From voice agents that over-deliver (literally) to automation investments that fall flat—AI and automation are shaking up the supply chain world. But are we moving too fast? And are we even solving the right problems?
In this episode of Let’s Talk Supply Chain – News Edition, we’re joined by three powerhouse CEOs to unpack the bold, the broken, and the just plain bizarre realities of AI in logistics:
Keith Moore, CEO of AutoCuler AI
Oana Bradulet, CEO of Lumina
Gaurav Khandelwal, CEO of Velostics
What’s Actually Working in AI + Supply Chain?
According to Keith Moore, the future of AI isn’t about ripping and replacing your systems. It’s about layering intelligent orchestration on top of your existing tools—ERP, WMS, TMS—and using AI as a decision-making engine. Think of it as your supply chain’s conductor.
Use cases that are already driving value:
Smart routing and communication tools (like FourKites)
Automated warehouse execution (PepsiCo, Frito-Lay)
Context-aware facility workflows
From Ticket Requests to Operator Autonomy
Oana Bradulet brings a refreshing perspective: the true revolution isn’t just AI—it’s democratizing tools for frontline teams.
Today’s operators are building scrappy apps and automating tasks with ChatGPT. They’re no longer waiting on IT tickets. “It’s like giving them Lego bricks instead of a locked system,” says Oana.
But there’s a catch: be careful what data you’re sharing with open AI platforms. Those shortcuts can come with risks.
When Voice AI Works Too Well
Gaurav Khandelwal shared a story that made us laugh and rethink efficiency:
After implementing voice agents to book pickups automatically, trucks started showing up before the products even hit the warehouse floor.
The solution worked so well, it had to be slowed down.
Facepalms, Fails, and Lessons Learned
Automation fails aren’t rare—and they’re not always small.
Keith described a company that invested tens of millions into a fully automated distribution center… only to achieve 50% of their expected throughput. Why? They didn’t map their bottlenecks first.
Takeaway: Start small. Know your weakest process. Don’t let the tech outpace your understanding.
So… What’s Overhyped?
Here’s what our guests had to say:
Digital Twins: Everyone wants one. Few can extract real value.
Magic AI Platforms: If a vendor promises you a one-click solution for your entire supply chain—run.
Final Words from the Experts
✨ Gaurav: Start with the small, high-frequency task that eats your time every day—and solve that first.
✨ Keith: Don’t just look for “clean data.” Map your processes to your data. That’s where the AI magic happens.
✨ Oana: Build confidence in automation one win at a time. There’s no shortcut to transformation.
???? 5 Quick Takeaways
AI is most effective when layered on top of existing supply chain systems.
Empower your operators with tools they can actually use (like ChatGPT + scrappy scripts).
Efficiency without coordination = chaos.
Digital twins are overhyped (for now).
Transformation doesn’t come from a magic box—it starts with one smart change.
Watch the Full Episode:
AI, Automation & Digital Transformation in Supply Chain: What’s Working Now
Got your own tech triumph (or horror story)? Tell us in the comments or DM us!
