Hyperautomate everything and orchestrate the entire ecosystem

It has taken a global crisis to create the dramatic 'giant leap' forward in digital transformation across the world, and as we enter the great 're-set', the world's deep reliance on supply chains has become very clear. We have seen incredible innovation at incredible speed to ensure we have the vaccines needed. This is just the start because the need now is for global supply chains to deliver – literally; we need the same incredible transformation and innovation in supply chain management, and we need it now.

Our recent global survey on supply chain management and our customer relationships across the region shows a greater response to the need to innovate deeper and faster. This innovation will drive a new level of real-time intelligence based on real-time data, driven by 'hyperautomation' – a new term for AI, IoT, APIs and blockchain.

According to our survey, 74% of supply chain leaders have continued to innovate throughout the crisis. While 30% say the pandemic has not impacted their ability to innovate, 44% say that the crisis has had a positive impact. Technology is assisting and enabling this process of innovation.

For example, smart asset tracking helps firms deal with the challenges associated with sourcing goods from a broader range of offshore locations. This is important and the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index, which measures the logistics capabilities of the world's major countries, includes 'track and trace' as one of the six strength indicators that make a location attractive to source goods from.

Collaboration meets real-time data
Without effective collaboration, inefficiencies can arise in the handovers between the transport modalities – sea, rail, road and pipeline – and delays may result in penalties. It is not just in global, or regional, logistics that real-time data has become increasingly essential. Without real-time visibility on the whole supply chain, accurate demand forecasting is challenging.

Real-time data can now be captured in cost-effective ways to power better workflows that extend across an ecosystem of business partners. However, just 45% of respondents to our survey say they are using real-time data insights to drive better decision-making today. That figure is likely to double over the next two years: 44% say they have plans to launch real-time data initiatives, to share with ecosystem partners and frontline staff.

There are long term benefits too. Real-time data can improve environmental, social and governance performance indicators – aligned with rising consumer expectations of the companies from which they want to buy goods and services.

AI-enabled planning
Real-time data collection and insights are now possible at scale thanks to 5G, enabling rapid, AI-driven analytics using digital twins to support descriptive, predictive and prescriptive data analytics, enabled by AI and machine learning algorithms. Firms can now move from analysing past performance to anticipate what will happen next, when and why.

Our survey shows how organisations prioritise AI as one of the primary technologies for investment, ranking highest or second-highest, for sustainability, resilience and risk mitigation (along with data analytics infrastructure and automation). It's no surprise that AI has so many applications across supply chains from simple robotic automation to advanced deep learning systems.

AI-enabled execution
Turning data into action involves automating tasks, based on AI insights, wherever possible. But it is equally important to empower employees with real-time AI-enabled data insights to make the right decisions where manual interventions are necessary to add value.

Just 42% of firms say they are reducing risk in their supply chain by increasing the automation they use to handle rapidly changing demand levels. Still, that figure is forecast to double over the next two years. Meanwhile, 80% believe it is vital to empower employees and supply chain partners with data insights.

This is now achievable with the availability of relatively low-cost IoT sensors, HD cameras and computer vision applications, access to AI and machine learning algorithms, APIs and AI-enabled chatbots. An IoT enabled bot can even check real-time inventory levels, flag anomalous patterns with a manager. At the same time, beneath this interplay of human and digital, blockchain can reliably track goods' provenance to comply with ethical and sustainable sourcing initiatives.

A digital and human approach #AT 
We have to recognise that not all processes can be automated and there will always be tasks where the human touch is vital. Augmenting these workers with digital work instructions via ruggedised tablets, smartphones or virtual or augmented reality devices (such as glasses enabled by 5G) in easy-to-consume formats is critical. It allows people to be more productive, reducing fatigue and frustration.

In this pivotal moment for the world, there are enormous pressures on supply chains. The increasing geodiversity creates complexities and intensifies the need for advanced digitalisation. This is where technology comes in with the vital digital levers to help businesses address the challenges.

Thank You

#AdvaitThakur

Digitally Connected Ports

Advait Thakur, IoT & Analytics Expert from Orange Business Service shares the latest in IoT and AI for the Maritime sector.

 The maritime sector is at the heart of the global economy and around 80 per cent of global trade by volume is carried by sea and handled by ports worldwide. Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are combining to dramatic effect in bringing a new level of intelligence to ports and creating next generation ‘smart ports’.

 Shipping has been transforming for some time but sea ports are now catching up, with network connectivity, IoT, cloud computing and AI helping drive digital transformation in ports around the world. Ports also face their own distinctive challenges as they go through their digital transformation and become ‘smart ports’ but with the added complexity of their ecosystems including port authorities, customs, carriers, importers and exporters.

 The future of shipping ports must be faster, smarter, greener and connected and, in order to be sustainable, they need to share information, follow best practices and reduce carbon footprint.

Smart ports are using digital tools to make operations more productive, safer, efficient and profitable. IoT, cloud computing and ubiquitous network connectivity are now driving digital transformation in sea ports the world over.

 One exciting example of a digital port development is in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where IoT technologies, AI and cloud are driving efficiencies and operational transformation, including collecting real-time water, weather and communications data, analysing and processing it for ships and port operators. The Port of Rotterdam has also announced investments in AI applications to predict vessel arrival times in the port.

 Meanwhile, the Port of Antwerp in Belgium is leveraging real-time data to drive operational improvement by using NxtPort, an information-sharing platform. Antwerp’s goal is to become a self-sustaining data-commercialisation organisation that gathers, stores, analyses and exchanges data with all parties within its logistics operation.

 These are encouraging use cases and help demonstrate that digital applications can play a central role in a large number of port and shipping operations, from logistics management to improving cargo activities. They are also the first steps towards smart ports but choosing which technologies to incorporate into a digital strategy for a port and successfully deploying them is complex because of the ecosystem of stakeholders.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/smart-port-technology-abu-dhabi-ports-innovation-month-kelly-power%2F/ 

IOT is Driving Formula 1 - Advait

Advait Thakur takes us on a journey around the race track with an IoT lens

When it comes to F1, there can be more excitement off the track than on it. The average F1 car has between 150-300 sensors monitoring all the major systems and subsystems, so the race teams can measure the performance of the car and react to race, track, weather and tyre conditions through real-time monitoring leading to real time response. This is all thanks to the data analytics that provide the actionable insights. 

It’s a great example of IOT in action and helps race teams gain competitive advantage by optimising the car performance - but it’s also part of the entertainment and enjoyment for the media and the devoted fans. 

For the world of F1, the objectives of IOT are very clear – to gain a competitive advantage over other cars, respond to the race variables and win the race (or 21 races over the course of a season). For other industries, the objectives may not be so clear but this is a vital element of deploying IOT. 

In fact, the business objective is the starting point for improving business performance and means that you can learn systematically; the more you know, the more you can improve. This is because IOT is not a technology, solution or product, which can be bought and plugged into an organisation; IOT and Analytics is a framework and mechanism to transform a business through data. The IOT process can generate the data to improve performance and even enable a company to start to predict the future – through AI and predictive analytics applied to people’s behaviour or processes and systems, and even individual critical components.   

Dubai has set its own IOT strategy to underpin the world’s emerging smartest city with the clear objective of 100% paperless government. The ‘smartness’ of smart cities is based on IOT to connect devices and people, and data analytics to generate the information required to optimise an individual smart city service or to view the bigger picture and take a city-wide view across all the services and systems. IOT is the ecosystem to enable data to flow, with data analytics to answer the questions that IOT can enable you to pose. Beyond data analytics, Machine Learning and AI can be applied to the same data sets for deeper insights that will add even more value for organisations. 

Because IOT is not a technology and is a framework to transform business through data, IOT can be applied to any business in any industry – and especially when there is a time-sensitive, complex supply chain to optimise such as in Transport & Logistics (including maritime and aviation) Retail and Healthcare. 

Within the overall data journey, IOT adds control to monitoring – providing certainty and precision in decision making to enhance business operations. But IOT is reliant on the clarity of the business challenge and objectives - this is where you really need a trusted partner.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/iot-driving-formula-1-kelly-power%2F/ 

Innovation Driving Intelligence in Smart Cities

Advait Thakur
While talking to Intelligent CIO magazine this month, i am talking about the essential intelligence and strategies required for smart cities, airports and ports. Goverments and responsible authorities need to adopt right strategy. The full interview is available on https://www.intelligentcio.com/me/2020/03/19/innovation-and-co-creation-driving-intelligence-in-middle-east-smart-cities-and-across-industries/