Sustaining business operations amid the COVID19 pandemic has been significantly difficult and disruptive particularly to manufacturing as well as the supply chains. However, while the pandemic is creating challenges, the situation is also building up opportunities for global digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to continue growing exponentially. We can expect industrial operations to take a leap further.

In the PWC Digital Factories 2020 report, Dr. Reinhard Geissbauer, PWC Partner and Head of Industry 4.0 states that digitalization is rapidly changing the face of manufacturing companies. The report states that artificial intelligence data analytics are driving the digital factory thus companies are able to make smarter decisions using predictive data analytics and machine learning. Technologies like cobots, digital twins or augmented reality drive leaner and more productive companies and help workers get more done. Digitization supports customer centricity and regionalizing the entire value chain in order to increases global competitiveness.

Another report on AI in Logistics conducted by DHL and IBM reports that supply chains are likewise being revolutionized by AI through intelligent robotic sorting, AI-powered visual inspection, machine learning technology to detect fraud, to track demand projections, to improve warehousing management, among others.

As part of the AI+ FORUM SERIES: EVOLVE TO COMPETE, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and Fairs and More, Inc. (FMI) features the segment AI + Optimized Manufacturing and Logistics which aims to identify key strategies and concept in the supply chain network, along with innovative solutions such as Automation, AI and IoT in smart factories and optimized logistics.