Tim Lawrence
Director of Digital Supply Chain Hub, Digital Catapult
Supply chains across the country are becoming more sustainable, and emerging technology has a critical role to play in this transformation.
How can emerging tech improve supply chain sustainability?
Emerging technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) can help improve supply chain sustainability by enabling better visibility and accountability for emissions. This is particularly important given that up to 90% of a business’s emissions come from the supply chain, which is known as ‘scope 3.’
However, measuring scope 3 emissions is challenging, as traditional models are based on outdated historical data, necessitating an alternative that provides true visibility and connectivity. At Digital Catapult, I’ve seen how this can be facilitated by leveraging Blockchain and AI so that data around emissions can be shared across supply chains in near real-time driving reductions in CO2.
Blockchain, AI and IoT are emerging technologies
that can enhance logistics in the supply chain.
Reducing waste and enabling predictive maintenance in the supply chain
Emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning can play a critical role in enabling predictive maintenance and reducing waste in the supply chain. By deploying IoT sensors on assets such as vehicles and machinery, businesses can collect real-time data on their performance, enabling them to detect potential issues before they become major problems.
Leveraging machine learning not only mitigates problems but allows experts to analyse data from IoT sensors which provides valuable insights into asset performance and maintenance needs. This leads to improved asset efficiency, productivity and overall business performance.
Emerging technologies improve logistics in the supply chain
Blockchain, AI and IoT are emerging technologies that can enhance logistics in the supply chain. They can ensure secure and tamper-proof record-keeping of transactions and collect data on factors such as temperature, humidity and air quality.
The Logistics Living Lab project by Digital Catapult, for example, utilises these technologies to reduce carbon emissions from road freight transportation and improve coordination, efficiency and sustainability among logistics providers while maintaining data security. This has an overall advantage to supply chains across the country, making them more sustainable in the long term.
