**London**: As firms prepare for the future, a new report highlights the importance of investing in AI-powered workflow optimisation, composable commerce, and personalisation to meet evolving customer demands, particularly in B2B markets, by 2025 for enhanced operational efficiency.
According to the Supply and Demand Chain Executive, companies aiming to transform their workflows for the upcoming years should consider making significant investments in three key areas by 2025: artificial intelligence (AI)-powered process optimization, composable commerce, and personalisation to enhance demand fulfilment.
AI-powered process optimisation is set to evolve from a front-end assistance role to more comprehensive back-end automation within supply chain workflows. Historically, AI has found its utility primarily in consumer-facing applications, such as chatbots and recommendation algorithms. However, as advancements in technology continue, deeper integrations of AI into supply chain systems are anticipated. Recent discussions have surfaced regarding OpenAI’s potential announcement of breakthroughs in “super-agent AI,” capable of performing complex tasks, such as software coding and logistical management. If realised, these advancements could lead to a fundamental overhaul of workflows where a small team might utilise AI to develop predictive maintenance programmes, seamlessly integrating procurement processes based on AI-generated data.
The concept of composable commerce presents a third route for companies seeking to streamline their e-commerce ecosystems. This approach allows manufacturers to integrate a variety of best-of-breed solutions, creating a custom ecosystem tailored to specific business needs without needlessly expensive custom solutions or unreliable middleware. This integration enables a smooth flow of real-time data among various programmes, significantly reducing downtime, errors, and manual labour associated with data duplication.
Personalisation remains crucial in today’s market, especially in addressing the needs of B2B buyers who increasingly demand tailored purchasing experiences. A joint report from Adobe and Forrester reveals that 66% of these buyers expect a level of personalisation that surpasses what they experience in their personal shopping lives. Companies can meet these expectations by leveraging customer portals, which deliver a unique and personalised online buying experience. Such portals offer bespoke catalogues, localised content, and clear visibility of agreed prices and terms. Additional features like AI-driven product recommendations can further enhance these interactions, fostering loyalty and increasing sales through targeted upsell and cross-sell strategies.
Although it is early in the year, now is considered an optimal time for distributors and manufacturers to begin implementing these transformative strategies in their workflows. The analogy of planting a tree encapsulates the idea that while it may have been ideal to start years ago, the next best opportunity to begin is today. Companies are encouraged to focus first on back-end AI optimisation, then explore composable commerce, and lastly, invest in personalisation features for a comprehensive approach to workflow transformation. This phased strategy allows businesses to incrementally enhance their operational efficiency and customer engagement without overwhelming their resources.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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