In this episode of An Hour of Innovation podcast, host Vitaliy Lyoshin sits down with Richard Savoie, co-founder and CEO of Adiona Tech, to explore how AI is driving innovation in supply chain management and transforming the future of logistics.
They dive into the carbon cost of delivery and reveal why last-mile delivery is the most expensive and environmentally damaging segment in the supply chain. Richard explains how Adiona uses AI to automate route planning, optimize commercial fleets, and deliver impactful last-mile delivery optimization for enterprise clients. The conversation also covers how data, simulation, and predictive modeling play a role in cutting costs and emissions, and what the future of AI in logistics might look like. Richard shares insights from working with companies like Coca-Cola and Australia Post and offers practical lessons for leaders navigating the complexity of modern supply chain operations.
Richard Savoie is an engineer, AI innovator, and the CEO of Adiona Tech, a company at the forefront of logistics and supply chain technology. With a background in manufacturing and hardware design, Richard brings a systems-thinking approach to solving high-impact challenges in transportation. His company helps large enterprises reduce delivery costs and emissions through advanced optimization algorithms and machine learning. Under his leadership, Adiona has pioneered solutions in last-mile delivery optimization, EV fleet planning, and sustainable supply chain management. Richard is also a strong advocate for using AI responsibly and effectively to build greener, more efficient infrastructure worldwide.
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Takeaways & Insights
* 53% of delivery costs and emissions happen in the last mile.
* Most commercial delivery vehicles are running 40% empty.
* AI is just one tool — it works best when combined with traditional optimization and constraint-based algorithms.
* Adiona focuses on enterprise fleets because the sustainability impact compounds at scale.
* Agentic AI will allow us to dynamically prioritize deliveries, even mid-route.
* Simulation modeling is now essential for planning in a volatile world, especially with tariffs, EV rollouts, and shifting supply chains.
* Adiona built the first EV routing engine in logistics, but adoption is still slow in some regions.
* You may love your idea, but if no one will pay for it, it’s not a business.
* Cutting emissions is not just a feel-good goal - it’s a cost-saving opportunity.
* Let humans solve the edge cases, and let AI handle the repetitive work.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:57 The Birth of Adiona
02:59 Technical Challenges and the Role of AI
04:30 Building a Scalable Technology Stack
06:04 Focusing on Enterprise Solutions for Sustainability
08:53 Addressing Operational Inefficiencies in Logistics
12:02 Optimizing Last Mile Deliveries
14:10 Case Studies: Success Stories in Efficiency
17:25 Government Organizations and Sustainability
20:22 Leveraging AI and Quantum Computing for Optimization
22:47 Optimizing Routes with Technology
26:17 Balancing Edge Cases and General Solutions
29:50 The Human Element in Automation
32:15 Future Breakthroughs in Logistics
36:45 Opportunities in Air or Sea Logistics
38:04 Regulatory Challenges in Technology Adoption
41:23 Lessons Learned as an Entrepreneur
45:06 Unexpected Uses of Technology
47:48 Future Innovations on the Horizon
Connect with Richard
Website: https://www.adionatech.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richsavoie/
Connect with Vit
Website: https://vitlyoshin.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/
X: https://x.com/vitlyoshin
Vit’s Projects
Podcast: https://www.anhourofinnovation.com/
AI Assistant to build apps: https://appforgelab.com/