Dr. Kilger, your AIOsphere event is just around the corner. What can we expect from the conference?
CK: With our premiere of AIOsphere on June 21 in Mannheim, we are bringing the supply chain community together – across all industries. AIOsphere connects participants who are open to innovation in supply chain management, supply chain leaders, data experts, AI gurus, planners, thinkers, architects, and dreamers who are shaping the future of supply chain management.
AI in supply chain management? Are we that far along yet?
CK: Definitely! AI has long been part of our everyday lives with ChatGPT and other programs. aioneers pursues the vision and strategy of making AI usable for supply chain management. This includes topics such as inventory optimization, forecasting, end-to-end visibility, and sales & operations planning. The AIOsphere is the perfect opportunity to find out about the status and practical experiences, as well as to get an outlook for the near future.
How can you imagine that?
CK: In addition to already established use cases - such as machine learning-based forecasting - we use specific examples to show how the latest developments in the field of generative AI will change collaboration in the supply chain. For example: imagine an AI persona that is available to the supply chain department around the clock, continuously monitors the supply chain, creates evaluations and diagrams on demand, and enables interaction directly in the system via MS Teams.
But we will only reveal more about this on site! What I can say right now: the supply chain itself will be transformed from a cost center into a competitive factor, giving our customers an enormous advantage.
With AI technologies, the supply chain is evolving from a cost center to a competitive factor.
Mr. Schäfer, you are also working with industrial companies to bring AI technologies into operational use. How can this be achieved in a complex environment such as supply chain management?
GS: Three topics are critical to success: the further development of the IT architecture and infrastructure, a modern governance model – and enabling the organization to exploit the innovation potential of AI in the first place. In each case, both technological and methodological tasks must be solved. This is the only way to achieve scaling that goes beyond local, individual solutions.
This often also requires saying goodbye to established procedures, e.g., a purely technology-centered concept with a PoC (proof of concept) approach. It is better to first gain clarity about the specific outcome of the AI solution for the company. This can follow monetary, but also cultural objectives. Finally, AI-based platforms will form the technological foundation for a culture of learning organizations in the future.
In your keynote speech at AIOsphere, you will also explain which aspects are crucial for the value-adding use of AI. Is there any cross-industry experience?
GS: Yes, especially in the context of manufacturing and supply chain management, it is still sometimes overestimated how time-consuming the introduction phase for AI applications is, whether in terms of time or costs. The issue of data access / connectivity is also less of a hurdle than is often feared.
At the same time, many companies underestimate the effort required for the sophisticated integration of AI and IIoT architectures into their existing system landscape – but also the added value that results from this. At AIOsphere, we will therefore also be demonstrating how to build future-oriented IT architectures with AI and how to use AI to create new ones.
Companies should gain clarity about the concrete outcome of AI solutions. This can follow monetary, but also cultural objectives.
These are exciting topics. What else can we expect?
CK: Above all, lots of practical examples! Daimler Truck, Miele and voestalpine talk about how they have optimized their supply chain through digitalization and AI. In a panel discussion, we will bring together industry representatives as well as, for example, a philosopher with a focus on AI and discuss the current opportunities and challenges.
GS: There will also be several use cases on exemplary, scalable IT architectures with the use of AI from production practice. For example, a confectionery manufacturer that uses an AI engine and cameras to monitor its production processes in real time – and integrate this into the Group's overall digital architecture.
CK: In addition to the program items mentioned above, the AIOsphere is primarily about networking. The participants should have space and room to exchange ideas – and have fun! In the evening, a live band plays in the Alte-Schildkrötfabrik, which is a great location with history.
