Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Can AI really cut delivery drive time by 48% — and emissions by 36% — all while using fewer trucks?
That’s exactly what this week’s guest, Rich Savoie, Co-founder and CEO of Adiona, has achieved — and it’s transforming how we think about supply chain resilience and sustainable logistics.
In this first episode of the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast, I sit down with Rich to explore how advanced optimisation, AI, and real-time data are rewriting the rules of the last mile. From reducing operational costs and carbon output to improving driver experience, Adiona’s technology is proving that resilience and sustainability go hand in hand.
You’ll hear how Adiona helped Coca-Cola cut truck time by almost half, slashed kilometres by 36%, and reduced fleet size by 15% — without compromising service. We unpack why last-mile delivery is both the shortest and dirtiest part of the supply chain, and how data-driven optimisation can flip that on its head. Rich also shares why labour costs (not fuel) dominate delivery economics, what fleets get wrong about electrification, and how “humanistic AI” can make supply chains not just smarter but fairer.
We go deep into EV transition strategies, stakeholder engagement, and how visibility across every parcel’s journey is the real key to resilience. If you care about the future of sustainable logistics, emissions tracking, or AI in supply chains — this episode is packed with insights you’ll actually use.
What’s your take on AI’s role in sustainable logistics? Let me know below 👇
🎧 Listen to the full episode: resilientsupplychainpodcast.com
📩 Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tomraftery
🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast: Spotify
, Apple Podcasts
🔔 Subscribe here on YouTube for new episodes every week: youtube.com/@TomRaftery
⏱️ Timestamps & Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Can AI really cut delivery time and emissions?
01:00 – Welcome to the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast – Why resilience and sustainability now converge.
02:00 – Meet Rich Savoie, CEO of Adiona – AI optimisation for sustainable logistics.
03:40 – From medical devices to supply chain AI – Rich’s journey from Medtronic to entrepreneurship.
05:00 – The inefficiency of the workforce commute – Early inspiration for optimisation technology.
06:20 – Australia Post and the tyranny of distance – Solving route optimisation at national scale.
08:00 – Why traditional optimisation tools hit a wall – Cloud compute, big data, and next-gen AI.
09:40 – The last-mile paradox – Shortest distance, highest cost, biggest emissions.
10:20 – Visibility and emissions modelling – Why digital twins matter for Scope 3 reporting.
12:00 – EV transition playbook – What most fleets get wrong about electrification.
13:20 – Right-sizing your fleet before electrifying – Avoiding one-to-one diesel swaps.
15:00 – Stakeholder buy-in and the carbon premium – Making sustainability financially viable.
16:00 – Real-world EV economics – Comparing charging vs diesel costs with Spain as an example.
17:30 – The human factor – Labour as the biggest operational cost in logistics.
18:40 – Cargo bikes and micro-mobility – Rethinking urban delivery efficiency.
20:20 – Emissions reporting and data gaps – Why Scope 3 transparency still lags.
22:00 – AI and machine learning in routing – The balance between building and buying AI.
25:00 – Quantum computing for optimisation – Future potential and real-world limits.
28:40 – Humanistic AI and better workdays for drivers – Blending technology with empathy.
31:00 – Regional contrasts: Europe, US, and Asia – Who’s leading in sustainable logistics.
32:40 – Regulation and EV adoption – Why Australia is lagging behind the world.
34:00 – Designing the perfect EV transition pilot – Avoiding costly mistakes.
36:00 – Coca-Cola’s optimisation success story – 48% less drive time, 36% fewer kilometres, 15% fewer trucks.
37:30 – The magic of data transparency – Why visibility is the ultimate efficiency driver.
39:00 – Who should champion sustainability? – Why Rich picks Adiona, the goddess of return journeys.
40:30 – Closing thoughts and call to action – The road ahead for resilient, sustainable supply chains.
SEO keywords: supply chain resilience, sustainable logistics, AI in supply chains, fleet optimisation, last-mile delivery, carbon reduction, EV transition, emissions tracking, logistics innovation, climate tech.
Can AI really cut delivery drive time by 48% — and emissions by 36% — all while using fewer trucks?
That’s exactly what this week’s guest, Rich Savoie, Co-founder and CEO of Adiona, has achieved — and it’s transforming how we think about supply chain resilience and sustainable logistics.
In this first episode of the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast, I sit down with Rich to explore how advanced optimisation, AI, and real-time data are rewriting the rules of the last mile. From reducing operational costs and carbon output to improving driver experience, Adiona’s technology is proving that resilience and sustainability go hand in hand.
You’ll hear how Adiona helped Coca-Cola cut truck time by almost half, slashed kilometres by 36%, and reduced fleet size by 15% — without compromising service. We unpack why last-mile delivery is both the shortest and dirtiest part of the supply chain, and how data-driven optimisation can flip that on its head. Rich also shares why labour costs (not fuel) dominate delivery economics, what fleets get wrong about electrification, and how “humanistic AI” can make supply chains not just smarter but fairer.
We go deep into EV transition strategies, stakeholder engagement, and how visibility across every parcel’s journey is the real key to resilience. If you care about the future of sustainable logistics, emissions tracking, or AI in supply chains — this episode is packed with insights you’ll actually use.
What’s your take on AI’s role in sustainable logistics? Let me know below 👇
🎧 Listen to the full episode: resilientsupplychainpodcast.com
📩 Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tomraftery
🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast: Spotify
, Apple Podcasts
🔔 Subscribe here on YouTube for new episodes every week: youtube.com/@TomRaftery
⏱️ Timestamps & Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Can AI really cut delivery time and emissions?
01:00 – Welcome to the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast – Why resilience and sustainability now converge.
02:00 – Meet Rich Savoie, CEO of Adiona – AI optimisation for sustainable logistics.
03:40 – From medical devices to supply chain AI – Rich’s journey from Medtronic to entrepreneurship.
05:00 – The inefficiency of the workforce commute – Early inspiration for optimisation technology.
06:20 – Australia Post and the tyranny of distance – Solving route optimisation at national scale.
08:00 – Why traditional optimisation tools hit a wall – Cloud compute, big data, and next-gen AI.
09:40 – The last-mile paradox – Shortest distance, highest cost, biggest emissions.
10:20 – Visibility and emissions modelling – Why digital twins matter for Scope 3 reporting.
12:00 – EV transition playbook – What most fleets get wrong about electrification.
13:20 – Right-sizing your fleet before electrifying – Avoiding one-to-one diesel swaps.
15:00 – Stakeholder buy-in and the carbon premium – Making sustainability financially viable.
16:00 – Real-world EV economics – Comparing charging vs diesel costs with Spain as an example.
17:30 – The human factor – Labour as the biggest operational cost in logistics.
18:40 – Cargo bikes and micro-mobility – Rethinking urban delivery efficiency.
20:20 – Emissions reporting and data gaps – Why Scope 3 transparency still lags.
22:00 – AI and machine learning in routing – The balance between building and buying AI.
25:00 – Quantum computing for optimisation – Future potential and real-world limits.
28:40 – Humanistic AI and better workdays for drivers – Blending technology with empathy.
31:00 – Regional contrasts: Europe, US, and Asia – Who’s leading in sustainable logistics.
32:40 – Regulation and EV adoption – Why Australia is lagging behind the world.
34:00 – Designing the perfect EV transition pilot – Avoiding costly mistakes.
36:00 – Coca-Cola’s optimisation success story – 48% less drive time, 36% fewer kilometres, 15% fewer trucks.
37:30 – The magic of data transparency – Why visibility is the ultimate efficiency driver.
39:00 – Who should champion sustainability? – Why Rich picks Adiona, the goddess of return journeys.
40:30 – Closing thoughts and call to action – The road ahead for resilient, sustainable supply chains.
SEO keywords: supply chain resilience, sustainable logistics, AI in supply chains, fleet optimisation, last-mile delivery, carbon reduction, EV transition, emissions tracking, logistics innovation, climate tech.
