Tag: cloud enterprise software

Peter MacLeod meets IFS’s Bianca Nobilo to discuss how human factors such as soft skills are essential to successful deployment of industrial AI.

At the recent IFS Connect Eastern Europe event in Warsaw, where the potential of IFS’s industrial AI took centre stage to a great reception, my conversation in a quiet side-room away from all the hurly-burly with Bianca Nobilo, IFS’s Chief External Affairs Officer, offered a welcome balanced view into the human side of digital transformation. Speaking exclusively with Logistics Business, former CNN anchor Nobilo provided a compelling exploration of how soft skills, ethics, and a values-driven approach can accelerate and shape the adoption of AI across industry sectors, particularly logistics.

IFS, a provider of cloud enterprise software, has made significant strides with its AI-powered platform, IFS.ai. This technology helps organisations optimise efficiency, increase uptime, and make real-time, data-driven decisions. But Nobilo is keen to emphasise that successful implementation isn’t only about tools, but also mindset.

“One of the most important traits we see among companies ready to embrace AI is curiosity,” she said. “Curiosity means you’re less afraid of change, more willing to challenge outcomes, and open to rethinking the way things are done.”

Nobilo, who early into her tenure of her executive position set up a Think Tank within IFS to explore questions around innovation, ethics, and wellbeing, stressed that while technical knowledge is important, soft skills like self-motivation and communication are essential in today’s AI-driven workplaces. “As AI becomes more prevalent, we risk cognitive offloading, namely depending too much on it and losing our own creative or critical abilities,” she explained. “That’s why self-monitoring and thoughtful use of AI are vital. It’s about knowing when to use technology and when not to.”

Communication, particularly in an era of hybrid work and digital collaboration, also stands out. “Introducing AI and digital workers can further reduce human interaction. So strong communicators – people who can cohere teams, articulate problems and solutions, and even prompt machines effectively – will become more valuable.”

These insights align with broader IFS goals. The company’s Industrial AI offering is deeply embedded in sectors such as manufacturing, aviation, and logistics, industries where safety, uptime, and human oversight are critical. At the Warsaw event, IFS showcased success stories from companies using AI to reduce downtime, predict maintenance needs, and streamline operations. But Nobilo pointed out that technology alone isn’t enough. “There’s fear and lack of understanding, especially among SMEs. That’s an invitation for us to step up and demystify the ROI of AI.”

Industrial AI

That bridge between industry and policy was also a focus of Nobilo’s meeting with Dariusz Standerski, Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs, the day before her interview with me. “In that meeting, logistics and supply chain came up as the top area in Poland where AI can make an immediate, measurable impact. Governments want to know how to build policy around AI that benefits national infrastructure, security, and the economy.”

However, the global AI race raises complex ethical issues. Nobilo (pictured, below) flagged regulatory lag as a top concern. “The technology is moving faster than governments can legislate. We see challenges around transparency, bias, explainability, and data sovereignty. Without proper AI literacy, users can’t give true consent to its use.”

On cybersecurity, front-of-mind at the time of our meeting thanks to the troubles encountered in the UK by M&S, she was unequivocal. “It’s Janus-faced in almost every sense. AI is both the threat and the defence. Some of the best tools to monitor systems are AI-based. But as we move toward quantum computing, we’ll need equally advanced AI to safeguard critical infrastructure.”

The conversation ended with a reflection on social mobility and education. “Traditional career paths are being upended. It’s not about a specific STEM degree anymore. It’s about adaptability, about skills that allow you to thrive alongside evolving technology, not be replaced by it.”

As the logistics sector faces rapid transformation, voices like Nobilo’s are essential. Her perspective reminds us that while industrial AI may be driven by machines, its future is still very much human. That’s particularly reassuring to hear at a time when AI and automated processes seem to dominate every conversation I have.