Airbus’ New Supply Chain
Airbus has hired Bellevue-based Icertis to digitally transform their supply chain. Airbus’ new supply chain will be focused on source-to-contract solutions across its various divisions. With supply chain transformation taking over, Airbus becomes the latest example of how important embracing this change is for success. Airbus currently works with over 12,000 suppliers, so correctly managing their supply chain could prove widely cost effective and efficient. The aerospace manufacturer specifically chose Icertis for it’s rapid integration of digital supply chains transformation to companies globally. Certainly Airbus is looking for safer, more cost efficient and traceable solutions to their business, so this transformation was simply a matter of “when” rather than “how.” The company will have stronger agility through digitization, allowing for stronger relationships with commercialization. Will Icertis emerge as a leading digital supply chain transformer for companies globally? What type of success will Airbus see with a new, highly digitalized system?
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- Read the original Supply Chain Digital article here.
- See also our article on advanced technology and how implementing AI and blockchain strategies can radically transform supply chain.
- Sign up for our “North Star” newsletter to get the most important news, insights and profiles on supply chain transformation.
A Digital Future
It’s no doubt we live in a digital society. However, the supply chain industry has remained behind the times for many years, but end-to-end digitization is accelerating. Recently, CB Insights detailed over 125 startups that are leading the charge in revolutionizing the way supply chains operate. Categories of startups include e-commerce logistics, warehousing, food, fleet management, and more. Collectively, these companies are providing enhanced end-to-end visibility, streamlining operations, digitizing previously analog activities, ensuring food quality & safety, reducing costs and mitigating risk. The rise of born-digital competition has followed a spike in supply chain venture funding and industry incumbents are taking notice. In response, they have significantly increased their investments and acquisitions. What do you see? Will born-digital supply chain startups take over the industry? Finally, will the rise in incumbent digitization efforts prevent a leadership revolution to a digital future?
Want to learn more?
- See the detailed startup map at CB Insights.
- See our case study on how we helped one of the largest distribution companies create a global transformation strategy.
- Sign up for our “North Star” newsletter to get the most important news, insights and profiles on supply chain transformation.
Apple Pushes Sustainability
The technology juggernaut, Apple, is taking a step towards a cleaner, more energy renewable future. The company stated it would invest $300 million through key suppliers to make their supply chain more efficient and cleaner. Furthermore, the project will bring in over 1 GW of renewable energy. This investment is on top of its 25 renewable energy projects it currently runs. As Apple pushes sustainability, it hopefully will encourage other large retailers to begin investing in efficient supply chains. The sustainability movement is in line with the UN’s sustainable development goals, pertaining to affordable and clean energy. Finally, with a target of 1.4 GW of capacity, a project like this among its key suppliers is a step to a better future. Will other companies begin to follow suit? What are ways smaller corporations can invest in sustainability without a budget as large as Apple?
Want to learn more?
- Read the original Energy Digital article here.
- See our researched op-ed on how altering one’s supply chain to be more sustainable can lead to a more holistic competitive advantage long-term..
- Sign up for our “North Star” newsletter to get the most important news, insights and profiles on supply chain transformation.
Changing Air Freight
Dronamics, a Bulgarian company specializing in drone specialization, is developing a revolutionary pilotless air-freight system. While many industry leaders race to address the last-mile delivery problem, Dronamics is focused on long-haul freight. The company created a drone that will be able to carry up to 800 pounds over approximately 1,500 miles. The approach has the potential to radically transform the air freight industry. Currently, shipping by air is incredibly quick and convenient, but only takes up approximately 1% of global shipping by volume due to expense. Dronamics wants to carry small packages in large quantities cross-country. While doing so, they project their drone shipping costs to be 50 percent lower than a traditional cargo plane with a human pilot. To add to that, each drone is also expected to cost less than $100,000 dollars to produce, far less than the traditional cargo plane at $500,000, providing a long-term payoff. Is drone piloted air-freight the future of shipping? How will this affect the ground shipment industry?
Want to learn more?
- Read the original Wired article.
- See our case study on how we reduced landed costs for global exports to by refining a highly strategic supply chain system.
- Sign up for our “North Star” newsletter to get the most important news, insights and profiles on supply chain transformation.