May 02, 2024

With our ever-changing technological world, it is—now more than ever—crucial for businesses to strive for and create a sustainable supply chain. Of course, in doing so, there is one question that needs to be answered: what does that mean? To put it simply, a sustainable supply chain is one that utilizes socially and environmentally sustainable procedures to safeguard the environments and people throughout the entire chain. In a sustainable supply chain, a business affirms environmental and social principles for their own processes, as well as that of their suppliers. Now, how do you embrace eco-friendly supply chain practices in your business? Simply implement Artificial Intelligence (AI), utilize RFID, and modernize with voice technology.

1. Implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) – In the pursuit of enhancing operational efficiencies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can improve the sustainability of supply chains and reduce their damaging environmental effects, too. For instance, machine learning (ML) trained models can assist businesses in diminishing their consumption of energy by augmenting delivery routes and truckloads so that trucks use less fuel while delivering products and supplies. In addition to that, AI can also help reduce the number of products that go to waste throughout multiple stages of the supply chain. Not only that, but AI algorithms also help enhance supply chain networks by regarding numerous factors such as costs of transportation, supplier capabilities, and lead times. By examining ample amounts of data, AI systems can recognize the most effective delivery routes, as well as choose the most reliable suppliers and determine the most efficient distribution centers. As a result, costs of transportation are decreased, delivery times are improved, and overall performance of the supply chain is enhanced. Without a doubt, AI is the future of organizing data, analysis, and intricate decision-making. Implementing AI into the process of supply chain sustainability not only enables organizations to promote a more environmentally conscious and equitable economy across the globe, but also further advances technologically smart approaches to sustainability in the corporate world. Of the various obstacles that businesses face when working toward sustainability in the supply chain is the intricacy of modern supply chains. Of course, there are thousands of suppliers positioned throughout the world. Because of that, it can be difficult to track, collect, and measure their respective pieces of environmental data. With the increased number of implemented regulations that are enforced by governments, an additional difficulty in the management of data from the supply chain. This vast amount of data must be compounded into human-readable formats so that organizations can make data-based decisions, integrate the most efficient sustainability practices, and examine their ongoing progress.

RELATED: DOES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BELONG IN THE WAREHOUSE?

2. Utilize RFID Technology – One of the significant benefits of RFID TECHNOLOGY is its capability to enhance supply chain efficiency, as it leads to diminished waste and environmental impact. By precisely tracking and directing inventory, RFID can help reduce under or overstocking—which decreases the need for profuse production or transportation. This simplified supply chain not only cuts costs but also diminishes consumption of energy and greenhouse gas emissions linked with needless transportation and manufacturing. In addition to this, RFID can also assist manufacturers in identifying reduction, reuse, and recycle opportunities. For example, some products expire while in the warehouse before they can be purchased and others may have to go back through reverse logistics. Thankfully, RFID tags can give businesses the real-time, instantaneous data they need to identify opportunities to recycle or reuse those products to decrease waste as much as possible. RFID tags also enable manufacturers to track and monitor supplies and materials throughout the entire supply chain. As a result, organizations can trace what exactly is put in their products, where it is obtained, how it is delivered, and how it is recycled. As a whole, this allows businesses to precisely monitor the policies and practices of their suppliers to guarantee that they comply with environmental regulations.

Related: Why managing a warehouse with RFID tracking is easier

3. Modernize with Voice Technology – Voice technology expels the requirement of printed pack lists and other pieces of paper documentation. With voice technology, warehouse workers receive confirmations and instructions through wireless headsets and mobile devices, which erases the need for physical paperwork. In shifting toward paperless operations, you also strongly encourage sustainability measures as well. Voice-based picking has the ambivalent advantages of reducing paper waste and improving energy efficiency in warehousing operations throughout the world. By enhancing the picking process and ridding the necessity for manually entering data, voice-technology efficiently diminishes energy consumption throughout order fulfillment procedures. This embodies a reduction in power consumption by printers and their connected cooling systems—which leads to a major decrease in energy consumption, as a whole. Sustainability and efficiency are, in fact, closely associated in the realm of voice technology. By providing accurate, real-time instructions via voice commands, mistakes are reduced—and this minimizes the need for redoing jobs and the energy-intensive method of replacing or returning items. This enhanced level of accuracy leads to streamlined operations, subsequently decreasing consumption of energy throughout the entirety of the supply chain.

Related: How Voice Technologies Are Reshaping Entire Supply Chains

At Heartland, we take great pride in not only the ROI and effectiveness of our solutions, but their scalability and sustainability as well. Thanks to our automation-based solutions, businesses have enhanced their levels of efficiency, productivity, and profitability while diminishing their carbon footprints at the same time. In that, we believe that embracing eco-friendly supply chain practices should be a seamless as possible. By simply implementing a number of automated solutions into your operations, you will see many benefits. Ultimately, the path toward maximal levels of efficiency, productivity, and profitability goes through sustainable, eco-friendly supply chain practices. Roughly 70% of distributors are dealt some kind of pressure from their customers to implement sustainable procedures throughout their operations. In doing so, you will maximize the agile adaptability of your operations with automation that is designed for the dynamic complexity of today’s supply chain. Looking to take the next step toward unmatched efficiency, productivity, profitability, and sustainability? Look no further than Heartland. REACH OUT to one of our experts to learn more and get started today!