What Have We Learned Thus Far From AskLora.AI?

Supply chain performance is still being measured by outdated assumptions. Lora Cecere argues that optimizing individual functions for lower cost does not necessarily improve the business. In fact, it can throw the entire supply chain out of balance. Better performance starts with understanding what is actually feasible within an industry, focusing on the metrics that drive value, and recognizing that supply chains are complex systems that cannot be improved one function at a time.&nbsp;In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton speaks with Lora Cecere, founder of Supply Chain Insights, and Wael Abdelmalek, CEO at Uthereal, about the research behind Supply Chains to Admire and how that work is being brought into Ask Lora, an AI-enabled benchmarking and advisory platform. They explore why traditional supply chain rankings and generic AI tools can reinforce conventional thinking, how verified research and industry-specific data can create better benchmarks, and why leaders need a more balanced view of growth, operating margin, inventory turns, and return on capital employed when evaluating performance.&nbsp;Lora and Wael also explain how Ask Lora combines 10 years of research and benchmarking data with a private large language model designed specifically for supply chain decision-making. Rather than serving only as a Q&amp;A tool, users are applying it as a trusted peer to benchmark performance, review strategy documents, pressure-test presentations, compare organizational and technology maturity, and challenge assumptions before taking ideas to leadership.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Introduction(01:14) Meet Lora Cecere, founder of Supply Chain Insights, and Wael Abdelmalek, CEO at Uthereal(04:36) Fearless Friday: career leaps and personal risk-taking stories(08:04) The origin of Supply Chains to Admire and why "best practices" is a myth(14:44) What supply chain leaders still get wrong about cost and performance(19:22) What is Ask Lora? Inside the private LLM built on 10 years of research(21:30) Private LLMs vs. generic AI: accuracy, guardrails, and the Ethereal partnership(28:57) How organizations are using Ask Lora: benchmarking, strategy review, and reports(43:57) Pricing tiers, governance, and integration for Ask Lora(50:33) Vision for Ask Lora's future and how to connect with Lora and WaelAdditional Links &amp; Resources:Connect with Lora Cecere: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loracecere/Connect with Wael Abdelmalek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwael/&nbsp;Learn more about Supply Chain Insights: https://supplychaininsights.com/&nbsp;Learn more about Uthereal: https://uthereal.ai/&nbsp;Check out AskLora for yourself: https://asklora.ai/Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about&nbsp;Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com&nbsp;Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now&nbsp;&nbsp;Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join&nbsp;&nbsp;Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/&nbsp;Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Solutions: http://blueyonder.com/cognitiveWEBINAR- Operational AI in the Supply Chain: How context empowers agents and humans to operate side by side: https://bit.ly/4x7Vd2ZWEBINAR- Demand Volatility Isn't a Forecasting Problem: How One FMCG Distributor Released Capacity Without Capital: <a href="https://bit.ly/4r94YM6" rel="noopener nor