All that I have I share with you. It's a phrase often heard in marriage vows. But you'd be hard-pressed to find it in any business contract.
Not surprisingly, organisations are cautious about what they share with third parties. Nobody wants to inadvertently give away their secret sauce.
But sharing information has its advantages – the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, to coin another phrase. And therein lies the challenge, particularly when it comes to supply chains.
Supply chain efficiencies
Sharing data throughout a supply chain is crucial for moving goods efficiently and cost effectively. Especially with today’s global supply chains. But that’s only relevant data and only on a 'need to know' basis. A haulier with 1,000 lorries on the road for 100 different customers is not going to share all their data with each of those 100 customers. It would be unworkable as well as unethical.
The benefits lie in sharing real-time data on one consignment of chicken with the relevant poultry producer and the supermarket waiting to receive it. It means the supermarket will have an accurate arrival time for the goods, for example, and the producer will be reassured that the chicken has been kept at the correct temperature throughout the journey.
The trouble is, how do you isolate the relevant nuggets of information from a tsunami of data? And how can all the parties involved have complete confidence that they're not unwittingly sharing commercially confidential information with one of their competitors?
Digital twins to the rescue
That's where 'digital twin' technology comes to the rescue – acting as a bridge between the physical and digital worlds. A digital twin can be created for each consignment, with algorithms defining and assigning policies to it to ensure only relevant data is captured from each connected system. Consignment and inventory data can be combined with transport schedules, for example. The telematics system of the allocated vehicle can then provide real-time location and condition data for each consignment.
Intelligent data orchestration
Intelligent data orchestration technology then acts as the gatekeeper to ensure only relevant data is captured and shared. And only shared with the organisations that need to see it. Think of it like an orchestra, with intelligent data orchestration as the conductor synchronising all the various data inputs as if it is an instrument. Each separate system communicates directly and only to the conductor platform, which means everyone involved can be confident their data is in safe hands.
With intelligent data orchestration, the question of how much data you should share becomes redundant. And the benefits for your organisation become crystal clear.
Our Atamai Freight digital supply chain solution is a great example. Shipments can be tracked from collection to delivery in real time, so you can manage your resources more effectively and deal with any issues as they arise. Digital smart seals guard against tampering, which helps to make it less likely that your vehicles will held up by inspections. Because relevant, trusted data can be shared with port authorities in advance, it helps make it easier for authorities to manage advanced risk assessments and decide which vehicles require inspection. Pre-arrival clearance of goods also minimises port delays, helping to save you time and money.
It all adds up to a resilient supply chain underpinned by collaboration, visibility and security. Who wouldn't want to share in that?