How AI is transforming business processes

Welcome to The Varato Letter, Sponsored by Harris Web Works.

Every Saturday, we share insights with 1,500+ supply chain leaders on modernizing business operations for the digital age. This newsletter will be Free for the reader forever. Enjoy!

To learn more about how Harris Web Works can help you to future proof your manufacturing wholesale or distribution business, click here.

AI is here to stay, and you can use it to get ahead of your competitors.

Whether you are running a wholesale, distribution, or manufacturing business…

We're seeing AI revolutionize supply chain partners in these 3 key ways:

(if you prefer to watch video rather than read text, click here)

1️⃣ Automating mundane tasks

AI bots can handle repetitive work like data entry, freeing up humans for higher-value tasks.

Let's look at a real-world example:

A hospital in rural Washington State implemented AI bots to handle supply tracking. Previously, nurses were spending over 20 hours per week manually updating Excel spreadsheets to keep track of medical supplies, defibrillators, and other essential equipment.

By introducing AI-powered web bots, the hospital was able to:

• Automatically pull data from various systems

• Update inventory in real-time

• Generate accurate reports without human input

The result?

Nurses saved 20+ hours per week, allowing them to focus on what matters most - patient care.

As the hospital's CFO noted: "It's made my staff happier by freeing them to focus on patient care. That's what they want to do - nobody wants to sit in front of a computer all day."

2️⃣ Improving accuracy

AI reduces human error in critical processes.

Here's a powerful example from the food distribution industry:

A major food distributor was struggling with order modifications. When grocers called to change their orders (which happened frequently during the pandemic), the company's legacy systems weren't designed to handle these quick changes.

They implemented AI-powered web bots to:

• Update all relevant systems when an order changed

• Keep inventory, shipping, and billing data in sync

• Process modifications in real-time

The outcome?

• Drastically reduced errors in order fulfillment

• Improved customer satisfaction as grocers could modify orders easily

• Streamlined operations across multiple legacy and modern systems

This showcases how AI can bridge the gap between older systems and modern business needs, improving accuracy and efficiency.

3️⃣ Enhancing decision-making

AI analyzes vast datasets to surface insights.

Let's explore a healthcare example:

A healthcare company implemented AI for medication reconciliation. This process involves:

• Analyzing data from multiple sources (claims data, pharmacy records, patient histories)

• Identifying patterns in medication effectiveness across patient groups

• Providing insights to doctors and pharmacists

The AI system:

• Integrates data from various healthcare systems

• Runs complex algorithms to detect patterns

• Generates reports highlighting potential issues or opportunities for improved prescribing

Results:

• Doctors receive data-driven insights about medication effectiveness

• Pharmacists can make more informed recommendations

• Overall improvement in patient outcomes due to optimized medication strategies

This showcases AI's power to process vast amounts of data and provide actionable insights that human analysts might miss.

The key is starting small.

Pick 1-2 processes to automate.

Get quick wins. Then scale.

For example, a small manufacturer might start by:

1. Automating data entry for material certifications

2. Using AI to optimize inventory management

Once they see success in these areas, they can expand to more complex processes like predictive maintenance or supply chain optimization.

Don't fear AI replacing jobs.

It empowers employees to do more meaningful work.

As one hospital CFO said: "It's made my staff happier by freeing them to focus on patient care."

Embracing AI isn't just about efficiency.

It's about staying competitive.

The companies leveraging it now will pull ahead.

Don't get left behind.

The goal isn't to replace humans, but to enhance their capabilities.

By automating mundane tasks, improving accuracy, and providing data-driven insights, AI allows your team to focus on what they do best - creative problem-solving, strategic thinking, and building relationships with customers.

Start your AI journey today, and position your business for success in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Here’s a video walkthrough of how to get started with AI today:

Here’s another couple of articles you might find useful:

• 96% of Supply Chain Businesses Make This Costly Mistake

• How to align your technology with the customer journey

Whenever you're ready, here's how we can help you:

Harris Web Works is a digital transformation agency that helps supply chain partners (manufacturers, wholesalers & distributors) meet new generational buyer demands & expectations by installing streamlined e-commerce systems.

To learn more about how we can help you future-proof your business, click here.