The IDEA Group is a key player in logistics and transport, renowned for its innovation and operational efficiency. The impact of generative AI, when used appropriately for the supply chain, is expected to be significant: optimizing the logistics chain, improving user experience, reducing costs, etc. The IDEA Group has shown a marked interest in this emerging technology to enhance and optimize its internal processes and service offerings.
The board of directors of the IDEA Group sought to deepen their understanding of generative AI, its possibilities, and its limitations to consider concrete and innovative applications in their operations. Their request focused on raising awareness and providing practical training that would allow them to envision relevant use cases for their sector. Predictive maintenance, optimized deliveries, intelligent inventory management, handling customer requests, and detecting errors and frauds: the scope is vast, and prioritization is critical.
Our consulting teams proposed a collaborative workshop day facilitated by three of our consultants: this method, chosen by the IDEA Group, effectively aligns the board of directors on what generative AI is and the data prerequisites needed to launch PoC (Proof of Concept) projects or scale up to benefit from its full potential.
This mixed approach aims to combine theory and practice for better assimilation of the concepts. It also ensures participant buy-in and sets a proper foundation at the highest level of the company. The financial and human commitments made after such workshops are less binding than those required for implementing a PoC or an "AI-ready" technical architecture.
At the end of the day, the IDEA Group's board of directors significantly increased their understanding of generative AI. Participants were able to experiment with tools in real-life conditions and begin to appropriate this technology. It also initiated a broader reflection on data governance and led to a preliminary approach to identifying concrete projects using generative AI, paving the way for future innovations in their business processes.
With over a year of experience, three methodologies stand out for approaching generative AI within organizations. The most engaging involves preparing the IT architecture and data governance, requiring significant alignment and investment from the entire company. The second involves launching one or more PoCs to test the ROI on a few use cases. The third approach, adopted by IDEA, is to engage the management to align the strategic vision and ensure easier buy-in, avoiding the pitfalls of isolated initiatives. This approach has proven fruitful with several of our clients, creating a conducive environment for dialogue and launching more concrete projects!
Vincent Cavret
Business Engineer, Smile