Keynote – Rajesh Subramanian
Summary
Subramanian positioned AI as the next industrial revolution for logistics, likening it to the impact of electricity on the 20th century. He described FedEx’s AI‑driven capabilities:
- Predictive routing using 2 PB of daily data, optimizing delivery windows and reducing fuel consumption.
- AI‑powered demand forecasting that anticipates supply‑chain disruptions weeks in advance.
- Customer‑facing AI assistants that triage queries, escalating only complex issues to humans.
He emphasized that AI is a productivity multiplier: automating routine tasks frees human employees for higher‑value activities, driving both top‑line growth and bottom‑line efficiency.
The talk concluded with a call for industry‑wide AI standards (data privacy, model auditability) to ensure reliable global logistics networks.
Key Takeaways
- AI transforms logistics: Predictive routing, demand forecasting, and automated customer service.
- Productivity multiplier: AI automates low‑value work, enabling employees to focus on strategic tasks.
- Data scale: FedEx processes ~2 PB of data per day for AI decision‑making.
- Industry standards: Collaborative governance needed for safe, interoperable AI logistics.