AI Poised to Enhance Warehouses
Artificial intelligence (AI) is high on the radar of distributors.
Leading distributors are using AI to create more efficient, agile, and streamlined supply chains and support functions, emphasizes a recent article from McKinsey consultants called “Harnessing the Power of AI in Distribution Operations.”
The piece observes that new tools and approaches are emerging across the distribution value chain, in planning, warehousing, transportation, and strategies for distributors to develop and retain talent. As just one example cited, AI-powered tools can unlock 7 to 15 percent additional capacity in warehouse networks by identifying additional daily spare capacity, understanding variability in resource availability, and evaluating opportunities to improve efficiency.
A speaker at this year’s IFDA Solutions Conference will make the point that AI is positioned to continue accelerating warehouse operations, from re-engineering warehouse management systems (WMS) to enabling smarter forecasting and replenishment.
That speaker is Charles Fallon, president of LIDD Consultants. His presentation is titled “AI in Warehouse Management: From Promise to Performance” and will take place on Tuesday September 30.
Fallon will relay that AI-enabled automation is transforming the industry at a time when warehouses face challenges with traditional, manual systems.
What is behind the momentum for AI in warehouses? By making real-time, data-driven decisions and optimizing tasks, he explains, AI helps warehouses improve efficiency—whether it’s enhancing inventory management or streamlining workflows.
The foodservice distribution industry can benefit from Fallon’s perspectives on how AI has been evolving. His perspective is that the technology has progressed from narrow applications to powerful, generative systems that address critical operational challenges like labor shortages and cost increases. Fallon’s point is that AI is no longer just a buzzword. It is transforming warehouse management and delivering real results.
Interested in more info on AI use in foodservice distribution? Check out IFDA’s white paper.
