**Las Vegas**: FourKites unveils its digital workforce, featuring AI agents Tracy and Sam, at the Manifest conference. These agents aim to automate 80% of routine tasks, increase shipment handling capacity by 40%, and enhance supplier relationship management in a transformative shift for the industry.
In a significant development for supply chain management, FourKites unveiled its new digital workforce, comprising two AI agents named Tracy and Sam, at the Manifest conference in Las Vegas. This launch is part of a strategic pivot for the company, transitioning from traditional software-as-a-service to a model where AI agents can autonomously carry out complex supply chain workflows.
The introduction of these digital workers aims to enhance supplier relationship management by automating routine tasks that often bog down human employees. According to FourKites, the Digital Workforce operates around the clock, increasing shipment handling capacity by 40% and automating up to 80% of repetitive tasks. By handling these tasks, Tracy and Sam enable human workers to concentrate on more strategic decision-making and critical exceptions.
Tracy is designed specifically for track and trace teams overwhelmed by manual processes. By automating the monitoring of shipments and responding to inquiries, she aims to deliver accurate, real-time insights for these teams. Early users have reported that Tracy saves hours each day in administrative work, achieving up to a 30% reduction in On-Time In-Full (OTIF) penalties.
On the other hand, Sam focuses on enhancing supplier collaboration. He automates the processing of essential documents such as purchase orders and invoices, thus bridging the communication gap that often leads to supply chain disruptions. Users of Sam’s capabilities have noted reductions in integration costs by up to 75% and a decrease in detention fees between 10-15%.
Mathew Elenjickal, the founder and CEO of FourKites, described the introduction of Tracy and Sam as a transformative moment in supply chain management, signalling a shift toward a model where digital workers not only assist but also take charge of specialised tasks. Speaking to Business Wire, Elenjickal remarked, “The era of humans managing software is coming to an end.” He emphasised that these AI agents are continually learning and refining their capabilities, ultimately leading to improved operational outcomes.
FourKites aims to integrate these digital workers into its broader Intelligent Control Tower, which encompasses real-time supply chain data and comprehensive visibility of operations. This interconnected system is envisioned as a way to pre-emptively address issues and streamline processes across the supply chain.
As businesses increasingly turn to advanced technologies to improve their operational efficiency and reduce costs, the effective use of generative AI in supplier relationship management is poised to play a crucial role in reshaping how companies collaborate and communicate with their suppliers.
Source: Noah Wire Services