In Search of Practical Innovation
Distributors are interested in new opportunities from emerging technology, but they want to ensure that solutions will be useful on a daily basis.
“I’m looking for practical innovation,” said John Bordewick, General Manager, Dot Foods. “I get lots of sales calls about the next big thing in technology, but I need to go beyond buzz words. I want to improve our day-to-day operations.”
Bordewick, a member of IFDA’s Planning Council for the Solutions Conference, offered an example of innovative technology that is practical.
Dot has conducted a production planning process throughout its 65 years in business, which has evolved gradually over time. Now the company is exploring AI solutions to further accelerate this process by incorporating new factors into the planning. Bordewick gave an example of how this technology can provide answers to practical questions.
“What weather patterns, such as snowstorms, are taking place that might impact how many people go out to eat in restaurants, and how that might impact our orders? Have there been natural disasters happening over the past 10 days that might shift demand and affect orders and the kind of work we are doing? Do we have the right amount of staffing in the near term to meet customer demand and get the work done?”
Dot has a unique industry role as a redistributor, and it emphasizes its great relationships with supplier and distributor partners. In fact, its trucks emphasize that point with the wording, “Trusted Values, Innovative Solutions, Shared Growth.”
Bordewick is excited about exploring new directions at the Solutions Conference, and he mentioned two conference education sessions of special interest. One is AI in Warehouse Management: From Promise to Performance, because he wants to explore practical solutions. The other is Our Leadership Future: Harnessing Emotional and Artificial Intelligence, because it’s a reminder that people skills matter just as much as technology capabilities.
More information on practical innovation can be found in IFDA’s report called Delivering Efficiency: A Realistic Guide to Artificial Intelligence Use in Foodservice Distribution.
Article authored by freelance writer David Orgel.
