Traditional business intelligence tells us what happened. Predictive analytics tell us what might happen. But in the modern supply chain, decision intelligence tells us what we should do about it—and increasingly, acts on that knowledge automatically.
Supply chain sustainability isn’t just about reducing emissions anymore—it’s about making intelligent decisions that balance environmental impact, social responsibility, and business viability at machine speed and human scale. This is where decision intelligence comes in, representing not just another technological trend, but a fundamental shift in how we approach supply chain decision-making in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
For example, where traditional platforms might flag that a shipment is likely to be delayed, a Decision Intelligence Platform evaluates the sustainability implications of various response options—rerouting through a more fuel-efficient path, consolidating with other shipments to reduce overall emissions, or adjusting delivery expectations to avoid expedited transport—and automatically implements the optimal choice based on predefined sustainability and business objectives.
Supply chains don’t need more data—they need better decisions
Despite an abundance of data, many companies still struggle to act on it, especially in sustainability, where time is limited and complexity is high. But simply knowing the problem isn’t enough. The ability to make informed, timely decisions is what moves the needle.
Consider the scale of the challenge:
- >70% of emissions come from the supply chain. For most companies, Scope 3 emissions dwarf direct (Scope 1 and 2) emissions—yet they’re the hardest to measure, monitor, and manage.
- 26 times higher emissions for suppliers. CDP reports show supplier emissions can be 26 times greater than a company’s own Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This isn’t just a reporting gap; it’s a leadership blind spot if left unaddressed.
- Up to 92 times higher in retail. In retail, supply chain emissions can be 92 times higher than direct operational emissions, meaning every operational decision has sustainability implications that compound across the network.
The complexity extends beyond emissions. Supply chain leaders are also expected to manage ESG data collection, regulatory compliance (CBAM, CSDD), and social responsibility, while balancing efficiency, cost, and speed. This web of competing priorities can paralyze operations.
Human-led processes alone can’t keep up, making decision intelligence essential for optimizing thousands of interconnected decisions daily, at scale. This is where decision intelligence becomes critical; to empower organizations to act on the data, automatically, at scale, and aligned to their specific sustainability commitments.
How decision intelligence powers sustainable supply Chains
At project44, we understand that AI for sustainability requires three core elements:
Interpretability and contextual clarity: Our platform fully articulates its reasoning for recommendations and actions. It considers emissions, transport mode, and social impact, and then makes these decisions visible, so users understand the rationale behind each choice.
Explainability and predictive impact: project44 has a built-in explainability module that clearly displays the reasoning processes behind any decision, which enables supply chain leaders to accurately anticipate disruptions and their ripple effects across every mode of transport.
Continuous learning with human oversight: AI agents track the outcomes of their decisions, refining their logic over time while remaining governed by rules and priorities set by the organization.
Here are a few ways project44’s decision intelligence can make your supply chain more sustainable:
Optimize your routes: Beyond speed, our Decision Intelligence Platform can evaluate routes based on sustainability factors like fuel efficiency, carrier carbon intensity, and energy grid carbon intensity. Then you can drill into the data and adapt strategies in real time.
Sustainable inventory management: project44 can factor in sustainability metrics when choosing suppliers for inventory management, enabling you to prioritize those with better environmental practices and optimize order quantities to reduce waste.
Predictive Risk Management: By analyzing patterns in weather, geopolitical events, and supplier performance, our decision intelligence can identify sustainability risks before they materialize.
From trust to transformation: building autonomous, sustainable supply Chains
This transparency isn’t just good practice—it’s essential when AI platforms make decisions that affect sustainability outcomes. Our Decision Intelligence Platform logs every decision and its rationale, ensuring full alignment with your set business rules and sustainability parameters.
But transparency alone isn’t enough. A fundamental transformation happens when transparency leads to confident, consistent action. Our platform enables organizations to their sustainability priorities, whether it’s prioritizing low-carbon transport, enforcing ethical sourcing, or meeting regulatory thresholds, and then acts on those rules in real time across thousands of daily decisions.
This action-first approach ensures that sustainability is not only accounted for but operationalized, and automated decisions align with organizational sustainability commitments while maintaining the speed and scale advantages of AI-driven operations.
The future we’re building toward is one where sustainability isn’t an afterthought or a separate consideration, but a fundamental component built into every operational decision. Imagine supply chains that automatically optimize for carbon neutrality, continuously improve social impact, enhance economic viability, and act quickly with intelligence—all while maintaining the speed and reliability that modern commerce demands.
Looking ahead: The future of responsible supply chains
Climate change, geopolitics, and disruptions are intensifying the pressure on global supply chains. Still, advanced technologies like AI can help refine and optimize supply chains while enabling organizations to lead the industry toward a more sustainable future.
At project44, we believe that decision intelligence represents the modern supply chain—not just because it’s more efficient or profitable, but because it’s the only way to manage the complexity of truly sustainable operations at a global scale.
Organizations that adopt decision intelligence now won’t just outperform—they’ll define what responsible, sustainable supply chains look like for decades to come.
We’re building to meet these challenges and are committed to paving a path toward a more sustainable future.
