AI and Digital Twins Streamline Supply Chains, Expert Says

The global supply chain is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by tariffs, rising trade restrictions, and evolving technologies. An emerging method for trade stakeholders to enhance efficiency and respond to disruptions is through the combination of AI computer vision and digital twin technologies, according to Erez Agmoni, co-founder and general partner at Interwoven Ventures.

A digital twin is a virtual model that can replicate a supply chain. AI computer vision is a field of artificial intelligence that enables computers to “see” and interpret images and videos, mimicking human vision. “AI, digital twins, computer vision, the intersection between those three is quite amazing,” Agmoni told FreightWaves. “They can help find new routes, new supply chain sources, and new ideas. The more data you input, the more scenarios you can create to solve various issues, from wars to tariffs to pandemics.”

New York-based Interwoven Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in technologies such as robotics and AI to transform the healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and transportation sectors. Before co-founding Interwoven Ventures, Agmoni was the global head of innovation at shipping giant Maersk, where he spearheaded the use of technologies to improve efficiency across the company’s supply chain ecosystem.

Agmoni emphasized the importance of identifying problems before implementing solutions. “You have to declare what your problems are first, so then you can actually measure them,” he said. “You’re not just creating a digital twin for the sake of it; you build it to solve specific problems.”

The digital twin market in the U.S. is projected to increase from $3 billion in 2023 to $36 billion by 2028, according to MarketsandMarkets. The AI computer vision market could see even more explosive growth, with an increase from $23.42 billion in 2025 to $63.48 billion by 2030, according to the same source.

One of the first projects Agmoni used AI computer vision technology to solve at Maersk was how to efficiently unload containers at a cross-dock operation. “When we started, they didn’t even know how long it took to unload a container,” Agmoni said. “We set up smart cameras to learn the behavior of people and processes. After eight months, we achieved 82% accuracy in minute predictions, which significantly improved cost efficiency.”

Maersk also used digital twin technology to optimize its drayage operations. “Every drayage operation involves multiple ports, terminals, warehouses, and trucks,” Agmoni explained. “Before, they had to gather information from 13 different systems to decide on the dispatch of the day, which was inefficient. The digital twin gave them total visibility, saving millions of dollars and optimizing dispatches.”

Digital twins are particularly valuable for creating simulations, or what-if scenarios. “You can introduce new elements into the current scenario and let the system simulate the outcomes,” Agmoni said. “For example, if you want to give a specific price to a customer, the system can tell you whether you will lose money.”

These technologies are not just about solving current problems but also about preparing for future challenges. By integrating AI computer vision and digital twins, companies can achieve higher efficiency, better decision-making, and greater resilience in the face of global disruptions.