How AI and human intelligence can enhance responsible sourcing programmes

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping businesses and supply chains, driving both complex disruptions and strategic opportunities. While its potential to revolutionise responsible sourcing and risk management is vast, a crucial element is often being overlooked: namely how we best integrate AI with on-the-ground human intelligence and expertise. This synergy holds the key to unlocking a new level of supply chain confidence and driving resilient, sustainable outcomes at a time of unparalleled and accelerated change.

Where responsible sourcing actions can inform deeper supply chain transformation

AI excels at processing large volumes of data. It can help identify patterns, predict risks and recommend solutions. However, it requires the nuanced understanding and contextual knowledge of industry experts to apply its findings effectively. Industry professionals bring essential insights into the historical context of trends, regulatory requirements, cultural considerations and operational realities. They also provide unique insight into on-the-ground sourcing challenges in manufacturing geographies. Connecting these capabilities together effectively will help ensure that AI-driven decisions are practical and properly solve real-world challenges rather than masking them or pushing them elsewhere.

A few examples of where AI can revolutionise how we do responsible sourcing include:

1. Enhanced transparency1: AI-powered tools can analyse vast amounts of data to provide real-time insights into supply chain operations e.g. the relationship between lead times, pricing and factory wages and working hours. This type of insight can improve our understanding of responsible sourcing risks (such as the underpayment of wages or excessive overtime) and open the door for innovative solutions. (e.g., better links between demand forecasting, planning and orders)
2. Predictive analytics: AI supports more effective, predictive insight into supply chain disruption linked to sustainability factors. It can do this by analysing historic supplier audit findings and business practices alongside known instances of disruption in order to determine any hidden correlations. This allows businesses to take a more proactive approach in deploying measures such as diversifying suppliers or adjusting procurement strategies to mitigate risks.
3. Reporting automation: AI can streamline supply chain sustainability reporting. It can do this by (a) helping to map data assets to the different reporting standards or clauses (b) centralising and integrating and data from various sources, such as audit reports from various service providers or audit schemes, and (c) standardising the data for consistency and streamlined reporting as well as (d) auto-generating the identification and narrative explanations of trends. 
4. Supplier collaboration: AI can facilitate better communication and collaboration with suppliers by providing data-driven insights (such as adverse media scanning), benchmarking and recommendations linked to real-time best practices. When used effectively, this can foster trust and enable joined-up, aligned efforts to achieve sustainability goals. 

How the use of AI in EiQ enables more proactive risk management

The potential of AI in responsible sourcing is exhibited through EiQ's innovative approach to proactive risk management. EiQ, the supply chain intelligence solution, already leverages aspects of AI technologies to help businesses anticipate and address risks before they escalate. Here's how:

• Real-time risk monitoring: EiQ's AI tools continuously monitor supply chain data to identify emerging risks, such as geopolitical instability or environmental hazards. This includes machine learning tools that scan thousands of media channels for supplier incidents and provide a new level of insight into sustainability risks beyond annual audit findings. This real-time monitoring connected to your supplier base enables businesses to respond swiftly and effectively. 
• Mutual recognition: We recognise the need to accept audits from different service providers and across different industry audit schemes. Over eight years ago we developed an “equivalency” process that maps audit clauses from different schemes to a common structure. Maintaining this dictionary and running the conversion process has now been automated and is operationalised using AI. 
• Data-driven decision making: EiQ leverages and analyses complex data. This includes geographic data, product data, insights from media, audits and capacity building. It distills this data in ways that empower supply chain professionals to make informed decisions. This reduces uncertainty and enables actions that build deeper supply chain resilience. 

The EiQ platform integrates sustainability metrics into its risk management framework, ensuring that businesses not only mitigate risks but also align their operations with environmental and social responsibility goals. We blend this with deep insight from our on-the-ground and client success teams.

The future of responsible sourcing

As AI continues to evolve, its applications in responsible sourcing will only expand. From blockchain integration for traceability to AI-driven sustainability audits, scheduling, report writing and review - the possibilities are endless. For supply chain professionals, embracing AI is not just about staying competitive. It's about leading the way by utilising these tools in ways that lead to transformation and impact. This requires a thoughtful fusion of the real-world experiences we have outlined above.

AI is not just a tool; it's a catalyst for change. For sustainability and supply chain professionals, this conversation is long overdue. By harnessing the power of AI, businesses can transform their supply chains into models of responsibility and innovation, setting new standards for the industry. Whether through enhanced transparency, predictive analytics or proactive risk management solutions like those offered by EiQ, the potential for positive impact is immense. We can move from risk to opportunity.

1 LRQA defines transparency as whether suppliers are open to sharing true wage and working hour records during an audit or whether such documents may have been falsified (non-transparent).