How Blue Yonder uses AI to Transform Supply Chains

Blue Yonder enters 2025 building on a stellar 2024, cementing its place as a global leader in digital supply chain transformation.

The supply chain planning specialist begins the year by launching substantial updates to its AI-powered platform, aiming to help businesses streamline operations, expand globally and meet their strategic objectives.

These enhancements are the product of two years of intensive innovation, involving more than 8,000 integrated workstreams across demand, supply and business planning.

Duncan Angove, CEO of Blue Yonder, comments: “This release enables customers to build out and support new market opportunities or adjust their entire supply chain model as priorities shift, in a fraction of the time, while maximising profits.

“It also allows our customers to grow their business while navigating geopolitical tensions, disruptions, economic shifts or anything else that may come their way."

Here’s a closer look at how Blue Yonder’s latest release addresses the critical needs of modern supply chain and procurement operations.

Unified planning for optimised operations

At the core of the new platform updates is an emphasis on integrating demand, supply and business planning processes.

By dismantling traditional silos, Blue Yonder provides businesses with a unified approach that fosters collaboration and supports more informed decision-making, ultimately driving profitability.

Integrated demand and supply planning: By leveraging AI and machine learning (ML), Blue Yonder combines demand and supply planning into a single, cohesive process. The platform simultaneously analyses demand patterns, supply availability, capital resources and sourcing factors. This ensures reduced costs, improved resource allocation and less waste. Demand planners benefit from AI-driven recommendations that allocate inventory by region or customer segment, leading to better cost efficiency and reliable, timely deliveries.

Enhanced integrated business planning (IBP): Updates to IBP offer near real-time recommendations, enabling businesses to align supply chain strategies with financial goals. Organisations can now model risk and opportunity scenarios, empowering them to respond quickly to shifting conditions. ​​​​​​​

Vertical retail integration: For vertically integrated retailers managing their own supply chains, the unified platform integrates retail, manufacturing and supply planning. This approach simplifies processes, optimises capital use and reduces excess inventory.

Empowering omni-channel commerce

As consumer behaviour evolves, with customers increasingly alternating between online and in-store shopping, Blue Yonder’s platform equips businesses to handle omni-channel operations effectively.

Single inventory view: The updated platform provides a unified view of inventory across digital and physical channels. This capability allows planners to align stock levels with demand, bridging the gap between online and in-store experiences while cutting holding costs.

Returns orchestration: The integration of warehouse management and commerce solutions improves the management of returns. By analysing order and returns data, organisations can streamline returns processing, minimise waste and reduce associated costs.

Pre- and in-season planning: Enhancements to allocation and replenishment features allow companies to adjust order quantities in line with market trends, ensuring inventory aligns with real-time demand.

Advanced AI and ML integration

Blue Yonder continues to embed AI and ML across its platform, delivering faster, more accurate decision-making capabilities.

AI-driven data insights: The platform’s AI-enriched data model enhances analysis, generates faster recommendations and enables root cause diagnostics. Integration with external generative AI tools ensures seamless use of data across systems.

Customisable machine learning models: With its new ML Studio, Blue Yonder allows users to tailor models to their unique business needs. This flexibility supports organisations in testing and implementing bespoke solutions.

Expanded AI functionality: Advanced AI capabilities now support thousands of scenario simulations for inventory, demand and supply planning. These insights help businesses adapt to global market changes and align supply with demand more effectively.

Optimised logistics and warehousing

In addition to planning, the platform introduces updates to logistics and warehouse operations, supporting businesses in scaling their supply chains.

Freight and billing improvements: Blue Yonder’s logistics solutions now support simultaneous freight reconciliation for multiple customers, enhancing billing accuracy and minimising overpayments.

Warehouse enhancements: Updates in robotics management and warehouse tasking improve operational efficiency, enabling logistics providers to manage complex transportation routes and large-scale warehouse activities seamlessly.

Improved user experience

To round out its 2025 updates, Blue Yonder focuses on improving the platform’s user experience (UX) and user interface (UI).

Key enhancements include:

• Up to 40% faster load times for greater workflow efficiency
• A density mode to maximise screen space and reduce decision fatigue
• Accessibility upgrades, including light/dark modes and improved browser compatibility
• Embedded collaboration tools to streamline team workflows

Enhancements in omni-channel commerce, logistics and user experience provide companies with the flexibility and resilience needed to navigate shifting market dynamics.

Whether faced with geopolitical tensions or economic uncertainty, organisations using Blue Yonder’s platform are better equipped to thrive.

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