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March 5, 2012

Business turns to ants and algorithms in search for profit

BBC News - Business turns to ants and algorithms in search for profit:


We're unlikely to see ants invading corporate boardrooms any time soon, but these tiny insects are helping save some of the world's biggest companies a small fortune.

For they are the inspiration behind just one of the complex mathematical formulae that a growing number of corporations are embracing as a way to gain competitive advantage.

These so-called algorithms use vast amounts of raw data to provide solutions to complex problems, from streamlining supply chains to where best to drill for oil.

A handful of companies already use them, such as logistics firms looking for the fastest way to deliver goods, and supermarkets tracking customers' buying patterns to decide what to stock and where to stack it.

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