What tools and tech are you using to streamline workflows, automate mundane tasks, and/or enable employees to focus on more strategic, value-adding activities?

In transportation, route optimization using predictive analytics is essential. However, data must be cleaned properly to be an asset rather than a liability. Another area where technology is making a significant impact is in customer service, with the increasing use of chatbots to handle customer inquiries efficiently.

It's important to ensure that any tool we implement adds value to the end customer. At Philips, we use a mix of homegrown solutions with boundary conditions and rule-based processing to protect proprietary information. One area where we've seen significant benefits is in improving forecasting accuracy for sales and supply and demand. By building large language models with comprehensive data, we gain a competitive advantage. The key is to focus on the true value proposition of each tool and its impact on the customer.

I've seen technology evolve through different phases, from hands-on tools addressing specific business needs to more strategic, corporate-wide systems like NetSuite and eventually SAP or Oracle. Nowadays, true automation and AI-driven processes are becoming more prevalent. For example, rule-based automation can significantly reduce the time spent on tasks by eliminating the need for manual intervention. Companies like WorkCatal are developing technologies that can automate workflows across various business sectors, reducing delays caused by time zone differences in multinational teams.

From my experience, especially as we've grown from a small private organization to a larger one, leveraging technology has been essential. We use technology to automate repeatable processes, from carrier routing to inventory management. This automation frees up our team to focus on more strategic tasks. Exception-based reporting, for instance, has significantly reduced the time spent on quality administration and transportation routing. The key is to automate any A-to-B process that is repeatable, which is crucial for the efficiency of supply chain operations. Exception-based reporting has been a game-changer. It has reduced the time spent on quality administration and customer data review. Additionally, automating transportation routing has eliminated the need for manual bill of lading entries. These automations allow the team to focus on more strategic initiatives.