The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption and volatility to supply chains across industries, and they have become increasingly challenging to manage. As a result, organizations need flexible supply chain operations and infrastructures in the face of dynamic market conditions on top of navigating the environmental impact of existing supply chain conditions. 

Supply chain management (SCM) and artificial intelligence (AI) will address their challenges, improve operations, and enhance decision-making from sales, production, procurement, and logistics. 

AI engineers in SCM are pivotal in helping organizations fix SCM operations and processes and are instrumental in implementing AI in the supply chain. AI supply chain operations are the future of supply chains, improving transparency and visibility into all areas of marketing, planning, and distribution. 

Modernized SCM Capabilities

SCM automation is being used in many different capacities to help streamline processes and operations across manufacturing, warehousing, inventory, and transportation. AI engineers in SCM are providing the support to operationalize and implement AI initiatives by utilizing critical job capabilities like analysis, model development, and prediction. 

AI engineers help build the AI applications and systems that enhance SCM's efficiency, productivity, and performance. Here are some of the ways that AI engineers are supporting SCM functions:

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics is used for demand forecasting, which is critical post-COVID as supply chains overcome volatility and fluctuating demand. Predictive analytics is also used for inventory management to optimize inventory levels by specifics such as regions or countries. Additionally, predictive maintenance is helping organizations preemptively anticipate machine downtime and ensure ongoing operations. Predictive analytics is even being used for route optimization to improve shipping and logistics. 

Digital Twins

Supply chains are building digital twins that are virtual representations of physical environments to run behavioral simulations. This requires end-to-end data integration and helps companies improve performance tracking, enhance visibility, bring predictive capabilities, and enable automation. Digital twins help businesses improve decision-making, reduce operational costs, enhance product and service development, and overcome operational bottlenecks. 

Warehouse Automation

Warehouse automation combines automation of digital and physical assets, such as data and analytics and robotics. Digital automation can involve warehouse management systems such as order and fulfillment tracking, and physical automation can refer to conveyor or mobile shelf loaders, for example. Warehouse automation technologies range from autonomous mobile robots to automatic guided vehicles and automated storage and retrieval systems. 

The Full Extent of AI Engineers in SCM

AI engineers have their hands full when it comes to fixing SCM functions during and after the pandemic. Organizations are investing heavily in many other automated technologies, such as blockchain, augmented reality, drones, and autonomous vehicles. Supply chain automation is very extensive across packaging, back-office processes, manufacturing, returns, forecasting, cross-docking, and much more.

Organizations need AI engineers to help them overcome automation challenges, such as:

  • Software and integration
  • Specific industry capabilities
  • Vendor and partner integrations and issues
  • Implementing the right solutions for specific business objectives
  • Reimagining legacy system operations
Master Deep Learning, Machine Learning, and other programming languages with Artificial Intelligence Engineer Master’s Program

AI Engineers in SCM Now and After the Pandemic

AI engineers are going to continue to be an essential part of SCM functions after the pandemic. Supply chain operations are still impacted by the pandemic today and are in a constant state of ongoing digital transformation. AI engineers have a lot of responsibility and opportunity to help organizations overcome supply chain challenges and modernize functionality, operations, and processes. 

Be sure to visit Simplilearn for more information about the role of AI engineers in SCM during and after COVID-19. Also, make sure to check out their Artificial Intelligence Engineer Master’s program to see how you can gain the skills you need to succeed!

Our AI & Machine Learning Courses Duration And Fees

AI & Machine Learning Courses typically range from a few weeks to several months, with fees varying based on program and institution.

Program NameDurationFees
Generative AI for Business Transformation

Cohort Starts: 3 Apr, 2024

4 Months$ 3,350
AI for Decision Making: Business Strategies and Applications

Cohort Starts: 5 Apr, 2024

3 Months$ 2,700
Applied Generative AI Specialization

Cohort Starts: 9 Apr, 2024

4 Months$ 4,000
Post Graduate Program in AI and Machine Learning

Cohort Starts: 11 Apr, 2024

11 Months$ 4,800
AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp

Cohort Starts: 15 Apr, 2024

6 Months$ 10,000
AI and Machine Learning Bootcamp - UT Dallas6 Months$ 8,000
Artificial Intelligence Engineer11 Months$ 1,449

Learn from Industry Experts with free Masterclasses

  • Future-Proof Your AI/ML Career: Top Dos and Don'ts for 2024

    AI & Machine Learning

    Future-Proof Your AI/ML Career: Top Dos and Don'ts for 2024

    5th Dec, Tuesday9:00 PM IST
  • Industry Trends: Popular AI Tools and Frameworks to Look Out For in 2024!

    AI & Machine Learning

    Industry Trends: Popular AI Tools and Frameworks to Look Out For in 2024!

    8th Nov, Wednesday7:00 PM IST
  • Skyrocket your AI/ML Career in 2024 with IIT Kanpur

    AI & Machine Learning

    Skyrocket your AI/ML Career in 2024 with IIT Kanpur

    30th Jan, Tuesday9:00 PM IST
prevNext