In today’s complex and competitive business environment, organizations are increasingly turning to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to gain an advantage in the procurement supply chain. By leveraging these powerful technologies, companies are able to streamline the process of acquiring materials, improve cost savings, and reduce time-to-delivery.
AI and machine learning have the potential to transform the procurement process, making it faster, more efficient, and more cost effective. By unlocking this potential, organizations can better meet their customers’ needs and stay ahead of the competition.
By understanding the opportunities and challenges associated with AI and machine learning in the procurement supply chain, organizations can ensure that they are making informed decisions and maximizing the potential of these technologies.
Benefits of Leveraging Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in the Procurement Supply Chain
There are a number of benefits associated with leveraging AI and machine learning in the procurement supply chain. These benefits include improved operational efficiency and cost savings, increased demand forecasting accuracy, reduced delays in the procurement process, improved supplier collaboration, and reduced risk of fraud.
- Improved operational efficiency and cost savings – When utilized correctly, AI can be helpful in reducing the time needed to complete various procurement processes, such as procurement planning, sourcing, and procurement execution. By leveraging AI, organizations can see a reduction in the time needed to source materials and complete other procurement activities, which can lead to lower procurement costs.
- Increased demand forecasting accuracy – Predictive and machine learning algorithms are often used in demand forecasting, which helps companies better understand their customers’ purchasing patterns, including their demand for specific products. By leveraging these technologies, organizations can improve their forecasting accuracy, which can allow them to better plan their future procurement activities, such as sourcing and production scheduling. This, in turn, can lead to reduced delays in the delivery of materials and products to customers.
Challenges in Implementing Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in the Procurement Supply Chain
While AI and machine learning can bring many benefits to the procurement process, organizations should be aware of the challenges associated with implementing these technologies. These challenges include limited data availability, lack of skilled resources, and resistance to change.
- Limited data availability – Organizations can only achieve maximum value from AI and machine learning when they have access to high-quality, reliable data. Unfortunately, in many procurement organizations, data may be incomplete and of questionable quality. This can hinder the success of AI and machine learning initiatives, leading to inaccurate predictions and an ineffective procurement process.
- Lack of skilled resources – Organizations may also struggle to find the skilled resources needed to implement AI and machine learning initiatives successfully. In particular, procurement organizations should find it challenging to find and retain individuals with the skills needed to implement AI and machine learning technologies in the procurement process.
Understanding the Opportunities and Challenges Associated with AI and Machine Learning
To fully understand the opportunities and challenges associated with AI and machine learning, procurement organizations should consider the key characteristics of these technologies, including their strengths and weaknesses, and implementation considerations.
Key characteristics of AI and machine learning – When considering the implementation of AI and machine learning technologies in the procurement process, organizations should be aware of their strengths and weaknesses.
For example, AI and machine learning technologies are great at performing repetitive and predictable tasks, but they are not particularly good at handling unstructured data, such as the content of an email. This is an important consideration, especially when it comes to the procurement process, where there is a high volume of unstructured data, such as the details of a supplier’s contract, procurement documents, supplier ratings, etc.
How Companies Can Unlock the Potential of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in the Procurement Supply Chain
To unlock the full potential of AI and machine learning in the procurement process, organizations should follow a three-step approach. This approach includes defining the desired end state, identifying the desired AI and machine learning capabilities, and selecting the appropriate procurement approach.
Defining the desired end state – Before procurement organizations can begin to implement AI and machine learning technologies, they must first identify their desired end state. This includes outlining the procurement benefits that can be achieved through the use of AI and machine learning, such as improved operational efficiency and cost savings, better supplier collaboration, etc.
Identifying the desired AI and machine learning capabilities – With a clear understanding of the benefits of leveraging AI and machine learning, procurement organizations can begin to identify the desired capabilities of these technologies.
This includes determining the type of AI or machine learning that can best fit the organization’s needs, such as unsupervised, supervised, or hybrid AI, as well as identifying the level of automation that is preferred, such as low, moderate, or high automation.
Selecting the appropriate procurement approach
After organizations have defined the desired end state and identified the desired AI and machine learning capabilities, they can select the appropriate procurement approach.
This includes determining if the procurement approach requires an analytical procurement solution and if an existing solution can be used to integrate AI and machine learning technologies into the procurement process.
If an existing solution is not an option, procurement organizations can consider developing an in-house solution to integrate AI and machine learning into their procurement processes.
Examples of Companies That Have Successfully Leveraged AI and Machine Learning in the Procurement Supply Chain
- Alibaba – Alibaba, a Chinese multinational e-commerce company, has successfully leveraged AI and machine learning to improve its procurement activities. Using Alibaba’s BeiBei, which is a procurement platform powered by AI, suppliers can find customers, generate quotations, monitor their sales, and manage their inventory in real-time. The platform also offers support to customers, who can track the status of their orders, change their delivery address, and pay for their purchases through the BeiBei app.
- DHL – DHL, a global leader in logistics and supply chain management, has successfully leveraged artificial intelligence to enhance its procurement activities. The company has implemented an AI solution that can scan hundreds of thousands of data points in a single click, identify patterns in the data, and provide insights that can be used to make more informed decisions. This AI solution can also be used to improve forecasting accuracy, streamline operations, and enhance customer service.
Summary and Conclusion
Successfully leveraging the potential of AI and machine learning requires organizations to first understand the opportunities and challenges associated with these technologies. To successfully implement AI and machine learning in the procurement process, procurement organizations should follow a three-step approach that includes defining the desired end state, identifying the desired AI and machine learning capabilities, and selecting the appropriate procurement approach.
When organizations effectively implement AI and machine learning in the procurement process, they can improve their operational efficiency and cost savings, increase their demand forecasting accuracy, reduce their delays in the procurement process, improve their supplier collaboration, and reduce their risk of fraud.
