Union Minister Nitin Gadkari advocated the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform India’s logistics sector. Gadkari also aimed to reduce logistics costs by 2% within the next two years.
Speaking at the ‘Revolutionizing Supply Chain with Artificial Intelligence’ conference organized by the Indian Institute of Materials Management in the city, Gadkari emphasized the potential of AI in making significant improvements across logistics, packaging, production, and timely delivery of products and services.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is set to become the third-largest economy globally, and AI will play a crucial role in achieving the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” Gadkari said.
Gadkari stressed the importance of the right choice of technology, proper utilization, and ensuring its benefits reach all sections of society. He pointed out that India’s youth will be important in driving this transformation. “The industry must focus on developing its distribution systems, prioritizing timely delivery, effective packaging, and logistics capacity,” Gadkari said. He emphasized that these areas need to be addressed with urgency to stay competitive globally.
Gadkari further explained that AI is bringing radical changes to traditional supply chain methods, helping Indian industries tackle global challenges and make data-driven decisions in production and distribution. Gadkari clarified that AI offers significant conveniences to the industry, and it will also contribute to reducing the carbon footprint in related sectors.
Venkataraman, director of the Indian Institute of Materials Management, Nagpur, shared his views on how AI can address multi-dimensional challenges in supply chain management. The two-day conference, which brought together experts in logistics, supply chain management, and AI, aimed to discuss the sustainable development of supply chains through AI applications.
The institute, which plays a vital role in training professionals in materials management, provides courses in logistics and supply chain management at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.