Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from an emerging technology to something that is already changing the way logistics businesses operate. But with new AI tools, demonstrations and predictions appearing almost daily, separating genuine opportunity from the latest technological “shiny ball” is becoming increasingly difficult.
In our new eBook, Beyond the Shiny Ball, Logistics Business joins forces with The Information Factory to explore what AI really means for the logistics industry – and, more importantly, where businesses should be focusing their attention today.
Drawing on an in-depth conversation between Logistics Business Editor Peter MacLeod and Robert Jordan, CEO and Founder of The Information Factory, the eBook looks beyond some of the more spectacular predictions surrounding AI. Instead, it examines how the technology is becoming embedded within the software, data and decision-making processes that already underpin logistics operations.
From the future of SaaS and business intelligence to AI-assisted decision-making, data quality and the changing role of people, the discussion considers what the next phase of AI adoption could look like in practice. It also asks where businesses are likely to see the fastest returns – which may be less about autonomous warehouses and more about improving everyday activities such as customer service, RFQs, documentation, compliance, reporting and routine operational queries.
Crucially, Beyond the Shiny Ball also explores the foundations businesses need before scaling AI. Understanding existing processes, improving the quality and accessibility of data, establishing clear governance and deciding where human approval must remain are all fundamental to becoming genuinely AI-ready. The objective isn’t simply to deploy more AI, but to use it where it can solve real problems and support better decisions.
The opportunity is significant. AI can help logistics organisations connect information, analyse disruption and identify risks at a speed that would be difficult for an individual or team to match. The competitive advantage, the eBook argues, won’t come from having the most impressive AI demonstration – it will come from being able to make better decisions, faster.
For logistics leaders trying to understand where AI can deliver real value – without getting distracted by the hype – Beyond the Shiny Ball offers a practical look at what comes next and where to begin.
