Elevating supply chain intelligence
About the case
With global geopolitical tensions building, the Dutch Ministry of Defence must be prepared for all eventualities. For that, it needs accurate and reliable information about every element of its supply chain of materials. In 2023, looking to gain more insights into upstream supply chain, the Ministry chose to put its trust in KPMG.
In the years since, what started out as a purely supply chain engagement has evolved, taking on a data and machine learning angle that requires the knowledge of an AI and data specialist. That specialist is Bas Bogers, Tech Consultant in KPMG’s AI & Data team.
With a background in business analytics and management, Bas is busy generating key supply chain insights for the Ministry by creating dashboards and applying machine learning. As well as sharing his thoughts on the wider AI transition, he discusses the progress and challenges of the project so far and the personal characteristics that come in useful when partnering with a complex government organization.
“It’s easy to get carried away, but I urge organizations to take the time to understand what AI can and can’t do and to keep people at the center of the transition.”
In conversation with Bas
You joined this ongoing engagement earlier this year. How did that come about?
During my studies, I gained a lot of experience in machine learning, so when it became clear that the project at the Ministry of Defence would have a machine learning element, my manager gave me the opportunity to put my skills to use. Even better, I’ve learned a lot from my colleagues about supply chain, which was completely new to me – and maybe I’ve even taught them a bit more about AI! That’s what I’m enjoying most about this assignment: our small team combines expertise from multiple KPMG departments. Most importantly, that ensures we deliver the best possible results for the Ministry, but it’s a nice bonus that we also get to learn from one another.
Can you share more about progress so far?
Phase one was about defining exactly what the Ministry of Defence wants to measure in its supply chain. Then we turned our attention to sourcing the data we need to do that. That’s still ongoing. Meanwhile, we’re focusing on the data platform and dashboards. One dashboard is already partially up and running, providing insights – and that’s where machine learning comes in, predicting certain delivery times. The goal is to create a data flow that forms a positive loop, where the dashboards offer supply chain insights and the AI insights help to improve the data input in turn.
What are your thoughts on the AI transition facing many of KPMG’s clients?
For generative AI in particular, our team believes there should always be “a human in the loop.” AI might help generate ideas or sharpen your thoughts, but it’s important to look critically at the output. Don’t just ask, “Is this true?” but also, “Does this make sense? Do I, with all my human experience and knowledge, understand what it’s saying?” It’s easy to get carried away, but I urge organizations to take the time to understand what AI can and can’t do and to keep people at the center of the transition.
Are there specific challenges when it comes to with working with the Ministry of Defence?
Our biggest challenge has been the different levels of confidentiality and data access. Luckily, everyone there understands that it can be difficult and wants to do all they can to help you. In that sense, KPMG is a good match for the Ministry: on both sides, there’s a real willingness to work together in order to move forward, to get it right first time, and to iterate quickly when it’s not. With the current geopolitical situation, everyone is extremely motivated to keep making progress.
How do you harness that mindset to achieve good results?
By being honest and pragmatic. Even if the truth isn’t what the client wants to hear, we’ll say it anyway; as the saying goes, we’re not here to help them build castles in the air! Personally, I always try to speak up and share my thoughts transparently. I think the Ministry of Defence appreciates our realistic approach.