Evaluating the impact of artificial intelligence on supply chain efficiency in Zimbabwean disaster management processes

Abstract

The study focused on evaluating the impact of evaluating the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on supply chain efficiency in Zimbabwean disaster management process. The study was carried out in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital. The study was inspired by the interest to know if AI systems employed by different organisations including parastatal departments are optimising disaster management supply chains. The motive came after assessing and noticing challenges people, livestock and infrastructure face following different types of natural and human made disasters. The study results were achieved following determining the level of adoption of AI systems and tools that optimise disaster management supply chains across interested organisations in Zimbabwe. Secondly, the researcher went on to find the relationship of artificial intelligence systems and efficiency in the supply chain. The study was achieved by employing quantitative method through the questionnaire. The data was collected and analysed through regression method followed by analysis of descriptive statistics off the SPSS software. The sample was collected using purposive sampling technique. A sample totalling 75 individuals representing various organisations was collected and questionnaires were shared to them. Despite having 51 of the respondents managing to return completed questionnaire, the sample size was still effective following a good response rate. From the findings of the study, the result shows that AI systems and tools have been adopted well across various organisations and clearly, they are serving the right purpose to influence optimisation of supply chains during disaster phases. The result showed that there is a direct relationship between artificial intelligence and efficient information flow across supply chain which relatively means efficient supply chains. The result showed that increase investment in AI systems relatively means increase in supply chain efficiency during disaster management phase,(holding other factors constant). As the third goal of the study suggestions were made after finding out that the problems and challenges encountered by Zimbabwe in managing disasters are not mainly influenced by under utilisation or little adoption of AI across organisations. One of the main recommendations was that AI systems alone they are not enough, they must have resources Sbacking them up. These include rescue teams, rescue resources such as helicopters, food supplies and more just depending on the nature of disaster.