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Master Industry Dynamics with AI: Porter’s Five Forces AI Agent
AND: Automate Your Supply Chain with AI
Nick Lipetzky
September 04, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Welcome to The Daily Spark! Your non-technical shortcut to tapping into AI’s value, a simple guide to enhancing your skills and saving you time.
"He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still."
Note from Nick-
AI can enhance external control, but true power lies in mastering how you apply it to your own work and life.
Welcome to today’s edition of The Daily Spark, where we focus on giving you the tools to take control of your work and sharpen your skills. Today, we cover OpenAI Japan’s announcement of ‘GPT-Next,’ a new development in AI that promises to change how we think about technology. We’ll walk you through a simple framework, Porter’s Five Forces, to help you navigate the challenges in your industry. You’ll also find practical tools to improve your workflow, like alternatives to Canva, and tips on automating logistics to free up more time for important work. This is about making AI work for you—aligned with your goals. Let’s get started.
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CURATED AI NEWS
AI NEWS THE EXPERTS ARE READING
We Read All the Newsletters So You Only Have to Read One
Popular Headlines
OpenAI Japan has announced ‘GPT-Next’, an AI model reported to be 100 times more powerful than GPT-4. Expected features include highly efficient computing performance and advanced architecture. Releases hinted at dates for the end of 2024.
The U.S. Department of Justice escalated its antitrust investigation into Nvidia, issuing subpoenas over potential anti-competitive practices in the AI chip market. The investigation focuses on whether Nvidia penalizes buyers who choose other suppliers.
Canva is raising its subscription prices for its Teams offering by over 300%, justified by new generative AI features and an expanded product experience scheduled for next year.
Remarkable
Altera's Project Sid has simulated over 1,000 autonomous AI agents in a Minecraft world. These agents develop their own economy, culture, religion, and government autonomously, hinting at the potential for AI to learn and simulate complex societal systems.
TECH TRANSLATED
TODAYS TERM
Machine Learning
Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of artificial intelligence that enables systems to learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. It involves algorithms that can process vast amounts of data to identify patterns and make decisions or predictions based on that data. These algorithms use training data to build a model and continue to refine this model as they are exposed to new data.
AI APPLIED
PROMPTS
TASK: Strategic Advisor: Porter’s Five Forces
Directions: Copy and paste into ChatGPT, Meta AI, Claude, etc. Edit text to fit your specific case or to experiment for different results.
Tips: A strategic advisor to use Porter’s Five Forces framework, analyzing industry dynamics to generate actionable business strategies.
Be Specific About Your Business
Identify Current Challenges
Think Long-Term
Iterate and Refine
Use the Ideas as a Starting Point
Leverage the Insights in Meetings
More detail in The Daily Spark Prompt Library
💥PROMPT
System:
You are a strategic business advisor specializing in industry analysis. Your task is to help the user think about their business using the Porter’s Five Forces framework and generate actionable ideas for their next year’s business plan.
User Input:
- Describe your business, its industry, and any specific challenges you are facing.
Steps:
1. Analyze the industry structure and competitive dynamics using Porter’s Five Forces:
- Threat of New Entrants: Assess how easily new competitors can enter your market.
- Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Evaluate the influence suppliers have on your costs and operations.
- Bargaining Power of Customers: Consider the power customers have in driving prices and demanding changes.
- Threat of Substitute Products: Identify potential substitutes that could impact your business.
- Industry Rivalry: Examine the intensity of competition among existing competitors.
2. Based on the analysis, generate at least three specific ideas for strengthening your business strategy for the upcoming year.
Output Instructions:
- Provide a structured summary of your analysis for each of the Five Forces.
- List the three strategic ideas as bullet points, each with a brief explanation.
AI AGENTS
TASK: AI Data Architect
From The Daily Spark AI Agent Library
💥AI Data Architect This GPT helps users identify and list the specific data requirements needed for AI tools or projects, offering tailored, structured, and accurate guidance for implementation.
AI TOOLS
TASK: AI Design (Alternative to Canva)
Use The Daily Sparks AI Agent to find the Tool for the Task
💥Visme is a cloud-based design tool aimed at helping users create visual content such as presentations, infographics, social media graphics, reports, and more. It’s known for its ease of use and robust set of features that cater to both non-designers and professionals.
AI AUTOMATION
Automating Daily Logistics for Supply Chain Management
In today's fast-paced logistics world, staying on top of daily operations is essential. Automating daily logistics checks within the Supply Chain and Logistics category can be a game-changer, especially for tasks like tracking shipments, monitoring delays, and ensuring efficient transportation of products. This is where automation truly shines, as it leverages real-time data to streamline processes and free up time for more strategic work.
Automate Daily Logistics Checks: A Step-by-Step Guide
Objective:
To automate the monitoring of daily shipments, track transportation efficiency, and proactively manage risks for soybean and pea products, ensuring the team is notified instantly of any delays or disruptions.
1. Connect and Integrate Data Sources
- Shipment Tracking: Integrate with logistics providers (FedEx, UPS, etc.) to pull real-time shipment updates via APIs.
- Inventory Management: Sync your ERP systems (like SAP) to monitor stock levels and shipment needs.
- Weather Updates: Use weather APIs to track potential disruptions (storms, delays) along key routes.
- Supplier Platforms: Link to supplier systems to monitor material shipments and ensure timely deliveries.
2. Automation Tools at Your Fingertips
Zapier/Make: Automate workflows by connecting logistics partners and internal systems into one unified dashboard.
Supply Chain Software: Leverage platforms like Oracle SCM or ShipBob for seamless integration and API access.
Alert Systems: Set up instant notifications via Slack, Teams, or email whenever an issue arises in the logistics chain.
3. The Workflow in Action
Step 1: Gather Data
Connect APIs from shipping carriers and logistics platforms to pull tracking numbers, shipment statuses, and expected delivery times in real time.
Pull inventory data from warehouse systems to match shipment statuses with product orders.
Step 2: Centralize the Information
Aggregate all this data into a central dashboard using tools like Google Sheets, Power BI, or your preferred supply chain platform, allowing for real-time visibility of your entire operation.
Step 3: Monitor for Issues
Set up automated hourly checks for delays, anomalies, or mismatches between expected and actual shipment times.
Cross-check weather data to flag potential disruptions in transportation routes.
Step 4: Trigger Alerts
If a delay or issue is detected, automatically notify the team through Slack or email. Alerts can be tailored by severity, ensuring the right people are informed at the right time.
Step 5: Recommend Actions
The system can provide suggestions like alternative routes to avoid weather delays or expedited shipping options when stock is running low.
Automated message templates can be generated to notify suppliers, customers, or partners of any issues or delays.
4. Stay Ahead with Monitoring and Reports
Set up daily summary reports that provide an overview of shipments, stock levels, and any performance issues. These reports can be sent directly to management, ensuring everyone is in the loop.
Weekly or monthly reviews can help identify areas for improvement and highlight any risks within the supply chain.
Tools to Explore:
Zapier/Make: Automate data flows and send timely alerts.
ShipBob/AfterShip: Real-time tracking with automation capabilities.
Slack/Microsoft Teams: For instant notifications and streamlined communication.
By automating logistics checks, you can focus on solving issues, not just tracking them. Automation transforms a reactive approach into a proactive one, ensuring smoother operations and freeing up valuable time for any team.