How Huawei's AI Strategy is Modernising Global Supply Chains

The worldwide transport and logistics sectors are navigating an intricate and rapidly evolving environment, as technological systems that previously facilitated only fundamental operations now drive comprehensive transformation spanning port management and air freight, through to railway expansion and warehouse logistics.

Leading this transformation is Huawei, which employs a combination of intelligent sensing, cloud platforms and AI to refine operations, improve safety and assist businesses in overcoming persistent challenges related to efficiency and expenditure.

Huawei's SMART Logistics & Warehousing Solution serves as a cornerstone in this evolution. It integrates cutting-edge technologies to streamline the complete logistics and supply chain workflow.

Central to the solution is the "1+N" framework - a single smart operations cloud connected with intelligent coordination throughout logistics parks and yards.

The firm states this framework delivers comprehensive, end-to-end digital services for various clients, including corporate logistics departments and supply chain operators.

"Huawei is enabling a smarter, safer and more efficient future for transportation and logistics," says Dr. Rachad Nassar, Huawei's Global Business & Strategic Partners Director.

"With its comprehensive ICT intelligent foundation and its innovative technologies, such as intelligent sensing, broadband connectivity, cloud-based digital platforms and AI, Huawei is turning concepts like Mobility as a Service and Logistics as a Service into reality - unlocking the full potential of digital intelligence."

AI, cloud and automation reshape contemporary logistics

The logistics industry confronts significant operational expenses and fragmented digital integration and Huawei contends that conditions are ideal for intelligent transformation.

The practical challenges that logistics companies encounter, including elevated OPEX, inadequate data coordination and underutilised AI resources, are tackled through Huawei's SMART Logistics & Warehousing Solution, which provides five fundamental capabilities:

• Platform-based services
  
• Digital operations management
  
• Intelligent resource allocation
  
• Automated cargo relocation
  
• Fully unattended transportation.

The platform incorporates secure data sharing through a trustable data space, accelerated document processing via Huawei's Wukong intelligent recognition model and smart planning with an AI-powered scheduling engine.

Warehouse yards and parks also gain enhanced automation through intelligent machines.

Huawei records impressive outcomes across infrastructure networks worldwide.

Its technologies facilitate operations at more than 100 ports and over 200 logistics and warehousing businesses, above 300 urban rail lines spanning 70 cities, 180,000 km of railways, 200,000 km of road networks, 300 urban transport networks and more than 210 airlines and air traffic control organisations.

Ma Yue, Vice President of Huawei and CEO of Huawei's Smart Transportation BU, states the company's priority remains on aligning appropriate technologies with specific challenges.

"By fitting the right technologies to increasingly diversified scenarios, the company helps optimise the flow of passengers, freight, businesses, revenue and information," he says.

He notes that Huawei continues to pursue joint innovations in "communications networks, computing power, AI and talent cultivation to advance sustainable development of transportation".

Supply chains evolve towards integrated intelligence

As conventional logistics models come under pressure from policy shifts and international trade complexity, organisations are responding.

Guo Shuangqing, Assistant CMO of SF Technology, introduces the company's air logistics platform, built from China's first dedicated cargo airport.

It processes terabytes of data with millisecond response times and has handled 1.9 million tonnes of cargo with no switching errors.

"SF Technology and Huawei will maximise respective strengths to expand capabilities in coordinating multiple airports, thus leading to a substantial efficiency increase across the entire air logistics sector," he says.

Regarding the railway sector, Kumpol Boonchom, Deputy Chief of State Railway of Thailand, similarly embraces the objective of positioning Thailand as a Southeast Asian transport hub.

He indicates the Thailand–China Railway represents a significant opportunity to advance the region's strategic rail logistics capability.

Advancing beyond dockside operations

At sea, ports are transforming as well.

Yang Bin, Chairman of Shandong Port Technology Group, highlights the company's evolution from port operator to comprehensive supply chain service provider. Supported by Huawei's technology, the group has implemented what he describes as a digital foundation of "one network, one cloud, and one security system."

This configuration enhances data centre reliability, facilitates cloud platform deployment and maintains systems stability across a 3,345-kilometre coastline.

"Convenient travel and smooth logistics capture the essence of port and maritime logistics," says Yang.

The company partners across the industry to provide smart port solutions that merge physical infrastructure with digital service layers.

Whether in the air, at sea, on railways or throughout road networks, operators are implementing integrated smart technologies.

Huawei and its international partners are assisting in guiding that transition with practical, scalable tools that meet current infrastructure and operational requirements.