As the sports manufacturing industry evolves, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a critical catalyst for innovation and efficiency.
In an exclusive interview with Australian Manufacturing, Nick Auditore, the founder of Moment to Market (M2M) Group, explained his vision for consolidating his sporting empire, the groundbreaking integration of AI, and the role of innovation in the industry.
Consolidating for greater impact
Reflecting on his decision to unify multiple brands under M2M Group, Auditore revealed a strategic intention to streamline operations and amplify their reach.
“The inspiration behind consolidating into M2M Group came from a desire to streamline our operations and amplify our impact in the sports world,” he said.
By bringing his various brands together, M2M Group can now foster deeper collaboration, boost resource sharing, and execute a more cohesive strategy for growth.
The driving force behind M2M Group’s efficiency
AI technology has become central to M2M Group’s strategy, particularly in automating supply chain and production processes.
“One of the biggest draw cards for us was seeing how it could integrate and automate our decision-making across the unique businesses within the M2M Group,” explained Auditore.
By analysing sales data from retail stores in real time, the group can make informed decisions instantly, triggering next steps like adjusting inventory or production schedules.
“We adopted a modular approach to our technology stack, allowing us to integrate the best available AI tools without disrupting our existing operations,” Auditore shared.
This flexible approach allows M2M Group to remain nimble and adapt quickly to the ever-evolving AI landscape.
According to Auditore, the partnership with Tim Evans, co-founder of M2M’s creative agency, 2045, has also been instrumental.
A leap forward in manufacturing
One of M2M Group’s most innovative assets is its investment in the ROQ system, an advanced AI-powered machine from Portugal.
The ROQ system optimises various manufacturing processes, such as job scheduling, workflow automation, and inventory management.
“As a lean operation focused on just-in-time & pull-type production, we can see big advantages in using machine learning to help with pre-press tasks, and in the automation of workflow optimisation, job scheduling and inventory management processes,” Auditore noted.
He highlighted that this technology allows M2M Group to scale its production while maintaining high standards of quality and speed.
Transforming customer experience with AI
Speed and precision are essential in the sports and fashion industries, where timing is everything. Through AI-driven automation, M2M Group has significantly accelerated its production and supply chain processes, benefiting both the business and its customers.
AI has been crucial in automating our supply chain across all M2M Group businesses,” said Auditore.
By instantly processing sales data, M2M Group can swiftly adjust inventory and respond to customer demand, ensuring faster delivery.
Auditore highlighted the creative applications of AI within M2M’s 2045 Smart Studio, where automation has streamlined content creation.
“AI recognises when we’re shooting certain products and can automate settings and export the content by itself,” he explained.
This advanced setup frees up creative teams to focus on strategic planning and innovation, leading to a faster time-to-market for new products.
As Auditore emphasised, “All of this means we can get products to our customers faster, which is especially important in fashion and sports retail where timing is everything.”
Scalability and personalisation
One of AI’s greatest advantages for M2M Group lies in its ability to scale and personalise offerings based on real-time data.
“By analysing customer preferences and market trends rapidly, we can adjust our products and production schedules almost on the fly,” Auditore noted.
This level of agility allows M2M Group to meet evolving customer needs, while the modular AI systems enable the group to incorporate emerging tools seamlessly.
With the ongoing advancements in AI, M2M Group is actively exploring new tools to refine its predictive capabilities and expand its offerings.
Auditore elaborated, “We’re looking into advanced predictive analytics to improve our demand forecasting, which is especially important for responding to key moments in sports.”
Additionally, the 2045 Smart Studio’s AI functionality allows the agency to handle every aspect of content production, attracting high-profile clients like Bupa and L’Oreal.
Integrating AI in business
Auditore offers valuable advice to leaders considering AI integration in their own businesses.
“I’d recommend focusing on how AI can automate your supply chain to make faster, more informed decisions,” he advised, underscoring the importance of speed in sectors like sports and fashion retail.
Additionally, he encourages companies to adopt a modular approach to their technology stack, which will enable them to incorporate new AI tools without disrupting existing systems.
“Collaborating with experts who understand both technology and your industry is also invaluable,” he said, referencing his partnership with Tim Evans in developing M2M’s AI systems.
Finally, Auditore stressed the importance of flexibility, pointing out that the rapidly changing technology landscape requires businesses to be adaptable.
