Artificial intelligence and data are now at the core of the world's most advanced supply chains, enabling large-scale organizations to combine speed, reliability and a high-quality customer experience. In this environment, innovation only becomes meaningful when it translates into measurable operational results.
At the 19th Supply Chain & Logistics EXPO, Amazon Web Services' Head of Strategy & GenAI, International Government, Lefteris Andreadis, presented the topic 'Supply chain & AI at Amazon', highlighting how Amazon's focus on the customer, combined with the utilization of artificial intelligence, is shaping one of the most complex and efficient logistics ecosystems worldwide.
According to Andreadis, Amazon applies the so-called Art of the Possible, using artificial intelligence not as an end in itself, but as a means to continuously upgrade the customer experience. The technology is not developed for its own sake, but is designed with the real needs of consumers and the demand for delivery at the maximum possible speed and scale.
This challenge becomes even more complex when applied to a network that serves hundreds of millions of customers in more than 130 countries, with hundreds of fulfillment, sorting and distribution centres, as well as a global fleet of road, sea and air transportation. In his approach, speed is not only about physical delivery, but also about the shopping experience, as a significant percentage of purchases on Amazon are completed in just a few minutes.
Artificial intelligence acts as a catalyst for managing this complexity. Through advanced predictive models, Amazon places the right products in the right locations, taking into account data such as weather patterns, holidays and special events, improving availability and reducing inventory costs. A typical example is the dynamic creation of online stores based on weather conditions, which led to a significant increase in views and orders in European markets.
At the same time, the use of artificial intelligence is expanding throughout the physical supply chain network. From identifying defective products before shipment, to supporting delivery drivers in tracking packages and reducing time per route, these solutions improve the accuracy, speed and security of deliveries. According to the expert, the result is that customers receive exactly what they ordered and when they expect it.
Particular emphasis was also placed on the role of smart digital assistants and agent-based solutions, which allow both sellers and consumers to make decisions faster and more targeted. Through tools that gather critical data, demand forecasts and inventory insights, the experience becomes more personalized and efficient at all levels.
Looking ahead, according to Lefteris Andreadis, success in the age of artificial intelligence does not depend on adopting the newest model, but on a clear understanding of the problem that each business is called upon to solve. The real challenge lies in the cost of waiting, in lost opportunities from unplanned downtime, quality problems and inventories that tie up capital.
As he emphasised, when technology is combined with a clear definition of success, scalability, and customer-centric logic, artificial intelligence ceases to be an experiment and becomes a real accelerator for the supply chain and beyond. This model, although implemented on a colossal scale at Amazon, offers fundamental lessons that can be leveraged by organizations of all sizes, in an era where innovation and resilience define competitiveness.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
