Ever wonder how companies like DHL Express manage to deliver thousands of packages efficiently every single day? The secret lies in sophisticated AI-powered routing and dispatch automation - and today's guest is at the forefront of this revolution.
Join me as I sit down with Erin Blair, VP of Global Partnerships at Wise Systems, an MIT-born company that's transforming how businesses handle their last-mile delivery operations. WISE Systems processes 20,000-30,000 routes daily using machine learning to capture the "tribal knowledge" of experienced dispatchers and drivers, turning it into automated systems that optimize operations in real-time.
In this fascinating deep-dive, Erin reveals how AI is solving one of logistics' biggest challenges: turning reactive dispatch operations into proactive, data-driven systems that can identify when trucks are running 30% empty and immediately alert sales teams to fill that capacity.
Key Takeaways
Sound Bites
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to WISE Systems and Last-Mile Logistics
02:16 - What WISE Systems Does: Routing & Dispatch Automation
04:15 - Scale and Major Customers (DHL Express, Anheuser-Busch)
05:34 - AI and Machine Learning in Route Optimization
09:32 - Turning Empty Truck Capacity into Sales Opportunities
12:18 - Being Proactive vs Reactive in Operations
15:51 - AI Tools and Technology Stack at WISE Systems
18:57 - Internal AI Tools for Support and Engineering
24:22 - Field Research: Engineers on Delivery Routes
29:41 - The Future: Changing the Role of Dispatchers
33:40 - Personal Values and Family as Greatest Achievement
38:59 - How to Connect with Erin and WISE Systems
Connect with us
Where to find Erin:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-blair/
Website: https://www.wisesystems.com/
Where to find Sani:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sani-djaya/
Get in touch: sani@gridgoals.com
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