to assist customers and improve internal processes and knowledge to do more with less, to determine how long it will take to implement a workable program, and finally, how much investment is required over what period, along with an estimated ROI to expect from this investment. Can you see the benefit here? What you do with Connor Corp will become an industry-specific dealer program where you will find industry-specific answers and suggestions about using AI in a dealership. Since this is a no-cost program until you decide to move forward, you can contact Connor, and they will compile a file based on what they hear from dealers and address it in their monthly column in MHW. And don’t worry; no specific dealer will be identified in the column or during conversations with dealers. I suppose dealers representing a particular brand could assemble an AI group to discuss how their group could benefit from AI and, if so, have the OEM participate in the AI planning. All participants in the process are on the same page. So please take advantage of this benefit for two reasons: 1. It will benefit your operation internally and externally when dealing with customers. 2. Going through this process will provide you with a path to assist customers who are going through the same process. In short, this would be a value-added benefit on your part. So please give this a shot if you are investigating AI or have decided to move ahead based on your work to date. In either case, industry-specific findings will help reduce the cost of implementing AI and the time it takes to install it. I hope readers will provide input into the process so that other readers can benefit from their conclusions and findings. To me, having a process to help me through this type of expenditure geared to my kind of business would be at the top of my list. I want nothing better than to be able to compare notes with other dealers to avoid costly mistakes. So please use Connor Corp, and let’s get the program going because it will make your life a lot easier regarding AI decisions. On to another subject. How about we review where we stand regarding inflation and deflation? Inflation is moving downward for certain products and services but is still above the 2% rate the Fed is looking for. In terms of inflation, James Altucher states we are suffering from a case of EconCovid because 40% of all money printed in the history of the US was printed in the six months after COVID-19 started in March 2020. Now you know where the inflation originated from. To contain and lower inflation, the Fed increased interest rates to reduce the funds and move them into banks to earn interest while slowing down borrowing to keep borrowed funds out of the money supply. Let me say that again: BORROWED MONEY CAN CAUSE INFLATION. I HOPE OUR RESIDENTS IN DC UNDERSTAND THAT. Deflation is also something to consider because if we have a slowdown that causes increases in inventory levels, prices will fall, and margins will take a hit. These deflation hits will have to be offset with payroll reductions and general cost-cutting to try and make ends meet. However, another cause of deflation could pop up even if we avoid a recession. This deflation will result from new forms of technology that will produce INNOVATION, BETTER PRODUCTION, AND AUTOMATION that will lower costs and thus pricing while maintaining margins. How about that…. a good deflation. With all that is happening, you can expect to deal with many variables in 2025 when planning for CAP-X, which contains technology, AI, and general production spending, no matter what industry you are in. My brother was in the machine tool manufacturing business until they opened the gates to China. You can guess the rest. In any event, he always told me that YOUR COMPETITOR IS YOUR BEST ENGINEER. FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND DO IT BETTER. In other words, who is considered to have a better operation than yours? Then, do your homework to find out why customers feel that way, and “poof,” you have a list of issues to work with to catch up and overtake them in your market. One last thing. I just finished reading Masters of the Air by Donald L.Miller. It covers the air war in WW2. This is an outstanding piece of writing, about 500 pages, that will personally impact you. It will make you cry, lose sleep, and maybe even come up with a nightmare or two. What we put those kids through is unbelievable. And they were kids…. flying B-17s. Give it a try….you will not forget it. About the Columnist: Garry Bartecki is a CPA MBA with GB Financial Services LLC and a Wholesaler columnist since August 1993. E-mail editorial@mhwmag.com to contact Garry.
Elevating your Business with AI
I’m thrilled to join Material Handling Wholesaler as their newest columnist. I jumped at the opportunity when Garry Bartecki suggested I help address readers’ AI-related questions. As a Partner at Connor Group, I’ve led many business transformations, technology strategies, and automation efforts, enabling companies of various sizes to grow, drive profitability, and improve cash flow. This experience has given me firsthand exposure to the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation. As a guest columnist, I’m excited to share how even the simplest forms of AI can be transformative, making our organizations more efficient and resilient. Current Trends in AI Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology allows computers to perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence, such as reading, writing, pattern recognition, problem-solving, and decision-making. Additionally, the AI ecosystem is broad, encompassing a variety of technologies with different capabilities. Here are a few important technologies to be aware of: Generative AI (GenAI) can create new content, such as text, images, or music, by analyzing and mimicking patterns from existing data. It “generates” new outputs based on the information it has learned. Machine Learning (ML) is a method of teaching computers to learn from past data to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed. For example, ML can analyze past sales data to forecast future sales. Large Language Models (LLMs) are advanced AI models trained on vast amounts of text data. It can understand and generate human-like text, making it useful for tasks like answering questions, writing essays, reading documents, or summarizing information. Although AI technology might seem complex and unapproachable, it’s already embedded in many applications we use daily. For instance, Netflix employs ML to recommend shows based on your watch history, and Amazon uses GenAI to summarize product reviews. These AI-enabled functions contribute to a seamless and user-friendly experience. However, it’s not only tech consumers who benefit from AI; numerous organizations are also reaping its rewards. A recent Connor Group survey found that 78% of respondents plan to adopt AI, highlighting that this technology is here to stay. Practical Applications of AI A common misconception is that large IT departments and expensive resources are required to implement AI in your organization. This does not have to be the case—there are several tools that are relatively inexpensive, easy to deploy, and can significantly increase efficiency and productivity. Here are some practical uses for AI in your daily operations: Simpler uses: ChatGPT and other LLM-powered Chatbots can be leveraged for the following tasks: Document & Content Creation: Generate detailed policies, standard operating procedures, marketing materials, emails, etc. Document Summarization & Data Extraction: Transform lengthy contracts into digestible summaries, highlighting key terms and pull data points (e.g., prices, products) with ease. How-to Guide: Are you struggling to figure something out? Ask your AI—it can recommend step-by-step technical guides, ways to solve system issues, etc. Meeting Assistant: Use AI capabilities within communication tools like Zoom and Teams, for automated summaries and action lists. More complex uses for AI: Accounts Payable Automation: Automate vendor invoice processing and matching to purchase orders. Predictive Analytics: Examine past data and predict future outcomes such as customer upsell, potential machine issues, product returns, etc. Recommendations: Optimize warehouse operations and recommend on-hand inventory and/or buying levels. Customer service management: Support your agents with quicker access to large volumes of technical documents or facilitate direct customer interactions for support or sales. These are just a few examples and there are countless ways organizations can start utilizing AI to realize meaningful gains. Which Tools Should You Start With? To embark on your AI journey, start by exploring accessible AI tools with straightforward use cases. Here are several options to consider as you explore AI technologies: Chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Edge Chat (included in your Microsoft Edge browser), and Claude – most of these are available in free, premium, and enterprise versions. Microsoft Copilot provides AI across all Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.). It is available for individuals or company accounts with a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan. Purpose-built tools help with specific tasks such as document management or customer service applications. An example is VIVI from KSG, which can help organizations (typically $50M+ in annual revenue) with sales, support, customer services, etc. AI in your existing system. Most modern technologies are rapidly adding AI capabilities, so I recommend reaching out to your software providers. You might get some exciting features for free! A Few Words of Caution The top two concerns surrounding AI are the AI making mistakes and data confidentiality. Firstly, if you are using Generative AI, you will find that most of the time, it provides accurate information. However, at times, it can hallucinate, providing inaccurate or entirely made-up information. You must always ensure there is a human-in-the-loop – someone to review the AI-generated outputs to ensure they are accurate, especially for business-critical decisions. Secondly, many of these AI technologies can gather, save, and use the data you provide, which could include sensitive or proprietary information. Enterprise versions, purpose-built tools, and applications from Microsoft tend to be more secure. Ensure you understand how any data you input is being used, and be extra careful with any private or highly confidential information. There are very secure AI options – make sure you know how your AI tools operate. Future Trends and Best Practices In summary, AI is a practical tool that offers many benefits that are accessible to businesses of all sizes. Looking ahead, AI integration in daily operations will become increasingly sophisticated, with advancements in predictive analytics, AI assistants, and robotics. Staying informed is the key to staying ahead—invest some time each week to explore AI developments on LinkedIn (feel free to follow me), read my upcoming articles, and subscribe to AI newsletters. If you have any questions, contact me at ai_automation@connorgp.com. I would be happy to answer them. About the Author: Jason Pikoos is a Managing Partner and leads Connor Group’s Technology and Innovation, including AI-driven solutions. He brings over 20 years of accounting, operational,
AutoScheduler.AI adds Jordan Lawrence to Lead Commercial Strategy
15 Plus Years of Experience in Enterprise Sales and Supply Chain Leadership AutoScheduler.AI has announced that it has added Jordan Lawrence as Vice President, Commercial Strategy, to broadly support the go-to-market strategy for its fast-growing warehouse orchestration platform. Jordan brings over 15 years of enterprise sales and supply chain leadership across distribution, manufacturing, transportation, and logistics technology. “Jordan Lawrence has extensive and robust experience supporting Fortune 500 supply chains with services and technologies that drive scaled execution,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “He has the proven ability to positively impact clients by helping them improve efficiencies and grow their bottom-line profits. His deep experience and proven track record make him an ideal leader for our team.” As Vice President of Commercial Strategy, Jordan will help shape and scale AutoScheduler to continue reaching its growth targets. He will work closely with clients to understand their current challenges and then deliver appropriate solutions that create value in the supply chain. Jordan will also provide organizational feedback, including sales, marketing, and product/tech, based on client input and industry best practices to maximize revenue growth and improve market share. “I look forward to working for this best-in-class organization to develop new market opportunities, customer segments, and potential partnerships,” says Jordan Lawrence, Vice President, Commercial Strategy at AutoScheduler.AI. Previously, Jordan held several leadership positions at Flexe, a managed outsourced logistics solution provider for Fortune 500 Enterprise clients. He also worked for C. H. Robinson as a key account manager managing client and third-party relationships. He graduated from East Carolina University with a BS in Business Administration, Marketing, and Business.
Emerson to help drive greater industrial edge interoperability
The company brings a deep legacy of driving industry standards to the Margo initiative, enabling more flexible, scalable automation for customers Global automation and technology provider Emerson joins the Linux Foundation’s Margo, a new open-standard initiative designed to make edge applications, devices, and orchestration software work seamlessly across multi-vendor industrial automation environments. As process and discrete manufacturers implement enhanced digitalization, they encounter challenges at the edge due to multi-vendor and multi-technology devices, apps, and orchestration environments that do not easily integrate. The Margo initiative addresses these challenges through the creation of practical reference implementations, open standards, and testing toolkits. This approach will help remove obstacles and simplify the process of building, deploying, scaling, and operating complex, multi-vendor industrial edge environments, helping manufacturers of all sizes build new and better digital operations or modernize existing ones. “The modern OT edge is the backbone of our next-generation automation architecture, enabling the availability of data and computing closest to where it is needed,” said Peter Zornio, Emerson’s chief technology officer. “Successful implementation will require open edge standards that will enable scalable, simplified, and seamless interoperability among applications, edge devices, and orchestration software – no matter the vendor technology. “Emerson is pleased to join the Margo initiative to help create a unified and cohesive edge management ecosystem. Our collective progress will make it easier, faster, and less costly for our customers to develop digital transformation programs that realize the full potential of AI, machine learning, and analytics at the edge.” The Margo initiative complements Emerson’s Boundless Automation™ vision for a next-generation, modern automation architecture designed to break down data silos and enable computing power where it is best suited, whether that’s in the field, edge, or cloud. Drawing its name from the Latin word for edge, Margo is supported by some of the largest automation providers globally. Emerson joins Margo as a steering member along with industry peers to develop open and secure edge interoperability standards for industrial automation ecosystems. The Margo project represents a significant industry collaboration to define mechanisms for interoperable orchestration of edge applications, workloads, and devices. It will deliver the promise of interoperability through an open standard, reference implementation, and comprehensive compliance testing toolkit. More details on the project can be found at margo.org.
KPI Solutions appoints Dean Starovasnik as Vice President Consulting Solutions
With 30 years of experience in the supply chain industry, he specializes in designing and implementing innovative and cost-justified distribution solutions KPI Solutions has announced that Dean Starovasnik has joined the company as Vice President, Consulting Solutions. In this role, Dean will partner with clients to understand their distribution objectives, and then create and deliver value-based strategic initiatives that enhance productivity and build resilience. He brings deep experience in a variety of industries including wholesale, retail, and eCommerce. “I’m happy to join KPI Solutions and help our clients solve complex supply chain challenges and navigate the many alternatives for warehouse design and automation,“ said Dean. “My background in end-to-end distribution projects allows me to bring a fresh perspective as we evaluate the best way to leverage a client’s investment in people, technology, and space to boost productivity and enable agility.” “Dean’s experience in transformative supply chain design and business case rationalization will bring value to our clients as we orchestrate innovative engineering with world-class automation technologies,” said Ron Adams, Chief Commercial Officer. “KPI’s clients will benefit from his broad yet analytical perspective that provides innovative and forward-thinking designs to achieve a company’s goals for efficiency, flexibility and scalability.” Dean joins KPI Solutions from enVista, where he was a Client Partner. Prior experience includes working in supply chain consulting and engineering at Bastian Solutions and Peach State Integrated Technologies. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his Master of Science in space systems operations from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a Professional Certified in Material Handling by MHI.
Research into AI adoption finds U.S. service companies held back by lack of skills, security concerns, and legacy systems
However, there is optimism that Industrial AI will improve quality control and bring new sustainability gains Research from IFS, a technology provider of enterprise cloud and industrial AI software, shows despite high levels of AI optimism among service companies, hurdles still stand in the way of successful AI adoption and deployment. Limited skills & expertise (38%), ethical/safety/security concerns (36%), and a legacy-based technology landscape (36%) were identified as the top service factors slowing adoption progress. What’s more, only 58% of respondents working in the service industry felt their industry was adopting AI faster than others—the lowest score out of all industries surveyed. However, there is optimism about the benefits of AI. Cost reductions/margin gains (31%) and mitigating risk (31%) are the two areas where service companies expect AI to make large differences. Sustainability planning also correlates directly with overall AI optimism. The less wide-ranging an industry’s sustainability strategy was regarding AI, the less likely they were to be optimistic about AI in general. Interestingly, most service respondents with an AI strategy for sustainability believe it can have the biggest impact through quality control and reducing product discarded (22%), alongside regular simulation and optimization of the business targeted to meeting sustainability goals (22%). Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer, IFS, commented: “At the surface level, the lack of optimism across some respondents may suggest we are at the edge of a trough of disillusionment, particularly following the all-encompassing hype that AI enjoyed for much of the last 18 months. “The lofty expectations for AI bely a fundamental misunderstanding of how it is supposed to drive value. The real power lies in Industrial AI, where data flows through every part of your business, combining structured, interlinked datasets to uncover insights, optimize every process, and marry the digital with the physical world. If a business doesn’t have a strategy to reach that point, then they need a partner who can guide them on that journey,” concluded Pedersen. There are more insights and actions in the Industrial AI: the new frontier for productivity, innovation and competition Executive Report. The IFS Global AI Optimism League Table by Country Research Methodology Censuswide surveyed 1,709 C-level/President/SVP/Directors who work in Services, Manufacturing, Telecommunications, A&D, Construction & Engineering, or Energy & resources in organizations with $50m+ annual revenue (Aged 18+) across the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, UAE, Norway, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
2024 Generative AI Product of the Year Awards accepting nominations now
Generative AI Expo and TMCnet are accepting applications for the 2024 Generative AI Product of the Year Awards. Suppose your organization has developed applications, platforms, models, devices, servers, sensors, or any other solution that harnesses the potential of Generative AI to elevate performance within any vertical market segment. In that case, we encourage you to apply for the 2024 Generative AI Product of the Year Awards. This is your opportunity to establish leadership in a rapidly emerging market, showcase your achievements, and drive new business for your innovative AI and automation solutions. This award is for solutions providers to prove that they have demonstrated excellence in leveraging Generative AI to help users: Enhance customer experiences Streamline operations Increase efficiency Improve quality Drive business success TMCnet and Generative AI Expo’s team of editors and judges encourage submissions from all market segments that have successfully deployed/implemented Generative AI solutions. Here are some of the applications we expect to be included in the winner’s list: Conversational Agents Content Creation and Automation Image Generation Video Generation Music Composition Natural Language Processing Chatbots and Virtual Assistants Style Transfer Data Augmentation Video Game Design Art Generation Code Generation Storytelling Speech Synthesis Character and Avatar Creation Video Captioning Product Design Recommendation Systems Language Translation These are some of the diverse applications where Generative AI technologies are being used to create content, solve problems, and enhance various fields. Your solutions in these areas should be rewarded for their excellence. Generative AI Product of the Year Award Winners Earn All of These Benefits: Independent Validation from Highly-Respected 3rd Party Source Highlighted as an award winner in TMCnet and Generative AI Expo feature story Announced as an award winner via press release Measurable Publicity Boost for Your Solution and Brand Featured in extensive social media campaign across all Generative AI Expo, TMC, and TMCnet platforms – reaching in excess of 100,000 followers Provided award press kit to inform clients, prospects, and media of your achievement Unlimited License to Award Logos^ Adds Year-Round, Impressive Boost to Marketing Campaigns Add Award logo to: Website home page, product pages, and About Us Social Media platforms, profiles, and posts Marketing brochures Digital and print ad campaigns Sales presentations E-mail signatures Trade show booth Webinars and other video content Annual report Business cards Promotional items Customer newsletters White papers and case studies Internal employee communications Increased Inbound Inquiries for Your Sales Team Your presence on the list of winners could be just what you need to land on more high-value RFPs Instant Morale Boost for Your Hard-working Team Show appreciation to all team members who build and bring your solutions to market Awards are not given in specific categories. All tools, platforms, and applications contributing to generating Generative AI solutions are considered. While Generative AI is primarily associated with software applications and models, hardware and technology products also enable and enhance Generative AI capabilities. GPU Accelerators AI-Optimized Servers AI Cameras and Sensors Smart Assistants and Devices Robotic Process Automation (RPA) 3D Printers Generative Art Installations Any of your hardware and technology products designed to support and leverage Generative AI are also eligible to earn the award. To be considered for a 2024 Generative AI Product of the Year Award, please complete the online form detailing why your solution(s) should be considered. Include product information and other relevant documentation to support your nomination. The judging panel may reach out to you seeking additional information. TMCnet and Generative AI Expo editors and judges will carefully evaluate all award submissions. These judges assess each entry based on its own merits rather than against other submissions. All worthy solutions will be selected for awards. Early Bird Deadline: Monday, August 12. Save $100 off the processing fee. Only nominated solutions are considered. Winners are to be announced in October 2024.
Peak Technologies listed as Top Solution Provider in annual industry ranking
Peak Technologies ranked 65th on The Channel Company’s CRN Solution Provider 500 list, the annual ranking of the largest solution providers with operations in North America. Peak Technologies, a provider of digital supply chain and mobile workforce solutions, has been named to The Channel Company’s CRN Solution Provider 500 list, the annual ranking of the largest solution providers by revenue with operations in North America. Peak Technologies is ranked 65th in the 2024 list, the third straight year the company is listed among the top 70 out of 500 companies. Each year, the CRN Solution Provider 500 list is published by The Channel Company to rank the top integrators, service providers and IT consultants in the industry and recognize the critical ways these companies help businesses and organizations adopt and get the most value from leading-edge technologies. This year’s list emphasized the rapidly growing role and impact that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI technologies is having across multiple industry segments. “We are pleased and honored that we have once again been listed among the top companies in our field on the CRN Solution Provider 500 list,” said Tony Rivers, President and CEO, Peak Technologies. “It recognizes the continuing success we have had in both developing innovative, high-impact, smart technologies solutions for our customers and expanding our ability to help them solve their digital supply chain and mobile workforce challenges.” From manufacturing, warehousing, transportation and logistics operations to retail, healthcare and field service applications, Peak Technologies has become one of the industry’s largest providers of end-to-end automation solutions that modernize the factory, optimize the warehouse, revolutionize the retail experience and reimagine field services and last-mile delivery. “We recognize the need to continuously invest in new smart technologies and AI-driven solutions to help our customers navigate the seismic shifts in the IT industry,” said Alexander Price, Senior Vice President, Smart Technologies at Peak Technologies. “Our recent investments include new offerings in machine vision, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), RFID/RTLS platforms and advanced analytics solutions, all developed to help our customers leverage cutting-edge technology to achieve their critical operational and productivity goals.” Technology solutions recently launched by Peak Technologies include: Peak Analytics, a powerful supply chain AI and image recognition solution that lets logistics operations capture key information about package quality by harnessing the power of image recognition and AI. Using advanced machine vision cameras placed within scan tunnels on conveyor lines, Peak Analytics advanced software delivers real-time data about the condition of every package, allowing companies to identify problem inventory at the source. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) provide mobility solutions to help automate and streamline labor-intensive logistics tasks such as picking, receiving, loading replenishment and put away, saving time and helping increase daily output while allowing skilled workers to focus on high-value tasks. Advanced Machine Vision (MV) solutions automate manufacturing inspection using advanced 2D, 3D and deep learning solutions. Sensors, cameras, frame grabbers and advanced software quickly and accurately detect objects for instant inspection, sorting, traceability or high-speed production. By capturing high-quality digital images of items moving at very high speeds, MV systems can gauge whether the data or objects meet certain parameters and provide AI-driven analytics for real-time visibility and decision making. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and RTLS (Real-Time Location Systems) solutions provide precise location data of high-value assets, assisting in loss-prevention and enhancing supply chain visibility. Track the receipt and movement of goods within a warehouse, facility or yard, or use dynamic, real-time locationing to immediately track and locate items and verify inventory. Both technologies improve asset visibility across warehousing and logistics operations, helping automate and improve asset use and processes. In recent years, Peak Technologies has also made growth investments through 15 strategic mergers and acquisitions. These include the 2023 acquisition of North Coast Technical, a leading provider of machine vision hardware and image processing software for Fortune 500 companies, and the 2022 merger with Supply Chain Services, a leading full life-cycle system integrator and provider of digital supply chain, retail and mobile workforce solutions.
Centralized Warehouse Orchestration: Revolutionizing efficiency for shippers
The distribution process is burdened with consumer expectations demanding faster deliveries, warehouse labor shortages, scarcity of physical storage space, and siloed supply chain data. Companies are taxed to improve distribution and warehouse processes to improve customer satisfaction, lower costs, and increase productivity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have emerged as transformative technologies within the supply chain, including in the warehouse. AI-powered solutions enhance warehouse operations and improve efficiencies. AI can sit on top of a warehouse management system (WMS) to dynamically orchestrate all activities within the warehouse to make the WMS more responsive. By integrating various aspects of warehouse operations through centralized warehouse orchestration, companies drive value by gaining efficiencies, reducing costs, and enhancing service levels. A centralized warehouse orchestration solution uses advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, analytics, and machine learning, to manage and optimize warehouse processes. In other words, it acts as the brain of warehouse operations, coordinating activities, optimizing processes, and ensuring seamless integration of all supply chain components. For multi-site operations, warehouse executives gain a bird’s eye view of what is happening at each site. A centralized warehouse orchestration system creates a comprehensive view of the entire distributed warehouse network, allowing executives to identify potential flow issues, which customers/shipments are at risk, and where action needs to be taken to avoid a service disruption. Benefits for Shippers A centralized warehouse orchestration platform enhances shippers’ operational capabilities, helping them gain a competitive edge. These benefits include: Increased Efficiency: Centralized orchestration streamlines warehouse operations, reducing manual labor and minimizing errors. This leads to faster and more accurate order fulfillment and better resource utilization. Cost Reduction: By optimizing inventory levels, automating processes, and making more efficient use of resources, shippers can reduce costs and waste. Improved Visibility and Control: Centralized warehouse orchestration systems give shippers real-time visibility into their warehouse network, allowing faster shipment tracking, proactive issue management, and more informed decision-making. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Customers get their orders at the right time and in the right amount by improving on-time, in-full fulfillment. This improves customer satisfaction, increasing customer loyalty and a competitive edge. Better Risk Management: Real-time data and analytics enable shippers to identify and mitigate risks more effectively. Managers can identify bottlenecks within the supply chain with a centralized view of the entire network of distribution centers and warehouses. Management can respond quickly to disruptions, such as delays or inventory shortages, minimizing the impact on their operations and customers. How a Centralized Warehouse Orchestration Solution Works A centralized warehouse orchestration solution works with existing systems, such as a WMS, Warehouse Execution Systems (WES), and Warehouse Control Systems (WCS). The tool integrates data from across supply chain systems, including inventory management, yard management, labor management, ERP, and warehouse systems, to create a centralized overview of information that facilitates decision-making. This integration ensures a seamless data flow and coordination across supply chain operations. It also allows for a single interface capable of managing the four critical pillars of warehouse orchestration: labor planning, inventory management, human-robotic interactions, and space optimization. Let’s look at each of these pillars and how a centralized warehouse orchestration solution benefits each function: Labor Planning – By monitoring the number of workers at each site, a centralized warehouse orchestration platform can compare how well a site works with a certain amount of labor versus others that use more or fewer workers. A centralized warehouse orchestration solution ensures that labor resources are utilized effectively, enhancing warehouse efficiency and productivity. It can also forecast labor demand based on historical data and predictive analytics, adjusting staff levels proactively or reducing overstaffing, which can save costs. Inventory Management—Provides a unified view of inventory levels across multiple warehouse locations to improve inventory management by enabling accurate tracking, forecasting, and stock replenishment. The solution leverages a real-time data-driven approach for proactive decision-making on warehouse performance, shipment statuses, and bottlenecks. This approach helps to optimize operations and improve efficiencies while allowing the business to quickly scale up or down based on seasonality and other activities. Space Optimization—A centralized warehouse orchestration platform facilitates space optimization by integrating various warehouse systems to maximize the efficient use of available space. With real-time data, the system can evaluate and adjust slotting arrangements to best use space. With a real-time view of inventory levels and locations, the system can enable better space management by ensuring that products are stored in the best locations. A centralized warehouse orchestration solution can facilitate cross-docking to minimize storage time and reduce space usage. Incoming goods are directed to outbound shipments without long-term storage. Smaller shipments can be consolidated into fewer, larger ones that take up less space. Human-Robotic Interactions—A centralized warehouse orchestration solution improves human-robotic interactions by coordinating the activities of human workers and robotic systems. The system provides a unified interface for real-time monitoring of human workers’ and robots’ activities and statuses. Information can be collected and analyzed from human and robotic activities to identify inefficiencies and performance bottlenecks. Managers gain insights from data analytics for continuous improvement of human-robotic workflows. Centralized warehouse orchestration is revolutionizing the supply chain industry by integrating and optimizing warehouse operations, giving managers a bird’s eye view and visibility into what is happening across the network to mitigate risks better and enhance customer satisfaction. About the Author: Michael Perdue is a Solutions Engineer at AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Orchestration Platform and WMS Accelerator. As a solutions engineer, Michael helps teams with strategies that deliver value to their supply chain operations. He worked for multiple SaaS companies before transitioning to the logistics world. He recently worked at a Third-Party Logistics company, gaining operational experience helping companies in the Food Industry, Cold Storage, Manufacturing, Retail, and CPG space. He has experience running teams in distribution centers and has gained tremendous insight into areas where optimization and improvements can occur in multiple warehouse settings.
Future proof your supply chain: Embracing automation and AI
Supply chain leaders are turning to automation and AI to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate the customer experience Automation in both process and physical forms has been around dating back as far as the Industrial Revolution. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that automation began to emerge in supply chains. Back then, warehouse automation—such as automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), sortation systems, and conveyors—involved expensive physical infrastructure and millions of dollars in capital. What’s more, as business models evolved or companies created new models, these approaches struggled to be responsive. Fast forward to today. With advances in technology that include AI/machine learning and RPA in the form of software robotics, modern automation such as AMRs and other automated systems are much more conducive for pilots with small investments—providing the ability to prove value before a larger commitment is made. This benefit is just one of several reasons supply chain leaders need to embrace the enormous potential for advances in automation and AI technologies, which will continue to gain momentum for years to come. Additional benefits include: A solution to labor shortages: Finding enough workers with the right skill sets has opened the door for the adoption of warehouse automation, including the use of automated sorting systems, picking and packing automation, robotic automation, and autonomous vehicles. In addition to reducing dependence on human labor, these solutions can increase efficiency by operating 24/7 without fatigue. This translates into reduced costs and higher productivity levels, helping warehouses meet customer demands even during peak periods. Additionally, automation systems can minimize the risk of injuries to human workers by performing hazardous tasks. Enhanced customer experience: Brands and retailers are investing heavily in automation and AI to meet consumer demands for fast and reliable delivery. For example, AI helps companies optimize routes and provide accurate delivery estimates. Additionally, AI-driven chatbots can track orders, handle routine inquiries, and offer product recommendations—enabling companies to minimize response times and allow human customer service representatives to focus on complex issues. Improved accuracy/reduced errors: Precision is one of the most significant advantages of warehouse automation. The implementation of automated systems can drastically reduce human errors, which can lead to more accurate order fulfillment and inventory management. This can go a long way in maintaining customer satisfaction while reducing waste. Enhanced demand forecasting: AI technology excels at forecasting demand by extracting insights from extensive repositories of data, including numerous sources such as past sales records, customer transactions, social media mentions, and prevailing economic indicators—helping supply chain and logistics organizations maintain the delicate balance between consumer demand and supply. Additionally, AI projection tools can help facilitate better collaboration between supply chain partners by allowing demand forecast data to be shared with suppliers. This helps businesses optimize inventory levels and minimize stockouts while creating a harmonized supply chain system. Real-time visibility: Today’s businesses need to have complete, real-time supply chain visibility. AI-powered systems provide this level of visibility by integrating data from various sources such as suppliers, manufacturers, logistics providers, and retailers. This helps businesses track inventory levels, monitor shipments, identify bottlenecks, and respond quickly to disruptions or changes in demand—which enhances overall supply chain agility. Take the First Step—Consult with a Supply Chain and Logistics Expert Before investing in automation and AI, supply chain leaders need to understand the complex nature of these technologies as well as the current and future state of the market. This can be effectively accomplished by leveraging the expertise of a supply chain logistics and implementation partner—one that can help you deliver a customer experience that will build brand loyalty and accelerate growth. About the Author: Recognized for industry thought leadership and customer value creation, Jagan Reddy brings 25 years of experience in building and delivering supply chain and logistics solutions to his position as Managing Partner of Netlogistik US.