SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSFORMATION
“ Technology like what we offer at Blue Yonder is a good tool to be able to measure around all of that uncertainty, run different scenario plans and assess sourcing locations that are taking in different costs associated with that,” notes Saskia.
Some industries face bigger hurdles.“ There are these embedded ecosystems of manufacturers, raw materials, intermediate material sourcing that exist in certain regions, especially within China,” she explains. Relocating entire systems is difficult, especially when past efforts, such as shifting to Mexico, have been undermined by unexpected tariffs.
The future of supply chain emissions reduction Looking to the future, AI is set to become indispensable for building sustainable, efficient and transparent supply chains – but how does it tackle the industry’ s biggest challenge – Scope 3 emissions?
For Blue Yonder, the biggest Scope 3 impact will be felt in its wider customer base. The focus is on scaling optimisation. By helping customers reduce emissions through better planning and logistics, Blue Yonder contributes to decarbonisation even if the results do not appear directly in its own emissions accounting.“ That’ s really where we’ ll see the most sustainability value,” Saskia says.
There’ s also a key principle to maintain:“ How do we measure the net benefit that we’ re getting from AI in terms of decarbonising, and ensure that improving energy efficiency is greater
“ AI-ENABLED SOLUTIONS ALLOW BUSINESSES TO GAIN VISIBILITY ACROSS EVERY TIER OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN”
SASKIA VAN GENDT, CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, BLUE YONDER
than the increased energy use,” she states. That balance must be tracked over time, even if the efficiency gains are achieved through customers.“ It’ s not necessarily on our balance sheet but we want to make sure that overall energy use is being considered and that we’ re decarbonising in the big picture.”
Saskia concludes aptly:“ That is the thesis... we are using AI to achieve more efficiency in the long run, but we need to be able to measure how that balance of emissions and energy use is shifting over time.”
With her at the helm, Blue Yonder is guiding the industry on a path to sustainable innovation that should create a more efficient, resilient and greener future for all.
supplychaindigital. com 51