palletcentral

24 Pallet C e nt ral • Janu a r y -Fe b r u a r y 2 0 25 CYBER CONT. and emergence of automated pallet dismantlers, sorters, stackers, and recordkeeping soft ware. The same goes for new pallet manufacturing and sawmills," added Zilhad Dzihic, Atlanta Pallets & Ser vices. "A I has its place in our industr y, especially in recordkeeping, reporting, and logistics." IoT Sensors And Smart Pallets Using the Internet of Things (IoT), manufacturers can create smart pallets. With built-in sensors on each pallet, manufacturers can track the whereabouts of their pallets and offer these capabilities to end users, too. Beyond location tracking, IoT sensors can collect data about temperature, humidit y, and more. This added insight makes it easy for pallet users to ensure the right conditions for their products as they move through the supply chain. Supply Chain Optimization Supply chains are more complex than ever. For pallet manufacturers, getting pallets to end users is an intricate undertaking. A I can streamline the order process, automate customer communications, track pallets in transit, and help rectif y errors that may come up from start to f inish. With hyperconnected supply chains that span the globe, humans are no longer capable of keeping track of ever y junction—we need technolog y's help. "A I technolog y will begin to take effect in logistics, scheduling, and communications with clients," noted Mohammed A lakoli, PALLETCO. Quality Control Because the pallet industr y has a recycle rate of 95%, pallets are built to be used over and over again—up to 15 times or more. Monitoring the qualit y of recycled pallets is critical. A I can help inspect the joints, wood integrit y, and nails of pallets, ensuring they're f it for reuse. During the production process, A I ensures components are strong enough to withstand high reuse rates. This technolog y also makes it possible to customize manufacturing specif ications for each batch. "More warehouses and DCs will also be automated, putting higher demands on pallet qualit y— compliance with specs, square corners, no missing or broken boards," Mia A llen, Rose Pallet. "One of the most transformative technologies in 2025 will be pallet inspection. Companies like ours are pushing the boundaries by utilizing A I to process higher resolution images faster than ever before, with the most defect features detected in the market. By leveraging this technolog y, we can completely take over qualit y assurance processes, allowing operators to focus on production," Clay Wells, Universal Logic. Advanced Tech Means Advanced Risks The wave of technolog y adoption is changing how the pallet industr y operates at ever y level. From customer management to supply chain optimization, we now have the tools to make well-informed, data- driven decisions. A lthough A I and related technologies bring about a lot of good, it would be irresponsible to overlook the cybersecurit y risks that come with them. AS THE WEB OF AI WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION GROWS, BE SURE TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: More Exposure To Data Breaches Because A I tools are more accessible to ever yone in your business—both tools that you've purchased for your business and free tools like ChatGP T— there is an increasing risk of data breaches. Even the most well-meaning employees can accidentally put conf idential information into A I tools, exposing that information to hackers and potentially putting sensitive information in the wrong hands. "Ever y organization adopting A I must consider its v ulnerabilities," noted cybersecurit y expert Lisa Hammond. "From employee mishandling of conf idential information to gaps in A I systems, the risk of breaches grows exponentially." This one is especially hard to control because it comes well-intentioned. No one wants to expose their employer to data breaches, but we know that 95% of all data breaches are caused by human error. Training employees to recognize risks and stay vigilant is crucial, and speaking up when something feels "off " can ward off a major percentage of attacks before they happen. Advanced Attacks In the same way that pallet manufacturers use A I to automate tasks or provide actionable insights, hackers do the same. They use A I to execute millions of scripts, over whelming defenses. "Hackers now have the tools to make phishing emails 40% faster and more believable," said Fuchs. This ref lects the rising sophistication of cyberattacks.

• Cover