Exploring the ways distributors can use AI and machine learning to enhance their operations, reduce costs and respond more quickly to customers.


I


f there was one business lesson coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that the supply chains companies depend


on are even more susceptible to disruption than anyone thought. Dealers can’t sell something if they don’t have it on the shelf or don’t know when it will arrive. A 2023 study of 2,000 companies from the Capgemini Research Institute found that 89 percent of executives believe supply chain disruption is the biggest short-term risk for their organization — more than any other challenge. That realization has prompted many industries to retool their supply chains as companies seek greater effi ciencies and less volatility. As a result, 43 percent of


organizations said they planned to increase supply chain investments over the next 12 to 18 months, according to the same study. Figuring out how to create a


more effective supply chain is no simple task – especially in a period of rapid technological development and increased global instability. Fortunately, the FEDA Annual Conference will highlight one of the top experts at the forefront of supply chain research, Chad Autry, the Daniel and Karen Myers distinguished professor at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business.


Autry has an extensive business


background, having been involved in retail and restaurant operations


Summer 2024 17


Figuring out how to create a more effective supply chain is no simple task – especially in a period of rapid technological development and increased global instability.


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