# Drones, AI and the Future of Inventory Monitoring w/ Sean Mitchell

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2023-07-04
- Length: 21m
- Episode: 160
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-04-drones-ai-and-the-future-of-inventory-monitoring-w-sean-mitchell
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-9268bb13-2e8b-4c0b-889d-8919dfaf816e

## Summary

Sean Mitchell, VP of Customer Success at Gather AI, explains how the company uses autonomous drones and AI to automate inventory monitoring in warehouses and distribution centers. He details the technology's ability to capture images, read barcodes and text, and compare data against ERP/WMS systems to identify discrepancies with high speed and accuracy. Mitchell shares specific use cases, including an air cargo facility that reduced scanning time from 48 labor hours to under 5, and a customer who recovered $600,000 in missing inventory after a system migration. He emphasizes that accurate, real-time data is critical for preventing line-down situations and improving overall supply chain traceability.

## Chapters

- [0:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-04-drones-ai-and-the-future-of-inventory-monitoring-w-sean-mitchell#t=38) Introduction and Sean Mitchell's Background
- [4:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-04-drones-ai-and-the-future-of-inventory-monitoring-w-sean-mitchell#t=264) Gather AI's Drone and AI Technology
- [6:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-04-drones-ai-and-the-future-of-inventory-monitoring-w-sean-mitchell#t=360) Dashboard Walkthrough and Exception Handling
- [12:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-04-drones-ai-and-the-future-of-inventory-monitoring-w-sean-mitchell#t=773) Air Cargo Case Study: Speed and Labor Reduction
- [14:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-04-drones-ai-and-the-future-of-inventory-monitoring-w-sean-mitchell#t=893) Inventory Accuracy and ERP Data Integrity
- [18:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-04-drones-ai-and-the-future-of-inventory-monitoring-w-sean-mitchell#t=1092) Future of Manufacturing: Data and Traceability

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Gather AI (company)
- Fabrinet (company)
- AnyBots (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- Cornell University (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Gathering warehouse inventory data - plus a look at Electrocraft motion solutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-06-07-gathering-warehouse-inventory-data-plus-a-look-at-electrocraft-motion-solutions) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Counting inventory with Nokia AIMS smart drone technology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-08-30-counting-inventory-with-nokia-aims-smart-drone-technology) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Pushing the limits of warehouse inventory management](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-06-28-pushing-the-limits-of-warehouse-inventory-management) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [IoT and the Future of the Retail Industry | Pensa's Richard Schwartz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-11-24-iot-and-the-future-of-the-retail-industry-pensas-richard-schwartz) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [IoT in the Freight Industry | FourKites' Himanshu Mehrotra | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2024-05-14-iot-in-the-freight-industry-fourkites-himanshu-mehrotra-internet-of-things-podca) (IoT For All Podcast)

## Citing this page

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