The Human-AI Balance in Supply Chain is not 50/50
Paul Malott
The goal is not to keep humans in every loop. It is to put human judgment where consequence and ambiguity
Many organisations put significant effort into developing strategy, yet still struggle to see those plans translate into consistent operational performance. The issue is rarely the
Supply chain disruption has become the norm rather than the exception. Delays, shortages, rising costs, and constant firefighting are now part of day-to-day operations for
For line-haul operators running freight between capital cities, fuel accounts for between 30 and 40 percent of their total operating cost. The fuel crisis has
Since mid-February, diesel prices have surged from around $1.75 per litre to north of $3 at the pump, and the ripple effects are moving through
For decades retail competition was fought on the shop floor. Store location, visual merchandising and customer service were the key factors determining success. Today, however,
Retailers across the globe are grappling with escalating logistics costs driven by higher fuel prices, labour shortages, carrier rate increases, and ongoing supply-chain volatility. At
In theory, supply chain visibility promises clarity: real‑time tracking, informed decision‑making, and seamless coordination from origin to delivery. In practice, however, many organisations still struggle
For decades supply chains have been shaped by a competitive mindset—suppliers competing against suppliers, partners negotiating from opposing positions, and companies optimising for cost rather
Retail has always been obsessed with price. The lowest cost per unit, the best margin, the cheapest supplier—these have long defined procurement decisions. But beneath
In global supply chains speed is often treated as a given. Goods move, systems update, and customers expect deliveries to arrive on time. But when
For years, the narrative around globalisation has been one of decline. Trade tensions, geopolitical conflict, and supply chain disruptions have all pointed towards a world
The goal is not to keep humans in every loop. It is to put human judgment where consequence and ambiguity
Manufacturers are reassessing which suppliers could bring production to a halt as geopolitical instability, cyber incidents and sourcing constraints make
New Zealand’s freight network operates within a geography that creates both advantages and constraints for supply chains. Two main islands,
Australia’s freight network covers enormous distances, connecting farms, mines, factories, warehouses, ports and population centres across the country. That scale
Greater Brisbane could exhaust its available industrial land supply by 2031 as demand from freight, logistics, construction and other industrial
A major shift in New Zealand’s gas market is increasing uncertainty for manufacturers and other energy-intensive businesses, raising questions about
Long supply lines, limited transport alternatives and the concentration of logistics capacity in southern Australia are creating vulnerabilities in the
In Australian supply chains, disruption is no longer an occasional event. It is becoming part of the operating environment. Organisations
The Federal Government has opened consultation on a $14.8 billion Fuel Security and Resilience Package aimed at strengthening Australia’s fuel reserves, supporting
Vehicle bridge strikes cost the Australian economy an estimated $101 million a year, with the frequency of incidents creating significant
Mining, utilities and construction outperform as hospitality and retail bear the brunt of tighter household budgets and rising operating costs
Managing freight used to assume a market you could optimise inside. You picked the right carriers, negotiated hard, held your