A software company based in Steinbach, Manitoba, is gaining national recognition for revolutionizing supply chain management across various sectors, from beer to bombers. Cameron Bergen founded his company, mode 40, in 2020 in his basement, driven by the untapped potential of data usage in the food and beverage industry. Leveraging AI technology, mode 40 aids businesses in enhancing efficiency and monitoring sales, with a workforce of 80 full-time employees in Canada and the United States.
Bergen likens the integration of AI into business operations to the transformative impact of the internet and e-commerce, describing it as a catalyst for redefining economic functions. He views his software as akin to Lego bricks, adaptable to diverse industries seeking optimization, traceability, and security in their supply chains.
Recently, mode40 received the FoodTech Frontier award from the Canadian Food Innovation Network, recognizing its innovation in incorporating artificial intelligence into food and beverage production. Additionally, the company secured $500,000 in government funding for a pilot program aimed at training workers in Manitoba’s aerospace and defense industries on implementing AI technology using mode40’s AeroTrace platform.
Nonsuch Brewing co-owner, Matthew Sabourin, has delegated numerous administrative tasks to mode40’s AI platform, enabling him to concentrate on expanding his business. Sabourin praises the platform, named Singularity, for its predictive capabilities in analyzing past trends and future plans across brewing, retail, distribution, and bar operations.
Despite concerns about AI replacing jobs, Alex Barlow of the Canadian Food Innovation Network believes that the industry’s labor shortage will drive companies to retain and reskill workers rather than resort to layoffs. Bergen emphasizes the importance of education in preparing the workforce for the evolving economy, highlighting the positive impact of AI on job creation and economic growth.
Bergen plans to maintain mode40’s headquarters in Steinbach, citing the city’s supportive business environment and collaborative knowledge-sharing culture as key factors in shaping his company’s vision. By capturing human decision-making processes digitally, mode40 aims to preserve valuable expertise within organizations and facilitate knowledge transfer to future generations.