The measure and flow of data is a key aspect of supply chain monitoring but this aspect may also extend beyond a single company. The flow of data cannot only provide clear visibility into the operations of a supply chain, but can also reach and connect to third-party suppliers and partners, sales teams, procurement and customers.

Data is an increasingly important aspect of today’s industrial systems, and with the emergence of the smart factory, information is often the beating heart of modern supply chains.

Without data, industrial firms cannot properly manage their operations, compare them effectively against competitor KPIs, or discover how to improve their businesses based on trends, patterns and weak spots in the supply chain.

Hamburg Port Authority optimizes supply chain efficiency

The Hamburg Port Authority needed to optimize its supply chain efficiency, especially in relation to assets, traffic and harbor transport flows.

The organization launched the smartPORT initiative, which involved the installation of over 300 roadway and waterway IoT sensors which all connect to central coordination systems.

The overall goal was to modernize the authority’s IT systems and reduce the impact of port traffic on citizens, not only on the roads at the time of bridge closures but also by way of rail and ships.

The smartPORT initiative has resulted in an improvement in the flow of traffic and goods, and now the authority is examining how AI and automation could bolster the network further.