Challenges and opportunities of introducing Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence applications into Supply Chain Management

The study examines the challenges and opportunities of introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) into the Supply Chain Management (SCM). This research focuses on the Logistic Management. The central research question is “What are the key challenges and opportunities of introducing AI and IoT applications into the Supply Chain Management?” The goal of this research is to collect the most appropriate literature to help create a conceptual framework, which involves the integration of the IoT and AI applications into contemporary supply chain management with the emphasis on the logistics management. Additionally, the role of 5G Network is closely studied in order to indicate its capabilities and the processing capacity that it can provide to the AI and IoT operations. In addition, the semi-structured online interview with the top managers from several companies was conducted in order to identify the degree of readiness of the companies for the AI and IoT applications in SCM. From the retrieved results, the major challenges of integrating the IoT into SCM are the security and privacy issues, the sensitivity of the data and high costs of the implementation at an initial stage. Moreover, the research results have shown that the IoT applications can positively affect the SCM activities, in particular, the high visibility across the SC, an effective traceability and an automated data collection. Furthermore, the predictive analysis of AI programs can help the SCM to eliminate the potential errors and failures in the processes.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format

Developing Multichannel, Cross-border Customer Service

The major goal of the research was to determine the perspective and satisfaction towards multichannel cross-border customer service and qualitative admission process for international students. Likewise, this study was composed to investigate the usage of current communication channels and explore the potential needs of overseas undergraduates. This final thesis focused on running and planning a students’ satisfaction survey and reviewing the data and results received from the survey. Theories about educational institution admission services and procedures, the international impact on Finnish economy, multichannel services overview, customer satisfaction and experience fundamentals were intently observed to create a consistent theoretical foundation to build this research. In practical scope, the survey was quantitative and was designed as an Internet questionnaire and sent to foreign students of Savonia University of Applied Sciences. The questionnaire involved questions to identify the research objectives and goals. The final results show that most of the students seem to be slightly satisfied with the admission services of Savonia UAS. The international students’ central concerns were the English proficiency of admission personnel and the communication channels while applying to the programmes. Alternatively, interview with Savonia Admission Services was conducted as a qualitative method to specify the current situation of the Savonia UAS admission process for the foreign students. Data from external sources was used to supplement reliability of the research and endorse the study findings