Envisioning supply chain possibilities
The B2B innovation journey has just begun; can a little non-traditional thinking and some AI help us along?
I listen to Tyler Cowen on his podcast, Conversations with Tyler. The conversations are with interesting people, fascinating, fast-paced, creative, and always explorations that turn up ideas, often revealing something new, at least for me. I’ve long felt that Cowen offers something to inspire and guide my work, but I don’t think I’ve nailed what that is until I listened to him on another podcast, The Moment, with Brian Koppelman. Cowen is an economist, professor, voracious reader, chess enthusiast, and lover of the arts. Koppelman is of the arts—a filmmaker, writer, podcaster, and essayist. Together, they have chemistry. This edition, like my last, is another attempt to bring art, technology, and science together to create a better newsletter, and to inspire supply chain innovations worthy of our times.
In search of better outcomes
Tyler Cowen's conversation with Brian Koppelman offers insightful perspectives on being an effective human. Their discourse, blending introspection with worldly wisdom, delves into what it means to be truly effective, challenging conventional ideas. Cowen argues that effectiveness isn't just about the impact we knowingly make, but also includes the ripples our actions unknowingly create. He believes determination trumps intelligence, that exploring unfamiliar cultures can challenge our deepest beliefs, and that engaging with the arts opens our minds to new ways of seeing the world—and inspires new ideas for making it better. Effective humans, he suggests, embody intense curiosity, leading to better outcomes than by merely pursuing preplanned achievements head-down.
While I draw inspiration from Cowen and Koppelman, I aim to delve deeper. Their insights aren't just valuable for the curious mind; they have profound implications for transforming the supply chain. In this edition, as in my recent newsletters, I collaborate with ChatGPT, imagining it as a co-creator on a journey. Together, we sift through ideas, using them as a springboard for envisioning innovative supply chain strategies. We rank these ideas, explore potential partnerships to bring them to life, and share our findings here, in a structured format. If you're curious about this creative endeavor or wish to share your insights, I welcome your thoughts. Let's collaborate to push boundaries and explore new horizons in supply chain innovation.
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Real-world innovations
If the supply chain’s ultimate purpose is to help us all better do our work and live our lives, then Cowen and Koppelman’s insights might offer a powerful frame for imagining supply chain innovations. To test this hypothesis, I tried an experiment using ChatGPT as my innovation co-pilot. First, I asked it to summarize all of Cowen and Koppelman’s ideas about being an effective human—not just from their podcast conversation, but from other sources available on the internet. Second, I wrote out my vision for a supply chain designed to be not just resilient, but one that is also responsive to needs and aspirations, and regenerative for workers and communities.
My final step was to ask ChatGPT to apply Cowen and Koppelman’s ideas to my vision and generate a list of potential supply chain innovations. ChatGPT did so, explaining that the innovations “place human needs and experiences at the forefront, using technology as a tool to enhance and enrich the human solutions delivered by the supply chain,” followed by these innovations:
Personalized product journey information. Utilizing blockchain and IoT, supply chains can provide customers detailed information about the journey of their product, from raw materials to final delivery. This transparency builds trust and connects customers more closely to the products they use.
AI-enhanced customer service. This includes implementing AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants to provide real-time, personalized support to customers. These tools can handle inquiries, provide product information, and troubleshoot issues, enhancing the customer experience.
Sustainable and ethical sourcing platforms. These are digital platforms that allow consumers to verify the ethical and sustainable sourcing of products. This innovation aligns with growing consumer awareness and demand for responsibly sourced goods.
Crowdsourced delivery networks. This means leveraging local communities for last-mile delivery, reducing carbon footprint and enhancing delivery speed. This system can involve local individuals or businesses, creating a more connected and community-oriented delivery process.
Disaster response supply chains. These utilize predictive analytics and real-time data to enhance the responsiveness of supply chains in disaster situations. This can ensure timely delivery of essential goods to affected areas, emphasizing the human aspect of supply chain management.
Customized health and wellness products. These use data analytics to offer customized health and wellness products based on individual customer data. This could include personalized nutrition, healthcare supplies, and wellness goods, directly addressing individual health needs.
Interactive and educational packaging. Incorporating QR codes or AR technology in packaging provides customers with interactive experiences, such as information about the product, its origin, or educational content related to the product’s use or impact.
Virtual reality shopping experiences. Creating VR platforms can help customers experience products in a virtual environment before purchasing. This innovation can enhance the buying experience, especially for online shopping, making it more immersive and informed.
Community-based supply chains. This involves establishing supply chains that prioritize local communities, both in sourcing and distribution. It includes supporting local producers and businesses, and ensuring that supply chain practices contribute positively to local economies.
Supply chain health monitoring. Here, companies implement wearable technology for workers in the supply chain to monitor health and safety conditions. This can lead to a healthier work environment and proactive measures for worker wellbeing.
Wow. That’s a long list. I asked ChatGPT if some of its innovations are more aligned with Cowen and Koppelman’s insights than others, and my co-pilot said yes. I asked it to grade each innovation’s alignment on a seven-point Likert scale. ChatGPT took on the assignment and created the data represented in this graph:
Interesting? Surprising? Actionable? Please let me know. Share your comments.
Building radical collaborations
In this edition, we have embarked on a unique experiment, leveraging the analytical prowess of ChatGPT to distill human conversations into actionable insights. Together, we've analyzed the rich dialogue between Tyler Cowen and Brian Koppelman, extracted key ideas, and evaluated them for their potential to revolutionize the supply chain. This journey with ChatGPT has led us to rate these ideas, and now, to propose groundbreaking next steps.
Do we know for certain if our collaborative work with AI is the definitive answer to supply chain innovation? Not quite. But is it a promising start? Absolutely. As ChatGPT itself suggested, "Exploration is the heart of innovation, and in combining AI analysis with human insight, we open new doors to possibilities that were previously unimagined." Hmm. Let’s keep going.
As we've journeyed through the insights of Tyler Cowen and Brian Koppelman, and explored how ChatGPT can ignite our innovative spirit, it becomes clear that the future of supply chain is not just about efficiency and logistics, but about creating meaningful, sustainable, and community-oriented outcomes. In this spirit, let's envision some radical collaborations that transcend traditional boundaries and redefine what a supply chain can achieve.
Integrated urban-community supply hubs
Here, local governments, urban planners, community organizations, technology startups, and logistics companies come together. Their mission? To weave supply chain logistics into the very fabric of community development. Picture hubs bustling with smart technology, not just serving as efficient distribution points but also as vibrant community spaces. These hubs will host workshops, showcase local products, and promote sustainable living, creating a harmonious bond between supply chain efficiency and community welfare.
Academic-industry collaborative research centers
This is where the academic world meets industrial pragmatism. Universities, research institutions, supply chain entities, and technology firms, guided by industry thought leaders, join forces in these centers. Their goal is to spearhead groundbreaking research in supply chain management, with a keen focus on AI, sustainable practices, and blockchain technology. These centers will not only act as think tanks but also as incubators for innovative startups, blending theoretical knowledge with practical insights to fuel the next generation of supply chain solutions.
A global policy and technology consortium
This ambitious initiative brings together international policymakers, global supply chain enterprises, environmental NGOs, technology experts, and consumer advocacy groups. Their collective vision is to realign global supply chain practices with a focus on sustainability and ethics. This consortium is set to champion international policies that advocate for transparency, environmental responsibility, and fair labor practices. By uniting these diverse entities, the consortium aims to leverage the best of policy and technology to forge a more responsible and effective global supply chain ecosystem.
Forging ahead
These radical collaborations represent not just a shift in how we manage supply chains, but a transformation in how we perceive the role of supply chains in our global community. By embracing them, we can create supply chains that are not just conduits of goods, but powerful catalysts for change and innovation. I welcome your feedback and suggestions. Please leave comments below or reach out at mark.dancer@nb4bi.com.