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/