The efficiency of global supply chains has long been measured by the ability to do more with less: lean inventories, fast deliveries, and synchronized operations across multiple continents. However, a series of events—including the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, raw material shortages, climate change, and trade instability—has shown that speed alone is no longer enough.
In this environment of uncertainty, one capability has emerged as a key competitive advantage: the ability to anticipate problems before they occur. This is precisely where Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes into play.
Far beyond the virtual assistants that popularized the technology in recent years, AI has become a strategic tool for companies that rely on complex logistics operations. Today, algorithms can analyze millions of data points simultaneously to predict delays, identify climate-related risks, recommend alternative routes, calculate financial impacts, forecast demand fluctuations, and support decisions that, until recently, depended almost entirely on human experience.
The Beginning of Prevention
More than just a technological trend, AI represents a fundamental shift in mindset. With artificial intelligence, decisions that once took hours—or even days—can now be made in a matter of minutes.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the global Artificial Intelligence market could reach US$4.8 trillion by 2033, a figure comparable to the size of Germany's economy. The organization emphasizes that AI is no longer simply a technological innovation but is becoming an economic infrastructure capable of transforming entire industries, including manufacturing, transportation, international trade, and logistics.
"AI does not replace people's operational knowledge. It enhances our ability to identify variables that would be impossible to analyze manually. In international logistics, decisions need to be made quickly, but they also need to be smart. That's exactly where technology creates value," says Dayana Morillo.
The statement comes from international trade specialist Dayana Morillo, who has more than twelve years of experience in global supply chain operations and maritime logistics. She currently serves as Trading Operator Americas at Holcim Trading & Shipping, where she coordinates maritime operations across multiple countries throughout the Americas.
According to Morillo, AI adoption is accelerating because modern logistics has evolved beyond purely operational functions.
"Today, managing a supply chain means dealing simultaneously with financial, regulatory, climate, commercial, and geopolitical risks. The greater the amount of information available, the greater the need for tools capable of organizing that information and transforming it into practical business decisions," she explains.
Where AI Truly Makes a Difference
The transformation is perhaps most evident in environments where operational complexity is greatest.
In international maritime operations, for example, every shipment involves dozens of different stakeholders, including shipowners, port terminals, customs authorities, financial institutions, customers, insurance companies, inland transportation providers, and suppliers located across multiple countries.
A minor weather disruption can delay a vessel's arrival. Port congestion can generate unexpected costs. Regulatory changes can completely alter the documentation required for a shipment.
In this highly dynamic environment, artificial intelligence serves as a decision-support platform, identifying potential impacts before they turn into financial losses.
This reality is part of Dayana Morillo's daily professional experience.
Throughout her career, she has managed some of the most complex operations in international maritime trade. Before assuming her current position at Holcim Trading & Shipping, she worked as a Vessel Operator at Dowa Line America, coordinating vessel movements, voyage planning, port operations, and international logistics activities.
Her career began at Cargill Venezuela, where she developed extensive expertise in international procurement, import and export operations, customs compliance, and international trade documentation—knowledge that later became the foundation of her work in global supply chain management.
Later, as a Vessel Operator at Dowa Line America, she became directly responsible for coordinating vessels, planning maritime voyages, monitoring operations, and resolving complex logistics challenges involving multiple countries, ports, and service providers.
Today, at Holcim Trading & Shipping, her role has become even more strategic. In addition to coordinating international maritime operations, she works closely with suppliers, customers, financial institutions, port agents, and internal teams to ensure that every operation complies with the commercial and regulatory standards required in international markets.
According to Dayana, keeping pace with technological advancements is no longer optional.
"Anyone working in international logistics must be committed to continuous learning. Technology evolves incredibly fast, and Artificial Intelligence is just one of the many changes that have already become part of companies' daily operations."
Her commitment to professional development is also reflected in her academic and technical qualifications.
Her certifications include specialized training in Generative Artificial Intelligence for Business, Responsible AI, Incoterms, Business Resilience, and Maritime Chartering Operations, credentials that complement her extensive hands-on experience in international trade.
A More Connected—and More Human—Future
The transformation driven by Artificial Intelligence in global supply chains is still in its early stages.
Over the coming years, however, experts expect a significant expansion of increasingly autonomous systems capable of monitoring operations, recommending decisions, and identifying risks even before human teams become aware of them.
The industry is moving away from a reactive logistics model toward one that is increasingly predictive.
Ships will be able to optimize routes with greater precision. Companies will anticipate shifts in demand. Suppliers will be evaluated continuously. Risks will be detected before they generate financial consequences.
This evolution comes at a time when global supply chains face increasingly complex challenges. In this environment, information has become one of the most valuable assets in international trade—and artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of its most powerful strategic tools.
