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AI Reality Check
Recap · this event has taken place
In person · · Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry, UK
A free afternoon at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry for distribution and manufacturing leaders: AI deployments that are actually running, partner case studies, a tour of the innovation labs and a panel on practical AI.
This event has taken place
AI Reality Check ran on Thursday 15 October 2026, so registration is closed. Join the list below and we will tell you first about the next webinar and event.
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Get the dates for the next oneHow the afternoon ran.
Thriving through disruption in distribution and manufacturing. 45 minutes.
Continuum, with Ben Firman on how North American distributors are using AI to counter labour and margin pressure, and Ambit Software, with Jenit Ramaiya on AI for enhancing Value Chains, including where digital twins fit. 20 minutes each.
Including the latest AI and robotics warehouse technology.
With Sean Culey (MTC), Rich Sinclair (EO Group) and James Samuels (Vizibli). Technology leaders share insights on applying AI to stock optimisation, demand forecasting, sales enablement, automated reverse logistics, customer experience, pricing, product management, B2B ecommerce, sustainability and more.
The people who spoke and took part on Thursday 15 October 2026.
Founder · Aventyr Partners
Kevin is an exited tech founder with 40 years' experience deploying software for distributors and manufacturers in Europe and North America. He now acts as a bridge between the latest AI technology players and progressive supply chain leaders looking for a first-mover competitive advantage.
Host & moderator
Director of Supply Chain · Manufacturing Technology Centre
Sean leads supply chain strategy at MTC and is a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield School of Management and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (FCILT). He is the UK's only certified SCOR Master Instructor and the author of Transition Point: From Steam to the Singularity.
Speaking on: Thriving through disruption in distribution and manufacturing. Also on the AI panel.
Vice President of Sales · Continuum
Ben began his career in the UK supply chain and has spent eleven years leading go-to-market teams at US technology vendors serving North American distributors and manufacturers. He now leads GTM at Continuum, a supply chain transaction network. He'll bring examples of how AI and automation are being adopted, from single-branch distributors to the largest operators in North America.
Speaking on: How North American distributors are using AI to counter labour and margin pressure
CEO & MD · Ambit Software
Jenit leads Ambit Software, helping enterprises enhance their value chains with AI: transforming Customer Experience, automating Business Processes, enabling Intelligent Analytics, and creating Digital Twins that connect Customers, Operations, Assets and Data for smarter decision-making.
Speaking on: AI for enhancing Value Chains
Co-CEO · EO Group
Rich is Co-CEO of EO Group and founder of CTRL Commerce, an AI-driven SaaS platform helping B2B distributors and buying groups transform sales, CRM and eCommerce. Previously, Rich led digital and eCommerce initiatives at Tesco, Sportingbet, RBS and HSBC. He is a recognised advocate for using AI and technology to drive growth, efficiency and competitive advantage in complex B2B organisations.
On the panel
Co-Founder · Vizibli
James is co-founder of Vizibli, an AI-based supply chain intelligence platform giving companies real-time visibility of carbon and cost hotspots. He previously founded and scaled Claritum, a procurement platform processing over £1bn a year for 1,300 companies across 70 countries, including Canon, J.P. Morgan and Nestlé.
On the panel: Sustainability and procurement
For business leaders
If you are planning AI projects in 2027 and would like advice on where to start, or if you have a specific use case in mind, get in touch with Kevin. He'll point you in the right direction and arrange introductions to proven technology solution providers who can help.
Future events
This is the first of a series. We bring a small number of technology partners into the room alongside MTC, in front of the people who buy and specify AI for distribution and manufacturing. If you are interested in participating in future events as a partner, speaker or host, get in touch.
