These are difficult times for global supply chains. There’s a war going in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, leading to shipping delays and disrupting the normal flow of good and materials. Not to mention, rising costs and labour shortages, even environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations are becoming more complex in response to global climate concerns. Thankfully, an abundance of technology is available to enhance supply chain resilience, with generative AI being the latest advancement. Companies across automotive, manufacturing, FMCG and logistics sectors are leveraging AI, machine learning, IoT, automation, and robotics, to streamline and accelerate their processes — from inventory management to HR to customer service.
DHL Supply Chain has experienced notable gains from adopting Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications. This logistics provider, with around 17 million square meters of warehouse and operational space in more than 1,500 locations worldwide, is harnessing the power of cloud and the latest advancements in AI to break down organisational silos, standardise, and accelerate processes.
“As our company grows to meet increasing customer demand, we’re continuously facing new financial complexities and challenges. Moving to the cloud allowed us to centralise accounting activities, with minimal modifications, and take full advantage of Oracle’s self-service features. With Oracle Cloud ERP, we have standardised financial processes across 40+ countries to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and accelerate decision-making,” said Dietrich Franz, chief financial officer, DHL Supply Chain.
Several organisations have reported significant improvements in efficiency and cost savings after standardising on Oracle Fusion Applications Suite. For instance, Western Digital, a leading provider in hard disk drive manufacturing and data storage with operations globally and in India, has dramatically reduced its global planning process time from 4-5 days to less than two hours.
Unilever, a multinational consumer packaged goods company, provides another powerful example of optimising transportation and logistics. By utilising Oracle’s intelligent transportation management system, Unilever has reduced its fleet’s driving distance by 29 million kilometers annually, lowering carbon emissions by 9%.
Derek Gittoes, vice-president of supply chain management product strategy at Oracle, said, “Our new AI-powered capabilities within the Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite will help customers successfully execute complex tasks, automate workflows, and drive efficiency.” As companies continue to adapt to economic pressures and regulatory demands, the successful integration of AI and other advanced technologies will be crucial in determining their competitive edge in the global market, he added.
