For decades, logistics was the invisible engine behind global commerce. Now, it’s center stage, driving conversations in boardrooms and policy discussions alike. AI is accelerating this shift, giving supply chain leaders the power to optimize operations and build resilience in ways never before possible.
In this episode of The Disruption Is Now, host Greg Matusky sits down with Tanzil Uddin, Senior Vice President of Production at Connectiv, the company that organizes Manifest, one of the biggest supply chain and logistics conferences. They discuss everything from real-time risk management to AI-powered sourcing tools to explore how AI is making the supply chain and logistics industry faster, smarter, and more adaptable.
Watch now:
Key takeaways
AI turns supply chains from data-heavy to insight-driven
The logistics industry has always been rich in data, but making sense of it all has been a challenge. AI is changing that.
Companies are moving from simply collecting raw data to extracting real-time, actionable insights that drive decision-making. Instead of manually sifting through vast amounts of logistics data, AI-powered control towers offer instant visibility into shipments, supplier risks, and potential disruptions. The result? More agile and resilient supply chains.
Supplier risk management is now AI’s domain
Geopolitical instability and trade disputes have made supplier risk management a top priority for many firms, and AI-driven sourcing tools allow them to pivot quickly when a supplier becomes unreliable.
Instead of waiting weeks to identify alternative suppliers, businesses can now assess supplier reliability, financial stability, and risk exposure in real time. AI is helping companies build flexible supply networks that can adapt to economic shifts and unexpected disruptions.
Real-time tracking improves cost efficiency
Gone are the days of manual tracking and uncertainty. AI-powered tracking systems provide real-time updates on shipments, reducing delays and ensuring supply chain efficiency.
This is particularly critical in industries like retail, where even small disruptions can cause major financial losses. By using AI to predict delays and optimize routes, logistics companies are cutting costs and improving delivery times.
Startups are leading the charge in logistics AI
While large corporations are adopting AI, startups are driving the most exciting innovations.
At Manifest, early-stage companies are introducing everything from AI-powered warehouse robots that streamline picking and packing to automated scheduling and real-time traffic analysis to reduce last-mile delivery costs.
Established players are partnering with these startups to integrate their technology — collaboration is proving to be the fastest path to supply chain transformation.
Autonomous trucking is closer than you think
Self-driving trucks are already being tested in real-world conditions. Companies like Einride and Kodiak Robotics are pushing the boundaries of autonomous logistics, aiming to reduce labor costs and increase efficiency.
While full-scale adoption is still years away, logistics companies are investing in semi-autonomous convoys that allow a lead truck, controlled by a human driver, to guide multiple self-driving trucks in formation, reducing fuel consumption and improving efficiency.
Key Moments in the Conversation
- How supply chains became a mainstream conversation (1:26)
- The transition from collecting data to generating insights (2:46)
- The need for AI-powered supplier risk management (5:47)
- Surprising AI advancements in logistics (7:48)
- The role of startups in AI-driven supply chain innovation (11:28)
- Outlook and trends for supply chain AI startups (13:00)
- The future of autonomous trucks and AI-driven logistics (17:23)
