Ford Partners With Relex AI To Revitalize South American Supply Chain

Ford South America has undergone a rather substantial transformation in recent years, revamping its lineup in a big way while also launching a new online parts store full of OEM goods, partnering with Marchex to give its dealers powerful artificial intelligence tools, and also adopting AI to help improve customer service. Now, Ford South America has announced a brand new partnership with a company called Relex Solutions – a provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions – to help accelerate its aftermarket automotive parts supply chain operations.

This new effort will in fact replace Ford South America’s existing supply chain solution with a few goals in mind – to improve dealer service levels and forecasting accuracy, reduce inventory costs, and automate the planning process. Ford and Relex will roll out this new AI-based software in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Colombia, helping to reinvent a substantial supply chain that consists of 600 suppliers, 10 distribution centers, 150,000 SKUs, and 400 dealers.

Relex’s AI platform will help Ford reduce manual workload and optimize inventory levels, which is particularly important when dealing with slower-moving items, all while enabling more precise forecasting capabilities. Ford also notes that this software will help it strengthen its purchasing capabilities, achieve more precise forecasting through demand sensing and multiple regressors, and better integrate its planning practices.

“Relex’s AI-driven approach will help us make smarter, faster decisions, improve forecast accuracy, and boost service levels for our dealers while controlling costs,” said Carlos Laprega, Ford South America Parts Aftermarket Logistics Senior Manager. “They will help Ford support our strategic goals of efficiency and customer satisfaction.” “Relex is proud to support this iconic brand in transforming their supply chain operations,” added Carlos Victoria, SVP, Sales, LATAM, Relex Solutions. “Our collaboration will help Ford unlock new levels of agility, efficiency, and resilience across their network. We’re excited to deliver rapid, measurable value that supports Ford’s long-term success.”