At Manifest 2025, attendees gained insights into the latest trends shaping the supply chain landscape, including advancements in artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, sustainability practices, and digital supply chains. This allowed them to learn about innovative solutions, network with industry leaders, and understand how to adapt to emerging technologies in logistics and warehouse management.
AutoScheduler.AI demonstrated our Warehouse Orchestration Platform in Booth 302. We showed how our platform transforms warehouse operations with:
- Improved on-time, in-full fulfillment rates
- Enhanced labor efficiency by 30%
- Real-time operational precision
- Improved load-ready time by 50%
- Reduced unnecessary inventory moves by 20%
Some observations from Manifest from our team include:
- Despite higher rates, there is still apparently a lot of capital chasing too few viable projects. In other words, the startup ecosystem is still in a healthy place.
- Shippers desire a clear ROI as a starting point for new solutions. This speaks to a broad focus on profitability and cost management (also what you would expect in a rising rate environment).
- Disruption-oriented solutions were popular – Tariffs were likely a driving force.
- AI, AI, AI: AI is by far the buzziest of buzzwords at Manifest, but many (if not most) supply chain leaders are confused about how to use it with their supply chain. There seems to be significant skepticism about what AI is and if it matters. Supply Chain leaders seek transformational technology and hard/ tangible ROI. This has been difficult since many companies deploying AI aren’t battle-tested, making most of their ROI numbers less believable.
- Prioritization: Nearly every supply chain leader we spoke with is dealing with IT bandwidth constraints as they install or upgrade core execution systems (ERP, TMS, WMS, etc.) Because of these bandwidth constraints, prioritization is incredibly important. It appears it typically comes down to: How does this tech fit into our 2025 and long-term strategy? How tangible/ believable is the ROI?
- A lot of companies are still using Proof of Concept POC’s on newer technologies before they jump into full blown projects.
- Customers are reluctant to migrate their WMS platforms to the cloud. They see it is a significant change in cost – up to 4x their current annual fees, with not a lot of upside in terms of new enhancements for their investment. Many large shippers are expending considerable money and resources to get through these intensive WMS upgrades. AutoScheduler can extend and breathe new life into existing WMS platforms without the extensive cost.
Insights from the Industry:
- Patrick Kelleher, CEO of DHL Supply Chain North America, discussed the top 5 logistics trends: changes in global trade, continued rise in ecommerce, climate change, digitization, and the evolving workforce.
- Project 44’s CEO mentioned, “AI is only as good as the data it’s built on.” Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI, agrees. He mentions in Material Handling & Logistics, “AI-powered orchestration solutions shift the focus from simply managing present operations to actively predicting and preventing future issues. By analyzing vast amounts of operational data, these solutions identify patterns and trends that may indicate potential bottlenecks in the days ahead. This allows companies to foresee issues such as labor shortages, equipment breakdowns, or delayed shipments before they occur, giving them time to adjust and implement preventive strategies.”
- DAT mentions AI and predictive supply chains as one of the key themes from Manifest 2025. In its Manifest 2025 recap, DAT says, “AI-driven systems are helping companies better anticipate demand fluctuations and proactively adjust operations to optimize costs and minimize waste. From leveraging historical data to predicting future trends, these tools transform businesses one algorithm at a time.” AutoScheduler’s warehouse orchestration platform leverages predictive and prescriptive analytics to optimize warehouse operations.
Major trends in the supply chain industry discussed at Manifest 2025 include extensive use of AI in logistics, automation, and robotics, increased focus on data visibility and transparency, growing adoption of autonomous vehicles, emphasis on predictive supply chains, and the need for robust security measures against fraud and theft; with key themes revolving around leveraging AI to optimize operations, collaborating with startups for innovative solutions, and prioritizing long-term carrier partnerships for reliable freight delivery.
Want to learn more about warehouse orchestration and AutoScheduler.AI? Contact us today at info@autoscheduler.ai.
