London Tech Week: Tesco and Unilver on how innovative technologies are changing supply chains

As global conflicts, extreme weather and changing consumer behaviour put pressure on supply chains, a London Tech Week panel of leaders from Tesco, Unilever and DHL shared how they are using new technology to mitigate risks and increase efficiency.

“In the food industry there is very minimal margin for error,” Kuru Subramaniam, Head of Product at Tesco told delegates. “Even if a disruption is expected, we cannot afford to stockpile.” He explained this makes any disruption to supply chains very difficult for the retailer to manage. “There is a huge opportunity for us to build something that can predict and sense disruptions.”

Francis Castro, Vice President of Global Customer Operations at Unilever, said geopolitical issues have become a prominent issue in recent years. This includes the recent tariff announcements from the US and the outbreak of war in several regions.

Increasingly unpredictable climate is also a concern for Unilever. “Our ice cream business is incredibly dependent on warm weather,” Castro said. Climate change is making weather harder to predict and unseasonably warm or cold seasons more likely.

Saul Resnick, CEO of UK and Ireland at DHL Supply Chain, said global disruption also presents an opportunity for DHL. The logistics company built its 360 platform, which predicts impacts on supply chains. The company is also using generative AI to forecast changes and potential disruptions. 

DHL is also experimenting with digital twins, which create a virtual double of an object or system and observe its lifespan, helping companies to plan ahead and make info. “It’s still in its infancy,” Resnick said of the technology.

However, Resnick also cautioned that in the years since the pandemic many companies have started to revert back to previous practices. “Memories are short,” he said. “Companies might stock pile ‘just in case’ but if disruptions don’t happen that stockpile is costing them money and they will revert back to doing whatever makes financial sense.”

Looking ahead, the panel agreed that a move toward more collaborative supply chains should be key. “We need to break up siloes,” Castro explained. He said this would also be important in increasing transparency and sustainability.

“You’re only as resilient as your most vulnerable partner,” Tesco’s Subramaniam added. “It’s important to take everyone on the journey.”

Resnick also cautioned that in the event of disruptions, such as those seen at department store M&S in recent weeks, customers are looking for a quick response. “Consuemrs will only be sympathetic to a point - their tolerance will run out,” he said.

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Supply chain technology will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards, which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.