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570 Tons of Horse Shit and 57.000 Litres of Urine per Day!

The year was 1894, and London had been dealing with the "Great Manure Crisis" for years, and the Times had predicted that every street would be buried under nine feet of manure. Urban planners needed help with what to do about the situation. New technologies in the form of motorized vehicles started to make a difference. Introduced on a massive scale, they allowed for easier transportation of goods and people throughout the city and reduced waste accumulation in public areas. Still uncertain about how this new technology would affect their society, urban planners decided to give it a chance and began introducing motorized vehicles into the city streets little by little until, eventually, enough cars were running around that the Great Manure Crisis finally came to an end in 1912. Little did anyone know then that this invention would continue to shape our world for centuries more to come — from Charles Lindbergh's first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 up until
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REVOLUTION - Transforming Global Trade with Collaboration in Supply Chain

Throughout history, humanity has strived to make our lives easier. We have gone from manual work to mechanic and analog processes to digitalized ones. Now, we are entering a third revolution that will change global trade and supply chain management as we know it: the transition from dissonance to resonance – or collaboration, as I would call it. Global trade and supply chains are essential to a business's operations, but they face several significant challenges today. The processes involved in managing these operations have traditionally been linear and one-dimensional. This has led to a silo-focused approach to planning and execution, with a singular focus on cost and quality provided by highly fragmented service and solution providers. This fragmented dissonance has severe limitations regarding agility, resilience, and sustainability – three factors crucial for global trade success in the 21st century. The current mindset of supply chain management is linear and one-dimensional;

Leveling Up: Are We Moving Towards Dataocracy?

Data has become one of the most sought-after resources in business, and for a good reason. It is invaluable for its ability to bring wealth and power, earning it the nickname "the new gold." The new wealth and power Data has become a powerful driver of wealth and power in the modern age. It has allowed businesses to move away from traditional hierarchic models, replacing them with data-driven decision-making that can result in a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. As such, data is reshaping economies and societies worldwide, allowing individuals and organizations to gain power and influence without relying on the traditional forms of wealth and privilege. With data now considered "the new gold," it is no longer just aristocrats or nouveau riche benefiting from this resource. Everyone can reap the rewards of data-driven decisions, allowing them to level up their businesses and lives. As we move towards a data-driven future, let's ensure ev

Unlock the Power of Data Sharing in Supply Chain Management: Don't Get Stuck Under the Bed!

  If you're managing a supply chain, chances are good that you've felt the frustrating feeling of being stuck under the bed in recent weeks. With data spreading everywhere and shifting so quickly within your complex network of suppliers, distributors, and customers - it can feel like no matter what decisions or actions you take to overcome these constraints; they keep coming back! But there is an answer! Unlocking the power of data sharing can help even the most overwhelmed supply chain manager stay ahead of their game. So let's explore how you don't get stuck under that same bed again. Maintaining visibility can often be difficult Supply chain management can be a challenging endeavor. From managing multiple suppliers and products to coordinating transportation, there are many moving pieces in the supply chain process. Keeping an efficient and cost-effective supply chain requires accurate data and streamlined communication between all stakeholders. Unfortunately, mainta

Chain of Custody: The source of control in global supply chains? – IoT Beyond the Buzz

Chain of custody is a term often thrown around as a buzzword. In combination with the latest technology hypes like IoT, the chain of custody is magnified to address everything from supply chain security to regulatory compliance. What is chain of custody? How and why is it relevant for supply chains? You may find multiple definitions of a chain of custody by governments, associations, agencies, logistics service providers, shippers. All of them take a slightly different viewpoint on the topic. The simplest way to define the chain of custody in the context of supply chains could be to name it as a certification mechanism that enables goods to come with a digital passport that serves as a verifiable transcript of the product’s life-cycle and journey. The chain of custody certification offers the ability for public and private entities to chronologically document (physically or electronically) the ingredients, components and final products, their condition from production to destinat

IoT enabled Supply Chain Visibility: The Holy Grail of Supply Chain Managers

Written by: Stefan Reidy End-to-end supply chain visibility empowers supply chain and logistics managers to make educated decisions. It helps companies to decrease the impact of disruptions on the supply chain by providing actionable data. Supply chain leaders recognize the importance of visibility as it streamlines operations, reduces business risk, increases efficiencies and enables better decision making and forecasting based on insights offered by real-time data. KPMG’s study reveals that the industry is expected to see a rapid growth of investment into technologies such as IoT to monitor, manage and improve the supply chain operations. When considering the fact that the key beneficiaries of visibility solutions are multiple business functions such as logistics, supply chain, finance, quality management and security the results of the study are not surprising. Source: Global Manufacturing Outlook: Low visibility, high supply chain risk  (KPMG, 2016) The IoT technology:

Fighting for Enhanced Supply Chain Security

By Stefan Reidy  Cargo theft has been around for centuries; unfortunately, though the crime has evolved together with transportation methods. Bandits on horseback have been replaced by gangsters that are organized in international crime syndicates. Cargo theft is a global problem affecting manufacturers, logistics providers as well as customers. It is a complex problem influenced by factors ranging from local laws to the global economy. Jim Yarbrough, Global Intelligence Program Manager at the supply chain specialist BSI commented: "Companies have always faced a wide range of challenges to their supply chain, but [the] latest figures indicate how severe the impact of violent theft can be. "These events are creating extreme levels of risk for organizations, both directly affecting the bottom line and disrupting the supply chain in ways which, if not tackled, could do serious harm to a company's hard-earned reputation." BS