Marks and Spencer (M&S) has begun the implementation of AI-driven tools for forecasting, ordering, and allocation management across its 1,050 food stores.

The technology, which will help with fresh optimisation, store and distribution centre ordering, allocations, and capacity and delivery flow smoothing, is also being adopted in 13 distribution centres located in the UK and Ireland.

The multinational retailer has been deploying the tech across its food business since March.

The move is part of the company’s plans to modernise the supply chain and to transform its food arm.

The AI-powered technology from software business RELEX, will enable the multinational retailer to improve forecasting accuracy and remove manual interventions for tasks like weather forecasting or planning promotions.

The tech will also help the business bring awareness of store shelf space into supply chain planning.

“RELEX’s ability to quickly deliver insight and accuracy across forecasting, ordering, and allocation within a single platform will significantly increase the efficiency of our day-to-day business operation,” said George Wright, commercial director at Marks & Spencer Food. “RELEX is an important part of our vision of modernising the end-to-end supply chain. We very much look forward to achieving exceptional results as a result of this project.”

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