Fargo, ND-based electrical supplies distributor Border States partnered with supply chain optimization company GAINS to improve lead time accuracy and supply chain performance through an AI-powered platform.

The GAINS Halo360° Decision Engineering and Orchestration Platform offers lead time prediction, in this case using machine learning techniques along with Border State’s own data to create a unique prediction model based on the distributor’s supply chain.

The tool uses lateral learning to respond to changing environments and generate lead time predictions for items with limited or no supply data. As the model is continually trained using Border States’ latest dataset, the solution will calculate lead times with greater and greater accuracy over time, company officials said in an April 30 news release.

GAINS Vice President of Industry Solutions Amber Salley says the technology allows companies to “become more confident in their replenishment decisions, avoid value leakage and better meet service, cost and capacity goals — a difficult task given the volatility of today’s markets.”

“This technology is one of the most exciting advancements in inventory and demand planning the industry has seen in many years, and we are thrilled to be ushering in these capabilities together,” said Border States Vice President of Procurement Richelle Bishoff.

Employee-owned Border States was No. 6 on MDM’s 2023 Top Distributors List for electrical, data & security products distributors. The company serves construction, industrial and utility customers.