The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ Edge conference in Orlando, Florida, highlighted the importance of data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing illicit imports. Janet Labuda, head of compliance at Maersk Customs Services, emphasized the necessity of AI and machine learning in supply chain validation processes, citing a previous operation that revealed a significant number of fake importers in China. Labuda and Lisa Robinson-Davis from Maersk emphasized that leveraging AI and import data allows regulatory bodies, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to identify risks preemptively within supply chains. They also spoke about the urgency of ensuring supply chain compliance and how AI can help allocate resources efficiently to minimize risk.
The panel discussion included Amy Morgan, vice president of trade compliance at Altana Technologies, an AI partner of Maersk. Morgan explained that Altana’s AI-powered insights enable customers to take informed actions, such as finding alternative suppliers, tracing raw materials, and targeting risky supplier networks. Altana recently received a multiyear contract from CBP to help prevent goods produced using forced labor from entering the U.S. The company’s Atlas solution integrates diverse data sources to screen goods for adherence to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. The panelists stressed the importance of supply chain due diligence and highlighted AI as a critical tool in facilitating legitimate trade.
In summary, the panel discussion at the conference focused on the significance of leveraging AI and data analytics to combat illicit imports and ensure supply chain compliance. Panelists highlighted case studies, such as Operation Mirage, which revealed significant numbers of fake importers in China, emphasizing the need for preemptive risk assessment. They also highlighted the specific ways in which AI tools, like Altana’s solutions, can help track global supply chains, find alternative suppliers, and target potential risks more efficiently. The panelists urged companies to prioritize supply chain due diligence, and they emphasized that AI will play a crucial role in facilitating legitimate trade.
