Baldor’s first-ever CIO sets the transformation agenda

His experience in logistics and analytics will also help Baldor improve workflows as he integrates more IoT devices into the company’s industrial operations and its private fleet of delivery trucks.

“What’s also going to change this farm-to-table business is how we exploit the internet of things,” Parameswaran says, adding that he is considering employing blockchain technology to digitize Baldor’s supply chain.

Kevin Prouty, group vice president and GM of IDC’s Tech Buyer Business, sees retailers and restauranters going after experienced logistics IT pros where cost and shelf life are of primary importance.

“While AI is the latest focus, it’s actually very common for companies to hire former senior execs and planners from large logistics companies. The logistics companies are well known for great OpEx, and as incubators of highly functioning planning tools. These planning tools are constantly transforming at the cutting edge using high performance computing, big data capabilities, and sophisticated intelligence,” Prouty notes. “That is all applied to optimizing routes and delivery capabilities.”

At UPS, Parameswaran gained experience developing machine learning models and generative AI applications and plans to exploit that at Baldor when possible. For example, he plans to develop a chatbot that can digitize orders the company receives in voicemails from chefs and restaurant managers and route them as quickly and as accurately as possible for fulfillment.

Baldor collaborates with thousands of farmers globally and plans to use Parameswaran’s expertise in logistics and delivery to improve efficiencies. One division of the company, Freshgrass, produces roughly 3,500 individual items, such as a five-gallon bucket of sliced vegetables, which customers can purchase in bulk and have delivered swiftly by Baldor’s fleet of trucks. Equipping the fleet with advanced IoT sensors and tracking devices will improve customer engagement time and reduce food waste, Parameswaran  says.