Is it Too Late to Integrate AI into Your Shipping Processes? *

AD | Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be all the rage at the moment. Whether we’re talking about companies like DeepSeek crashing the stock market, or think tanks warning about the AI-fuelled end of democracy, its impact on our lives seems difficult to escape. AI-powered tools are also practically very useful in a wide range of different scenarios. For example, integrating AI into your shipping processes can lead to a whole host of benefits and savings, both time and cost.

How to Use AI in Your Shipping Processes

AI is Everywhere

First of all, even if you haven’t consciously integrated AI into your shipping processes so far, the chances are you’re using it already. AI has been integrated into pretty much every service imaginable in recent years, from web browsers to social media apps, and it’s getting increasingly more difficult not use it.

Despite this near omnipresence, it’s still beneficial to intentionally integrate AI into your shipping processes wherever possible. The capabilities of these kinds of tools are developing at a breakneck pace, and it’s vital to stay on top of the tools that could be most beneficial for your business.

Where AI Integration is Possible

It’s important to note you can’t just ‘plug in’ AI solutions to any kind of shipping process and expect a miracle to happen. Although AI is particularly good at looking at large datasets and then providing insights into that data in a very short timeframe.

For it to do its job, these kinds of tools need to have access to that data, which generally means integrating it into some kind of automated smart system that uses a lot of sensors. In the context of warehouse automation, that could mean integrating it into a loading solution from a company like Joloda Hydraroll.

Carry Out an Audit

To understand where it might be beneficial to integrate AI, you need to have some kind of overview of the system itself. In most cases, that means that you’ll need to hire an external service provider to carry out an audit.

They’ll be able to look at your existing systems, see where you may be able to integrate AI-powered tools easily, and where you may need to invest in additional infrastructure first to make those integrations possible.

Five Advantages of Using AI in Your Shipping Processes

Once you decide to go down the AI route, here are some of the benefits it can bring to your shipping business.

Route Optimisation & Fuel Efficiency

AI-powered algorithms analyse traffic patterns, weather conditions, and real-time data to determine the most efficient shipping routes, reducing fuel consumption and delivery times.

Predictive Maintenance

AI can monitor vessel or vehicle performance, predicting potential failures before they occur. This reduces downtime and maintenance costs.

Automated Warehousing & Inventory Management

AI enhances warehouse operations by automating sorting, packing, and tracking of goods, reducing human error and improving efficiency.

Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility

AI enables real-time tracking of shipments, providing better transparency and allowing businesses to anticipate and plan for delays or disruptions.

Fraud Detection & Security

AI can identify suspicious activities, prevent cargo theft, and enhance security by analysing transaction patterns and monitoring shipments for anomalies.

Be AI-Intentional

When integrating AI, it’s best to start by thinking about a process that you want to improve or optimise, and take it from there – you need to understand if, where, and how it might be most effective to use it first. Take a look at the process in question (whether that’s predicting future orders or avoiding unnecessarily large stockpiles) and then start exploring tools that can help with that problem.

Google has a plethora of resources to help you, from industry blogs and white papers to product reviews and case studies. Because the good news is, even if you’re an AI novice, it’s never too late to integrate AI into your shipping processes.

* This is a collaborative post – please see my Disclaimer.