Background
A leading global agribusiness player was seeking to use artificial intelligence (AI) to push its already industry-leading supply chain function to even greater levels of visibility, adaptability and resiliency. To get there, the client sought L.E.K. Consulting’s support in exploring the ‘art of the possible’ with AI, developing a clear strategy for AI within the client’s supply chain function, and architecting a roadmap to achieve the benefits with a set of prioritized AI investments.
Approach
Using a combination of deep functional expertise and digital acumen, our team examined the client’s existing supply chain process and related enterprise architecture. We developed a comprehensive understanding of decision-making workflows, data flow, system utilization and market delivery. This analysis uncovered numerous pain points and potential solutions, highlighting value levers that could propel the organization toward its target state.
We assessed the client’s maturity across people, processes, data and technology, identifying over 20 opportunities for improvement. These opportunities were prioritized based on their potential value and implementation effort, allowing us to pinpoint practical solutions to enhance the client’s supply chain capabilities in the near term and long term.
Applying rigorous financial analysis, we evaluated the opportunities and associated required digital investments to enable an intelligent supply chain. We quantified the return on investment for each solution and established a robust three-year implementation plan for prioritized initiatives — considering dependencies and broader business priorities — while avoiding “tech debt.”
Results
Our client received a comprehensive blueprint and financial plan, empowering them to confidently invest in an AI system of their choice. This plan detailed the necessary changes across data, technology and teams that would support the AI solution, ensuring a seamless deployment and significant enhancements to the client’s supply chain capabilities.
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