Tag: digital transformation

Miniature figure on a computer motherboard
cybersecurity, Digital Supply Chain, Supply Chain

Securing the Digital Supply Chain: A Candid Conversation with Jon Geater

Introduction:

In this fascinating episode of our podcast, I had the opportunity to speak with Jon Geater, Chief Product and Technology Officer at RKVST. Jon has an extensive background in cybersecurity, having worked in the aerospace industry before co-founding RKVST, a platform focused on enhancing supply chain security and transparency. We discussed the challenges and opportunities in securing digital supply chains, the role of attestations, and the importance of balancing transparency and confidentiality. You won’t want to miss this thought-provoking conversation!

Key Insights and Quotes:

  1. The Importance of Secure Digital Supply Chains:

Jon emphasized the significance of securing digital supply chains – a secure digital supply chain is one that doesn’t get in the way of the business but enables it. He noted that the physical supply chain is being digitally transformed, and the digital supply chain is being cyber-physical transformed. These insights highlight the interconnected nature of supply chains and the vital role of cybersecurity in this ever-evolving landscape.

  1. Attestations: A Powerful Tool for Supply Chain Integrity:

Jon introduced the concept of attestations, which he defines as small, cryptographically signed and tamper-proof statements about the world. He believes attestations can play a crucial role in securing supply chains, as they provide verifiable evidence of the supply chain’s integrity. By leveraging attestations, businesses can improve transparency and trust while minimizing potential security risks.

  1. Balancing Transparency and Confidentiality:

Jon discussed the importance of finding a balance between transparency and confidentiality in the supply chain. He explained that while transparency is crucial for building trust, it can also create security risks if sensitive information is disclosed. Conversely, confidentiality is necessary for protecting proprietary information, but excessive secrecy can hinder trust. Jon’s insights emphasize the need for businesses to strike the right balance to maintain both security and trust in their supply chains.

  1. First Steps Towards a Secure Digital Supply Chain:

When asked where businesses should start on their journey towards a secure digital supply chain, Jon suggested visiting RKVST’s website (rkvst.com) and the Supply Chain Integrity, Transparency, And Trust group’s website (scitt.org). These resources offer valuable information and case studies to help businesses understand and implement best practices for securing their digital supply chains.

  1. A Call to Action:

Jon posed a thought-provoking question regarding motivation for businesses to improve their supply chain security: “What will be the motivator?” He encouraged businesses to think critically about their current approach and consider taking more control over their supply chain risks. By adopting a more digitally native mindset, businesses can better protect themselves from potential security breaches and ensure their operations continue smoothly.

Conclusion:

My conversation with Jon provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding digital supply chain security. His expertise in cybersecurity and supply chain attestations offers businesses a fresh perspective on how to secure their operations while maintaining trust and transparency.

Don’t miss this insightful episode – listen to the full conversation with Jon Geater and explore the resources mentioned at rkvst.com and scitt.org. Connect with Jon on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with his work in securing digital supply chains.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with others who may be interested. And as always, if you find the podcast of value, and you’d like to help me continue to make episodes like this one, you can go to the podcast’s Support page and become a Digital Supply Chain podcast Supporter for less than the cost of a cup of coffee!

And if you’re interested in having your brand associated with the leading Supply Chain podcast, don’t hesitate to check out these sponsorship packages and how I can help your company gain exposure and establish yourself as a thought leader in the supply chain industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you!

Digital Supply Chain podcast screenshot
Digital Supply Chain

Unleashing the Power of ChatGPT and AI in Supply Chain

As the host of the Digital Supply Chain podcast, I am always on the lookout for innovative ways to improve and streamline the supply chain process. That’s why I was excited to welcome Doug Marinaro from Riptide on the latest episode to discuss the potential uses of ChatGPT and AI in the supply chain. And for the first time, a video version of this podcast is available at https://youtu.be/UB8HQ-ZfjYo

ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by OpenAI, has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach supply chain management. In our conversation, Doug and I dive into the various ways that ChatGPT can be utilized in the supply chain, from helping to streamline communication and decision-making processes to providing data analysis and even helping with forecasting and planning.

One of the most exciting potential uses of ChatGPT in the supply chain is its ability to improve communication. The model’s advanced language capabilities can help supply chain professionals quickly and efficiently respond to customer inquiries and provide insightful and professional responses to emails. This not only saves time, but also helps to ensure that all communication is well thought out and professional.

Another potential use of ChatGPT in the supply chain is its ability to provide data analysis and insights. With its advanced language and analytical capabilities, ChatGPT can help supply chain professionals quickly and accurately analyze large amounts of data to make informed decisions. This can be particularly useful in areas such as demand forecasting, where ChatGPT can help predict future demand for products based on historical data and current market trends.

In addition to its data analysis capabilities, ChatGPT can also help with planning and decision-making in the supply chain. By providing real-time data and insights, ChatGPT can help supply chain professionals make informed decisions about everything from inventory management to production scheduling.

Despite its many potential uses, ChatGPT is still a relatively new technology, and there are certainly some challenges to be addressed. For example, there have been some concerns about the accuracy of the model’s responses, particularly when dealing with complex questions. However, as Doug mentioned in our conversation, these issues are being addressed through updates and improvements to the model, and the future looks bright for ChatGPT and its potential uses in the supply chain.

In conclusion, the potential uses of ChatGPT and AI in the supply chain are exciting and wide-ranging. From improving communication to providing data analysis and insights, there are many ways that ChatGPT can help streamline and improve the supply chain process. If you’re interested in learning more about the potential uses of ChatGPT and AI in the supply chain, I highly encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the Digital Supply Chain podcast.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with others who may be interested. And as always, if you find the podcast of value, and you’d like to help me continue to make episodes like this one, you can go to the podcast’s Support page and become a Digital Supply Chain podcast Supporter for less than the cost of a cup of coffee!

And if you’re interested in having your brand associated with the leading Supply Chain podcast, don’t hesitate to check out these sponsorship packages and how I can help your company gain exposure and establish yourself as a thought leader in the supply chain industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you!

Mogens Maersk container ship
Digital Supply Chain

The Role of AI in Making Shipping Safer, Smarter, and More Sustainable

I’m excited to share the latest episode of the Digital Supply Chain podcast with you. This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Ami Daniel, the co-founder and CEO of Windward, a company that provides maritime data and analytics to the supply chain industry.

During the episode, Ami shared some fascinating insights into how the company’s technology is being used to help various stakeholders in the supply chain ecosystem, from regulators to shippers to freight forwarders. We discussed Windward’s journey as a company, their plans for the future, and the challenges they’ve faced along the way.

One of the main topics we explored was the importance of data in the supply chain industry. Ami explained how Windward’s data is being used to increase transparency, reduce friction, and drive efficiency in the shipping industry. We also talked about the challenges of working with data at such a large scale and how Windward is using AI and machine learning to make sense of the vast amounts of information they collect.

Another interesting area we delved into was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the supply chain industry. Ami shared his perspective on how the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technology in the industry, as well as the challenges it has posed to various stakeholders in the ecosystem.

Ami also shared how data can be used to tackle illegal fishing and labor abuse in the global shipping industry, as well as with compliance with the Jones Act.

If you’re interested in the supply chain industry or the role of data in driving efficiency and transparency, I highly recommend you check out this episode of the Digital Supply Chain podcast. You can listen to it here or click the player above.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with others who may be interested. And as always, if you find the podcast of value, and you’d like to help me continue to make episodes like this one, you can go to the podcast’s Support page and become a Digital Supply Chain podcast Supporter for less than the cost of a cup of coffee!

And if you’re interested in having your brand associated with the leading Supply Chain podcast, don’t hesitate to check out these sponsorship packages and how I can help your company gain exposure and establish yourself as a thought leader in the supply chain industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you!

Photo credit – Torsten Sobanski on Flickr

Internet of Things (IoT)

Internet of Things, renewables and storage – a perfect storm for utilities’ digital transformation

Without doubt it is a time of great turbulence in the electric utilities space.

In most regions globally, wind and solar are now our cheapest sources of electricity generation, even without subsidies.

As a consequence of this, wind has overtaken nuclear, hydro and coal to become the second largest source of electricity generation in EU in 2016 [PDF]. And at the same time in the US, the solar market is smashing records and grew 95% in 2016 alone.

Then there is storage. Costs here have been tumbling too. So much so that Morgan Stanley predicts the storage market to grow from the roughly $400m in 2016, to a market size of $2-4bn by 2020. This will have big implications for utilities’ ability to add more variable generators (renewables) to their mix without destabilising the grid.

Speaking of grid stabilisation, the refrain up until now has been that for every MW of renewables built, a MW of gas had to also be built as a backstop (for days with no wind, or overcast days, or nights). However, this too has changed. Last August First Solar ran a tests with CAISO (the California grid operator) to test a solar farm’s ability to smooth out grid fluctuations. The results of the test demonstrated that solar farms are able to meet, and sometimes exceed, the frequency regulation response usually provided by natural-gas-fired peaker plants.

Things are changing on the consumption side of the house too.

solarinstall2016

Source: GTM Research / SEIA U.S. Solar Market Insight report

As can be seen from the chart above, installations of residential PV are rising, as is home storage, and another form of potential consumption and storage (v2g), the electric car, saw sales rise by 37% in the US in 2016.

Then there is the whole digitisation of the grid. Now all new equipment is being built with inbuilt ‘smarts’ and connectivity, and even older infrastructure can be retrofitted, so with the advent of the smart grid, we will finally have the possibility of the Electricity 2.0 vision I was talking up back in 2008/09. This is a smart grid where appliances in the commercial or residential worlds can ‘listen’ for pricing signals from the grid, and adjust their behaviour accordingly, taking in electricity when it is plentiful, and switching to alternative sources/lowering consumption when electricity is in high demand.

With the cost of generation dropping, with no end in sight, the cost of storage similarly falling, as I have posited previously, there is a strong possibility that utilities will have to switch to broadband-like ‘all-you-can-eat’ business models with the utilities differentiating, and making their revenue on added services.

Everything is changing for the electric utility industry – and so, against that backdrop, and the fact that I will be presenting on IoT and Utilities at the upcoming International SAP for Utilities Conference in Lisbon, I decided to have a chat with IDC Research Director Marcus Torchia, about the implications for utilities of these huge changes.

We had a great discussion, and many of the themes we touched on, I will be talking about at the Utilities event in Lisbon.

You can check out our chat in the video above, play it in the audio below, or listen to it on the IoT Heroes podcast site.

Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT, and the transition to the digital services economy discussion with Constellation’s Andy Mulholland

Over on the IoT Heroes podcast I recently had a chat with Constellation Research analyst Andy Mulholland. Before coming out of retirement to head up IoT research for Constellation, Andy was Global CTO for Cap Gemini, and so he knows a thing or two about IT!

Andy publishes extremely insightful articles on the Internet of Things regularly over on his blog, so I was keen to have him come on the show.

In the podcast we had a wide-ranging discussion on the implications for (primarily) manufacturing organisations of the Internet of things, the transition to the as-a-service economy, and how people can get up-to-speed on happenings in the IoT space.

If you have any interest at all in the Internet of Things, and how it will effect our society, you should check out this episode of the show – you can subscribe to the RSS feed, subscribe on iTunes, or simply click Play on the player below to hear our discussion

 

Photo credit Toyota UK

New Business Models for Utilities
energy

New business models for utilities

Several months before joining SAP, I was asked if I would give a talk (and be on a related panel) at the European Utility Week conference in Barcelona this year on the topic of New Business Models for Utilities.

The event is the premier utilities event annually in Europe with 12,000 attendees, and 600 exhibitors. I was honoured to be asked, and of course accepted, without hesitation.

The talk wasn’t video’d but you can check out the slides I used above. In slides 3-29 I outline why utilities need to adopt new business models (revenues are falling due to factors like falling costs of generation, the rising popularity of renewables, climate change, etc.). In slides 33-40 I discuss some of the evolutionary business models open to utilities. While slides 41-60 outline some of the more revolutionary opportunities open to utilities – many being enabled by the Internet of Things, and utilities digital transformation.

With all the changes occurring, utilities need to disrupt, or they themselves will be disrupted.