Inside Auto ID: NX Group
Companies engaged in the inherently physical activity of transporting freight might seem to have no requirement for the latest advances in machine learning, but Artificial Intelligence is helping supply chain businesses meet ever-increasing demands from customers for greater visibility and later cut-off times by supporting activities from planning to reporting.
NX Group, a family-owned logistics and warehousing business in Northamptonshire, prides itself on a ‘can-do’ attitude inspired by the company’s leadership and the personable approach of an increasingly international workforce. Yet, Managing Director Neil Powell is keenly aware of the role technology plays in driving his company forwards. Customer reports are already written using AI.
From increasing cyber security to protect the company from ransomware attacks to the planned introduction of robotics into its warehouses, NX Group is a valuable case study for the impact of technology on a business meeting the fundamental need of its customers to move goods from one location to another.
By enhancing planning capability, AI helps supply chain companies meet customer demand for greater flexibility and interactivity. Tracking systems are only one piece in the puzzle. Solutions that provide customers with options at every part of an item’s journey are of obvious benefit in a sector where “visibility is everything.”
The movements of NX Group’s fleet of more than sixty vehicles are planned by experienced staff, but Neil recognises the influence AI might have on a process that must account for road conditions, customer service patterns and even opening hours at the premises from which goods are despatched and delivered.
Technology is helping supply chain companies meet customer demands for greater sustainability, too. Neil embraces his company’s sustainability policy but does not underestimate the support required to generate a return on investment from environmentally friendly practices: a multi-year commitment he warns should not be confused with run-of-the-mill costs.
Electric vehicles represent an obvious mechanism for improving the sustainable outlook of a transport business, but Neil maintains that investing in a fleet of EVs would be the easy part. Battery-powered lorries would depend on an extensive charging infrastructure once they left NX Group’s depots: a vital support network still under development in most countries.
Social and economic shifts in the UK’s post-Brexit, post-Covid economy have presented NX Group with challenges and opportunities. Associated freight transport costs have increased by around seven per cent. The cost of gas and electricity used at the company’s facilities has risen too. Neil is grateful for a loyal customer base that has not confused price increases with profiteering.
More positively, migration trends have brought skilled people into the business. A multinational workforce has made NX Group a multilingual enterprise. One employee from Moldova speaks five languages, enabling her to communicate with warehouse operatives, drivers and customers and making her a significant asset to the company.
Technology plays a leading role at NX Group. The transport of goods presents a moving target in the most literal sense, yet with advanced systems to pick, pack, protect and transport items from its facilities in Northamptonshire to local and global destinations, Neil’s company is well-positioned to meet customer needs.
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