As artificial intelligence continues to reshape global supply chains, industry leaders are increasingly focused on how AI can move beyond simple automation to drive intelligent decision-making across complex operations. That was a central theme at the recent workshop by DIMACS (the Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science) at Rutgers University, where Entefy CEO, Alston Ghafourifar, joined researchers and logistics experts to discuss the future of AI-driven operations in ports and supply chains. This workshop was moderated by Michael Santoro, professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University.
Ports represent one of the most challenging environments for automation. Operators must manage fluctuating cargo volumes, equipment utilization, weather disruptions, labor constraints, and evolving trade conditions, all while maintaining efficiency and reliability. Alston described agentic AI as the next evolution of automation representing systems capable of not only executing predefined tasks but also reasoning, planning, and autonomously coordinating complex operations across dynamic environments. In the context of modern ports, unlike traditional automation that relies on predefined workflows, these intelligent agents can help manage volatility and orchestrate the movement of vessels, cargo, trucks, rail networks, and terminal equipment in real time, enabling unprecedented levels of efficiency, resilience, and operational agility. As international trade continues to expand and supply chains face growing uncertainty, agentic AI offers a powerful opportunity to build smarter, more adaptive port ecosystems.
Examples of this include rerouting cargo to avoid congestion, identifying potential equipment failures before they occur, and improving coordination between terminal operations, transportation providers, and warehouses. A key takeaway from this event was that successful AI deployment depends on more than advanced models.
While emphasizing the immense potential of this technology, Alston also addressed the challenges that accompany its deployment. Ports represent some of the most complex operational environments in the world, often relying on fragmented data sources, legacy infrastructure, and coordination among numerous independent stakeholders. Successfully implementing agentic AI will require overcoming hurdles related to system integration, cybersecurity, data governance, regulatory compliance, and workforce readiness. According to Alston, realizing the full promise of autonomous decision-making in maritime logistics will depend not only on advances in AI technology but also on strong partnerships among industry, academia, and government.
As AI becomes embedded in operational systems, the surrounding infrastructure becomes just as important as the machine intelligence itself. The DIMACS workshop explored important questions around resilience, safety, and risk management. While AI-powered automation offers opportunities for increased capacity and efficiency, there’s an enduring need for these systems remaining transparent, secure, and effective during unexpected disruptions. With adoption accelerating across logistics and supply chains, agentic AI is well poised to become a foundational technology for the next generation of smart infrastructure.
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Our multisensory AI platform combines agentic AI and advanced forecasting to help organizations execute complex workflows, improve planning accuracy, and automate work that requires reasoning, judgment, and business context. We work with enterprises that view AI not as a standalone capability, but as a core component of how decisions are made, processes are executed, and performance is measured. Entefy’s customers vary in size from SMEs to large global public companies across multiple industries including financial services, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.
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