How can I.T. improve the sustainability of your Supply Chain?

For many businesses, supply chains are a one-dimensional thing, indeed the Oxford dictionary definition is “The series of linked stages in a supply network along which a particular set of goods or services flows”.
However, this one-dimensional picture is ultimately one of the biggest challenges to overcome when we consider how the sustainability of a supply chain can be improved.
Many companies have looked to optimize the sustainability of their operations within their organizational supply chain silo with I.T. and operational projects like:

• Real-time monitoring & visibility
• Optimized route planning & delivery
• Use of alternative modes of transport (Rail, Barge, Short-sea etc.)
• Continued update of delivery fleet to latest “green” tech
• Driver behaviour monitoring and training
• Factory & Warehouse energy saving initiatives

But these are all very insular to a given organization, whilst much large sustainability benefits can be driven through considering collaborative improvements either vertically (up and down the supply chain to stretch from suppliers right through to final consumers), or horizontally (working with other organizations at a given layer within the supply chain to drive higher optimization of resources).

Vertical I.T. driven examples –
• Enhanced transparency up and down the supply chain can give better decision making, accountability, clarity on timing, and optimization of interconnections to reduce waste
• Digitization, and automation of processes and documentation to smooth data flow, improve accuracy, streamline operations and enhance efficiency. 
• Blockchain technology implementation to provide verified transactional records, certification, authenticity, provenance, shelf-life and sustainability information.

Horizontal I.T. driven examples –

• Collective optimized route planning & delivery using shared SAAS solutions to optimize load-fill and reduce empty running.
• Smart physical interchanges for LTL and Parcel to improve middle mile/last mile delivery (noting city vs. rural infrastructure require different solutions).
• Development of harmonized independent I.T. solutions for 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) providers and own-fleet shippers to provide REAL integration, rather than a Lead-Logistics Partner (LLP) or 4th Party Logistics (4PL) solution built simply on an enhanced 3PL offering.

With Scope-3 emissions reporting, and carbon emission reductions required, the optimization of logistics within supply chains is a pre-requisite, and to meet many of the 2050 targets the need for next-level, collaborative improvements will be the best way to produce them.
At Uptrend labs we specialize in optimizing business performance through I.T. and software developments. We imagine the future and then work on providing the building blocks for companies to advance in those directions. We have the depth of understanding and the technological know-how to guide you through the complexities of selecting and managing your Cloud Platform solutions.
Contact us to discover a new kind of collaboration, a new kind of approach to technology, and business, and of course, the best practices for ensuring your organization’s technology platforms are best in class.