As the complexities of global supply chains continue to evolve, businesses are increasingly seeking advanced supply chain solution providers to optimize their operations and stay competitive in the market.
The year 2023 brings forth a landscape of innovative technologies, cutting-edge strategies, and forward-thinking companies that are revolutionizing supply chain management. solution providers leverage state-of-the-art technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and advanced analytics to enhance visibility, improve efficiency, optimize inventory management, streamline processes, and mitigate risks in supply chain operations. They offer comprehensive solutions tailored to the unique needs and challenges faced by businesses across various industries.
The prominent leaders in the niche comprehend the importance of end-to-end visibility and collaboration. Their solutions encompass the entire supply chain, from sourcing and procurement to production, warehousing, transportation and customer fulfilment. They integrate data from multiple sources, provide real-time insights, and enable seamless communication and collaboration among supply chain partners.
These solution providers are at the forefront of innovation, continuously developing and refining their offerings to meet the evolving demands of the industry. They combine cutting-edge technology with deep domain expertise to deliver comprehensive and scalable solutions that address the complexities and dynamic nature of modern supply chains.
Moreover, these advanced solution providers prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility. They incorporate sustainable practices, enable efficient resource utilization, and offer tools for measuring and reducing carbon footprints throughout the supply chain.
In the latest edition, Insights Success explores the unique capabilities, key offerings, success stories, and industry recognition of these advanced supply chain solution providers. By harnessing their expertise and technologies, businesses can gain a competitive edge, drive operational excellence, and navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing supply chain landscape in 2023 and beyond.
Flip through the pages and have a Delightful Read!
Abhishek Joshi
AbhishekJoshi
Company Name
Featured Person
Craig Managing Partner & Executive Director Socius24 Limited socius24.comBrief
Jurata Thin Film believes that all people should have access to life saving vaccines and therapeutics, no matter where they are in the world.
Landstar stands for safe, secure and reliable transportation services delivered by a network of independent freight agents, leased owner-operators and other third-party capacity providers.
NewCold is a pioneer in developing and operating frozen automated warehouses that offer significant footprint, labor, and energy reduction while increasing food safety.
Socius24 is backed by a team of experts providing WMS, Activity Billing, Warehouse Labour Management, Yard Management & User Service Portal (USP) software and services across the Globe.
Joe President and CEO Terso Solutions tersosolutions.comTerso Solutions is the leading provider of UHF RFID tracking solutions for inventory management of high-value products.
Sheila Ann Mikhail Co-founder & CEO Jurata Thin Film juratatf.com Phillip Stringfield CEO Landstar landstar.com Jonas Swarttouw President Newcold newcold.com Jones Pleshek
Executive VP of Commercial North America NewCold
Jonas Swarttouw
NewCold has managed to achieve sustained growth by executing projects at a high level, offering innovative solutions, and developing close relationships with customers.
FFood logistics has undergone significant transformation in recent years, driven by a range of factors such as changing consumer preferences, advances in technology, and increasing concerns around sustainability and food waste. The transformation in food logistics is helping companies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and meet changing consumer demands.
NewCold , the innovative company disrupting the food logistics sector, is revolutionizing the temperaturecontrolled warehousing and distribution industry with its pioneering systems, productivity, and energy efficiency, setting itself apart from traditional cold storage solutions. Collaborating with major food companies globally, NewCold is spearheading innovation in the field, leveraging its in-house expertise to redefine the design, development, and operation of automated cold storages from start to finish.
Dutch-origin NewCold has established an extensive network of cutting-edge automated facilities spanning Europe (including the United Kingdom, France, Poland, Germany, Italy, and Sweden), Australia, and the United States. With its advanced automated warehouses and comprehensive logistics solutions, NewCold has experienced explosive growth, with 15 sites across three continents, backed by a team of over 1,700 highly skilled professionals.
Jonas Swarttouw is Executive VP of Commercial , North America, and Regional Chairman of NewCold. Growing from one full-time employee to 400 with four locations, NewCold's success in the American market is largely due to deep expertise in the food supply chain, broad experience, and ability to deliver innovative solutions. Supported by a visionary global leadership team, including CEO Bram Hage and CCO Abhy Maharaj, Jonas masterminded the company's explosive growth in the US.
But NewCold's success isn't just about driving down costs and delivering a high level of service to customers. With its smart automation, optimal use of space, and innovative design, NewCold's warehouses use significantly less energy, benefitting the planet as well.
Jonas sees that the key to his personal success is a combination of the willingness to accept challenges and winning the trust of leadership by executing to a high standard, alongside the support of colleagues and family who make sacrifices.
Jonas, as a student, had a keen interest in the practical application of knowledge. To gain hands-on experience in various countries, he pursued internships at companies like Nike in Europe, as well as others in India and China. This experience proved invaluable in his first job as a consultant, where he helped Western European companies enter emerging markets in Eastern Europe and Asia.
Jonas worked on a diverse range of feasibility studies across various industries, including animal feed, conveyor belt construction, and cold storage companies. He was also exposed to a variety of national and business cultures, which broadened his experience and ability to handle challenges. Consequently, he earned the trust of leadership and successfully delivered on various projects, paving the way for his career progression. Jonas acknowledges that his family's support was instrumental in his success.
Throughout his career, Jonas has encountered various obstacles, both personal and professional. More recently, he has had to navigate the impact of COVID-19 while building NewCold from scratch in the US. That added to the layers of challenges faced since his arrival in Chicago in 2015, including moving abroad, integrating into a new country and culture, and establishing a successful business.
NewCold has managed to achieve sustained growth by executing projects at a high level, offering innovative solutions, and developing close relationships with customers.
Jonas takes pride in the positive feedback received from one of NewCold's customers after their visit to a US facility, which elevates the team and motivates them to continue improving.
The company's projects are generational, with long-term contracts signed to build and operate automated warehouses. In addition, NewCold has expanded its services to include transporting food into and out of the warehouses, providing end-to-end solutions. Starting the business from his kitchen table in the US has required a considerable stretch from both Jonas and his colleagues back in Europe, many of whom had to work longer hours to accommodate the time difference for their meetings.
NewCold's goal is to establish sustainable value chains by employing advanced automation and prioritizing customer satisfaction. The company aspires to be the world's leading integrated supply chain organization, viewing its customers as long-term partners. NewCold addresses supply chain issues that existed prior to the pandemic, including land and labor scarcity and a lack of resilience.
The company's approach to food logistics proved to be especially valuable during COVID, as it enabled NewCold to keep all of its warehouses operational while others had to close. This further highlighted the effectiveness of their automation-based strategy in meeting customers' needs.
Furthermore, the company has made a strategic decision to vertically integrate by controlling critical technologies, which allows them to outperform their competitors in execution. This approach grants them greater agility and innovation capabilities, which further strengthens their market position. “We design the warehouse from the perspective of operating it. That leads to higher service levels at a lower cost,” said Jonas.
NewCold attributes its global success to its collaborative team culture, which is partly rooted in the company's Dutch heritage. The organization values individuals who possess bright minds, skilled hands, and compassionate hearts, recognizing that these qualities are the key ingredients for NewCold's triumphs. The company values diversity and fosters an environment that enables personal and professional growth. At NewCold, employees can expect not only a job but also a career, as evidenced by numerous instances of rapid career advancement, such as forklift
drivers becoming planners or system operators, and night shift supervisors progressing to warehouse managers.
In addition to their automated warehouses, NewCold's comprehensive solution includes transportation facilitated by a digital freight management platform, a digital transport management system, and asset-based freight using doubledeck trailers equipped with automated loading and unloading capabilities. The company leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to gather data insights and provide visibility, which allows for optimized scheduling, tracking, and tracing.
According to Jonas, initially, automation was primarily driven by cost sustainability. However, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the focus to the ability to serve customers, making resilience a key priority. Several factors, such as financing costs, geopolitics, trade wars, and real wars, impact the supply chain's resilience. As a result, the emphasis is now on the capacity and agility to scale up and down quickly.
Moreover, being a first mover in adopting automation provides a significant advantage. In the supply chain industry, it can be challenging to maintain a long-term strategic focus when costs are higher than before. However, investing in automation today locks in competitive cost levels for the long term and ensures the ability to serve customers despite global volatility and rising inflation.
Jonas takes pride in the positive feedback received from NewCold's customers after their visit to one of the US facilities, which elevates the team and motivates them to continue improving. He acknowledges the importance of taking stock of progress, both personally and professionally. Looking ahead, his dream is to sustain growth and value passionate people who are committed to building one of the most innovative logistics providers in the world.
Despite the broadening of his role, Jonas still sees his main responsibility as working with customers and suppliers to solve problems and create value for all parties involved. He hopes to continue working collaboratively to deliver projects with a positive impact on everyone, from customers and staff to the end consumers who pick up frozen or chilled produce from the supermarket.
Jonas' advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is threefold. Firstly, it is crucial to identify where you have a unique and differentiated offering that adds value to the customer base and focus on that. Once you have identified your unique selling point, build an organization around it that can deliver better than anyone else.
Secondly, it is essential to find partners and collaborate to accelerate growth. No business can succeed alone, and it's crucial to work with others who can complement your strengths and compensate weaknesses.
Lastly, understand that things will go wrong, and it's essential to be fixed on your vision but be agile enough to pivot your strategy when needed. It's also crucial to have partners who can provide feedback and act as sounding boards when making important decisions.
Jonas believes that the supply chain industry still relies heavily on outdated systems and manual processes. However, by combining large-scale automated warehouse nodes, it is possible to create resilience for multiple customers and generate synergies not only within the warehouse but also in transport centers. Furthermore, the use of large-scale automation and data insights allows for further synergies, such as consolidating multiple customer orders in a single truck.
The focus on automation amplifies the expertise and impact of NewCold's employees. Although there are automated processes such as loading and unloading of trucks and automated case picking, the company has managed to achieve cost-competitiveness for customers. However, as NewCold increasingly prioritizes technology, the role of its people becomes even more critical and specialized. Many companies fail to recognize the vital role that people play in realizing the full value of technology. He asserts, “We are working on becoming grid independent; aside from being more sustainable and reducing energy use, we are looking for ways to generate our own power sustainably and reduce dependency on volatile power grids.”
NewCold sets itself apart with proprietary technology that keeps warehouses operating 24/7, strengthening food supply chain resilience.
The biotech industry has tremendous growth
opportunities that can be unlocked through modern capabilities that expedite research and hasten the launch of new innovations. However, keeping up with the rapidly evolving technological landscape and navigating industry challenges like remote work and supply chain disruptions is becoming increasingly challenging for biotech companies.
Jurata Thin Film , a revolutionary Biotechnology Research company, promises to make vaccines and biologics cheaper to manufacture and more easily accessible for patients, no matter where they are in the world. The company’s proprietary technology has the potential to eliminate the need for cold storage and other temperature control measures in pharmaceutical manufacturing, distribution, storage, and delivery.
Its technology stabilizes temperature-sensitive drugs by preserving individual therapeutic particles in a threedimensional matrix, protecting each particle from the external environment. Jurata’s mission is to increase pharmaceutical manufacturing efficiency and significantly decrease costs associated with the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Here are some key points from the interview with Sheila Ann Mikhail , Co-founder & CEO of Jurata Thin Film, where she discusses the company's ground-breaking approach to vaccine and biologic storage and transportation.
Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader until your current position at Jurata Thin Film. What challenges have you had to overcome to reach where you are today?
I built my career, spanning over 30 years, on my foundational values of integrity, accountability, and relentless perseverance, all underpinned by a passionate commitment to improve the lives of others.
While working as a lawyer, focusing on the needs of life sciences companies, I met my long-time business partner, Dr. Jude Samulski. Jude asked me for help in starting a company to commercialize the AAV gene therapy vectors and process he had developed while a professor at UNC Chapel Hill. We agreed to start and grow our gene therapy company, Asklepios Biopharmaceuticals (Askbio), on the foundation of helping as many people around the world as possible.
Every company I have started has been built on the same foundation of accessibility; Jurata Thin Film is no different. Our thin film technology has the potential to significantly increase accessibility to gene therapies, as well as vaccines and many other biologics. Every therapeutic I have helped develop could benefit from stabilization in Jurata’s thin film technology, and I am doing everything I can to make it accessible to every patient, everywhere.
Enlighten us on how you have been impacting the logistics and supply chain industry through your expertise in the market.
My previous company, Asklepios Biopharmaceuticals (Askbio), provided gene therapies that require ultra-cold
Jurata Thin Film, a revolutionary Biotechnology Research company, promises to make vaccines and biologics cheaper to manufacture and more easily accessible for patients, no matter where they are in the world.
Sheila Ann Mikhail
Co-founder & CEO
temperatures for distribution and long-term storage. Using Jurata’s thin film technology, we were able to ship Askbio’s therapeutics across the country without any cold packs or dry ice, store them at room temperature for six months, and still see therapeutic activity in a preclinical animal model. Jurata’s technology will enable gene therapy, vaccines, and other biologics developers to access patients in lowresource regions around the world, increasing their societal impact.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drives your organization.
We are a women-led and women-owned company with an incredibly diverse work force, especially in positions of high leadership. We exhibit the values of equity and equality in our daily operations by treating our employees fairly and respectfully, as well as doing our best to offer them benefits uncommon in a company of our limited size.
Undeniably, technology is playing a significant role in almost every sector. How are you advancing towards technological innovations to make your solutions resourceful?
The elimination of cold-chain distribution represents an enormous reduction in energy usage (e.g., refrigerated trucks) as well as environmental waste (e.g., Styrofoam
coolers). Additionally, our manufacturing process uses significantly less energy than the current industry standard, freeze drying. Our technology’s ability to enable needlefree administration of many biologics, including vaccines, also has the potential to remove the need for needles and syringes, reducing biohazardous and sharps waste. Taken together, Jurata’s technology promises to greatly reduce the environmental impact of current pharmaceutical supply and distribution.
What, according to you, could be the next significant change in your sector? How is your company preparing to be a part of that change?
We believe that the next significant change in our sector will be the elimination of freeze drying in stabilizing pharmaceutical products. Our thin films are produced at room temperature and up to 18 times faster than a freeze drying cycle, significantly increasing manufacturing efficiency and decreasing energy requirements for pharmaceutical fill and finish.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run, and what are your future goals for Jurata Thin Film?
I envision Jurata being either acquired by an existing pharmaceutical developer or CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) or developing into a multinational manufacturer and partner. Jurata has the potential to become an independent pharmaceutical developer by utilizing our novel formulations for the biosimilars market. We are open to either scenario, provided that we identify partners working towards the same goals of increasing patient accessibility.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the dynamic logistics and supply chain industry?
Build your team with leaders who want to see the technology succeed, not just for financial gain but also to maximize its societal impact. These team members will be driven, resilient, and highly motivated to do everything they can to make the technology succeed.
Additionally, always remember why you started your company. There will be many long days, weeks, and, potentially, months, but never forget what you’re aiming for. This will keep you on track and grounded and help you recognize the progress you’ve made, even when it feels like things are moving slowly.
In today's data-driven world, organizations across various industries are increasingly recognizing the importance of leveraging data to optimize their operations. The ability to collect, analyze, and interpret vast amounts of data offers businesses unprecedented opportunities to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and enhance overall performance. This article explores the key strategies and benefits of leveraging data for operational optimization, highlighting real-world examples and best practices.
Data is a valuable asset that can drive operational optimization. By capturing data from various sources, such as customer interactions, production processes, supply chains, and equipment sensors, organizations can gain valuable insights into their operations. This data can be analyzed using advanced analytics techniques, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, to identify patterns, detect anomalies, and generate actionable insights.
Leveraging data allows businesses to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and redundant processes within their operations. By analyzing data, organizations can pinpoint areas of improvement, streamline workflows, and eliminate waste. For example, data analysis can uncover production line slowdowns, supply chain delays, or excess inventory, enabling companies to make data-driven decisions to optimize their operations, reduce costs, and improve productivity.
Data-driven approaches can help organizations implement predictive maintenance strategies. By monitoring equipment performance data, organizations can detect potential failures or malfunctions in advance, enabling proactive maintenance interventions. This not only minimizes downtime but also optimizes maintenance schedules and reduces overall maintenance costs. Predictive maintenance ensures that assets are operating at their peak performance, extending their lifespan and maximizing return on investment.
Accurate demand forecasting is crucial for effective inventory management. By leveraging historical sales data, market trends, and external factors, organizations can develop robust demand forecasting models. These models enable businesses to optimize their inventory levels, avoid stockouts or overstocking, and align production or procurement activities with anticipated demand. Datadriven demand forecasting enhances customer satisfaction, reduces inventory carrying costs, and improves overall supply chain efficiency.
Data analytics plays a pivotal role in understanding customer preferences, behaviors, and needs. By analyzing customer data, organizations can identify trends, personalize offerings, and deliver
targeted marketing campaigns. Additionally, data-driven insights can be used to optimize customer service processes, streamline support systems, and enhance overall customer experience. Organizations that leverage data to understand and respond to customer expectations gain a competitive edge in today's marketplace.
Leveraging data for operational optimization is not a onetime effort. It requires a culture of continuous improvement and agility. By establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and tracking relevant metrics, organizations can monitor their operational performance over time. Datadriven insights allow for informed decision-making, enabling organizations to adapt quickly to changing market dynamics, identify emerging opportunities, and stay ahead of the competition.
Data analytics can be instrumental in optimizing supply chain processes. By analyzing data related to procurement, logistics, inventory, and supplier performance, organizations can identify areas of improvement, reduce lead times, minimize stockouts, and enhance overall supply chain efficiency.
Data-driven approaches can help organizations improve their quality control processes and prevent defects. By analyzing production data, organizations can identify patterns that contribute to defects, enabling them to implement proactive measures and optimize quality control procedures. This leads to higher product quality, reduced rework or returns, and improved customer satisfaction.
Leveraging data allows organizations to optimize resource allocation and capacity planning. By analyzing historical data on resource utilization, production volumes, and
demand patterns, businesses can make informed decisions regarding workforce allocation, production schedules, and equipment utilization. This ensures optimal resource utilization, minimizes idle time, and maximizes operational efficiency.
Data analytics can provide valuable insights into employee performance and training needs. By analyzing performance data, organizations can identify areas where employees may require additional training or support, leading to improved productivity and efficiency. Additionally, data-driven performance evaluations can help identify high-performing individuals and facilitate talent management strategies.
Establishing continuous data monitoring systems and feedback loops is crucial for operational optimization. By continuously collecting and analyzing data, organizations can identify emerging trends, assess the impact of optimization efforts, and make necessary adjustments in real-time. This iterative approach ensures that operational optimization remains an ongoing and dynamic process.
Socius24 , an esteemed alliance partner for Dispatcher WMS Sales and Services, specializes in enhancing the implementation and optimizing the performance of Blue Yonder (formerly known as JDA and previously RedPrairie, initially LIS) Warehouse Management Systems for businesses. Their expertise enables companies to improve their overall operational efficiency and maximize the benefits of their WMS.
During the interview, Craig Jones , Managing Partner and Executive Director , highlighted how Socius24 delivers tangible value across various levels, spanning from the end consumer to the warehouse floor, to the boardroom. He emphasized the comprehensive reach of Socius24's services and the impact they have on different aspects of a business's operations.
Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader to your current position at Socius24. What challenges have you had to overcome to reach where you are today?
I changed professions in the late 90s - from ventilation engineering on offshore oil and gas rigs to Supply Chain, which was a bit of a quantum leap. Working in warehouse management software was quite a contrast but one I quickly found fascinating. Initially I started in the product development team, growing Partners and new territories around the world.
Over the next seventeen years, I worked in Partner development, ran the pre-sales department and the project delivery division, travelled the world extensively, set up new businesses and implemented WMS solutions.
At a corporate merger, I and others were made redundant and decided to use my broad skill set to set up Socius24.
That was in 2013, and from a team of two, Socius24 has grown from strength to strength, establishing ourselves as an important cog in the Blue Yonder Partner ecosystem wheel.
Tell us about your company and its mission and vision; how does your company thrive towards enabling advancements in the ever-evolving logistics and supply chain niche?
Socius24 was incorporated in 2013 by two former Directors of JDA/RedPrairie, myself and Ray Williams. Its purpose was to implement Blue Yonder Dispatcher WMS on behalf of Blue Yonder – which is something that we do very well. We’ve been the Blue Yonder EMEA Selling Partner of the year five times in the last nine years. I’m proud to say we recently won the award again, for the third year on the run. We’re an unusual selling partner because of our depth of knowledge and experience in the implementation of WMS. We worked extensively with Dispatcher WMS (Ray led the original product development, and I managed Services and Alliance) and many of our current employees were involved in developing and delivering the product too.
All of this means that we’ve been able to take our collective depth of experience, analyse what the industry needed next, and create our own leading-edge software: an agnostic eBilling application that works with 3PL warehouses, and a User Services Portal (USP) that augments and enhances the BY Dispatcher WMS.
Enlighten us on how you have been impacting the logistics and supply chain industry through your expertise in the market.
Not long ago, we counted up Socius24’s collective experience in the industry – between all of us we’re looking
We like to work with people we trust - trust and loyalty are huge cultural factors for us.
at a total of around 250 years. Which obviously is a totally academic number, but it does show quite how long we’ve been doing what we do – and how many of us have spent most of our careers in Logistics and Supply Chain.
We’ve installed and supported over 120 customers in the last 10 years, and we’ve helped all of them make the most out of the software we supplied to them. The collective impact of those 120 companies on the world-wide Supply Chain is huge.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drives your organization.
We like to work with people we trust - trust and loyalty are huge cultural factors for us. We obviously have deep industry experience, but what makes the difference for us is the equity of goodwill that we’ve built up over the years. We are really proud of the quality of the relationships we have with our employees, our suppliers, our partners, and ultimately, with our customers.
Undeniably, technology is playing a significant role in almost every sector. How are you advancing towards technological innovations to make your solutions resourceful?
Socius24 were early adopters of mobile technology, and we used it to develop our User Services Portal (USP) app. USP was designed to extend the visibility, mobility, and functionality of the BY Dispatcher WMS. It does this by using mobile technology. We created software that runs on any mobile browser. In real life, this means that the user can take functionality that was previously limited to the office out onto the warehouse floor – which is a huge advantage when it comes to error reduction and increased efficiency.
What, according to you, could be the next significant change in your sector? How is your company preparing to be a part of that change?
I think that the public only really became aware of the concept of supply chain when the pandemic hit. Up until then, it’d been mostly invisible to anyone who didn’t work in the industry. Although obviously, there have been other factors that have caused disruption since then, not least the invasion of Ukraine and global supply chain issues and product availability.
I see an increased need for contingency planning and flexibility. Warehousing has evolved over the years,
and while ‘just-in-time’ methodologies have been great for optimisation and efficiency, they do leave the supply chain exposed if things don’t go exactly to plan. I think the future needs to involve more ‘What if’s’ so that we can identify possible scenarios and plan for them.
We’d like to think that we are doing our part through our eBilling solution. Companies are starting to be more strategic about where they keep their inventory – often storing it in 3PL warehouses closer to multiple final destinations. 3PL warehouses are a growing trend, and our eBilling Solution is at the leading edge of it.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run, and what are your future goals for Socius24?
When Socius24 was incorporated, it was to fill a need within the UK. We’re now being approached by companies from all around the world, which means we’re starting to work a lot more internationally. I see more of that in our future.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the dynamic logistics and supply chain industry?
This is a fantastic industry to work in, and I’ve found that quite often, once you’ve been in it, even if you leave, you’ll come back. The people are great, the work is interesting, and you can see the difference you make. I have absolutely loved working in this industry, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. The opportunities are endless.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a transformative technology, revolutionizing various industries, including supply chain management. By connecting physical objects and devices to the internet, IoT enables real-time data collection, analysis, and communication. In the context of supply chain management, IoT offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance visibility, efficiency, and responsiveness. This article explores the key role of IoT in supply chain management and its impact on optimizing operations, improving decision-making, and driving overall supply chain performance.
IoT devices, such as sensors, RFID tags, and GPS trackers, enable real-time visibility and tracking of goods throughout the supply chain. These devices can monitor parameters like location, temperature, humidity, and vibration, providing accurate and up-to-date information on the status and condition of products. Real-time visibility facilitates proactive decision-making, improves inventory management, and reduces the risk of stockouts or overstocking.
: IoT-enabled supply chain management allows for optimization and efficiency gains across various areas.
By collecting data from multiple points in the supply chain, organizations can analyze patterns, identify bottlenecks, and streamline processes. IoT sensors can monitor equipment performance, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing downtime. Furthermore, IoT data can optimize transportation routes, warehouse layouts, and order fulfillment processes, leading to cost savings and enhanced operational efficiency.
IoT devices capture data on customer behavior, product usage, and market trends, providing valuable insights for demand sensing and forecasting. By analyzing this data, organizations can anticipate demand patterns, adjust production or procurement activities accordingly, and minimize forecasting errors. Accurate demand forecasting facilitates efficient inventory management, reduces lead times, and enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring product availability.
IoT promotes seamless collaboration and information sharing across supply chain partners. By integrating IoT devices and systems, organizations can achieve end-to-end visibility and facilitate real-time data exchange. This enables stakeholders to monitor inventory levels, production schedules, and transportation status, leading to improved coordination, reduced delays, and enhanced collaboration. IoT-driven collaboration fosters agility and responsiveness in the face of supply chain disruptions or changing customer demands.
IoT plays a vital role in ensuring product quality and regulatory compliance. IoT sensors can continuously monitor environmental conditions during transportation and storage, detecting deviations that could compromise product quality. Real-time data alerts can trigger immediate corrective actions, reducing the risk of quality issues and non-compliance. Furthermore, IoT devices can provide a transparent record of product origin, handling, and storage conditions, enhancing traceability and meeting regulatory requirements.
IoT contributes to sustainable supply chain management by enabling better resource utilization and reducing environmental impact. By monitoring energy consumption, emissions, and waste generation through IoT devices, organizations can identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and implement eco-friendly practices. Optimized transportation routes, smart energy management, and waste reduction initiatives driven by IoT data can help organizations achieve their sustainability goals.
IoT devices can continuously monitor the condition of assets and equipment in the supply chain, such as vehicles, machinery, and storage facilities. Real-time data collected from sensors can detect anomalies, predict potential failures, and trigger maintenance activities before breakdowns occur. This proactive approach to maintenance minimizes downtime, reduces maintenance costs, and maximizes the lifespan of assets.
IoT sensors and smart devices can optimize warehouse management processes. For instance, smart shelving equipped with sensors can track inventory levels, automatically reorder items when stock is low, and provide real-time visibility into warehouse operations. Additionally, IoT devices can optimize picking routes, monitor storage conditions, and improve overall inventory accuracy, leading to faster order fulfilment and reduced errors.
IoT plays a crucial role in the management of temperaturesensitive products throughout the cold chain. With IoTenabled sensors, organizations can monitor and maintain the desired temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors during transportation and storage. Real-time alerts and notifications ensure that any deviations from optimal conditions are promptly addressed, reducing the risk of spoilage and maintaining product quality.
The Most Advanced Supply Chain Solution Providers - 2023
Terso Solutions holds a prominent position as a top-
tier supplier of automated inventory management solutions. Its primary focus lies in tracking and monitoring high-value medical and scientific products within the Healthcare and Life Science industries.
By harnessing the power of RAIN RFID technologies and an advanced IoT data platform, Terso’s solutions significantly enhance inventory visibility across the entire supply chain. As a result, the company effectively mitigates issues such as stock-outs and the presence of expired products while eliminating labour-intensive manual processes. Furthermore, Terso’s innovative approach ensures enhanced regulatory compliance for its clients.
Terso Solutions is driven by a compelling vision to enhance its leadership role in the healthcare and life science markets as a trusted provider of inventory management solutions. The company aims to achieve this by revolutionizing the industry through the implementation of IoT (Internet of Things) technologies and cloud-based inventory management software. The ultimate goal is to facilitate endto-end visibility of valuable products.
By doing so, Terso seeks to alleviate the burden of manual inventory tracking and management for healthcare providers in hospitals and scientists in research labs. The underlying motivation is to liberate these professionals, enabling them to focus on their core responsibilities—delivering healing treatments and making groundbreaking discoveries.
Joe embarked on a 30-year professional journey, taking on various sales and marketing roles within a prominent
consumer goods manufacturer. Throughout his career, he actively participated in the advancement of new technologies and the development and launch of innovative products. It was during the late 90s that Joe's introduction to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies captivated him, as he recognized the immense value they held.
Over the past 14 years, he has held the position of CEO at Terso Solutions, a global provider of automated inventory management solutions specializing in healthcare and life sciences. Navigating the realm of emerging technologies to cultivate fresh business prospects has undoubtedly presented its fair share of challenges. Joe firmly believes in the importance of testing hypotheses, learning from mistakes, and, above all, collaborating with colleagues who embody qualities of humility, ambition, and intelligence.
Terso assists medical device manufacturers, distributors, and healthcare providers in enhancing efficiency through technology automation, thereby reducing costs, enhancing patient safety, meeting regulatory compliance requirements, and addressing the increasing demands of the industry. By utilizing Terso's solutions, these organizations can actively manage their inventory, ensuring timely availability of the appropriate products in the right locations.
Terso recruits individuals who possess humility, ambition, and intelligence, and provides them with opportunities to develop both professionally and personally. The company upholds the following fundamental principles:
Terso Solutions is driven by a compelling vision to enhance its leadership role in the healthcare and life science markets as a trusted provider of inventory management solutions.”
Ownership: Terso actively goes beyond its designated responsibilities to deliver value and maintain high standards. "We deliver!"
Relationship: The company cultivates strong partnerships based on honesty, integrity, and respect. "We are in this together!"
Opportunity: Terso embraces and actively seeks out opportunities for growth and development. "We will never stand still!"
Focus: It directs its resourcefulness and creativity towards achieving its vision. " We know what to do!"
Energy: Terso brings a contagious and positive energy to its work, recognizing that a balanced life includes health, family, and community. " We live our lives to the fullest!"
Terso's core values define its identity as a team. While skills can be taught, these values must be innate in individuals for them to thrive at Terso. These values are not mere words on paper; they guide our daily operations.
Terso, being a technology-driven enterprise, places significant emphasis on the exploration and study of novel technologies to enhance its existing solutions and develop innovative ones. With a proficient team of market strategists and engineers specializing in both hardware and software, the company constantly assesses market requirements and identifies opportunities for improvement, aiming to remain at the forefront of inventory management technology. Moreover, the company greatly values direct input from its customers, as it helps it address their foremost challenges effectively.
Joe believes that AI and Automation technologies will have a profound impact on various industries, including supply chain and logistics. Terso, acknowledging the transformative potential of these technologies, is actively leveraging them to empower its customers to enhance efficiency and take proactive measures. Terso understands the significance of automating specific aspects of the supply chain, enabling individuals to allocate their time to more crucial tasks.
In terms of its technological solutions catering to Terso’s primary markets, its primary objective is to preserve the human touch in healthcare. By automating inventory counting processes, healthcare professionals can dedicate their attention to patient care and advancing medical research, thereby propelling the healthcare industry forward.
Joe perceives Terso Solutions as being on the brink of accelerated growth, driven by the widespread adoption of RFID and other IoT sensors in healthcare and life science supply chains. In anticipation of this increasing demand, the company is fully prepared to expand its workforce, facilities, and capabilities. The future appears exceptionally promising for Terso Solutions, and Joe expresses deep gratitude for being a valued member of the organization as it ventures into this bright future.
Joe offers valuable advice to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to venture into the dynamic logistics and supply chain industry. He emphasizes the importance of people and relationships in achieving success. While having an innovative technology solution is crucial, it is equally essential to surround oneself with exceptional individuals who share the same passion. Building strong relationships with colleagues and customers is vital to maximizing potential.
Joe further highlights that cultivating these relationships instills trust within the team, enabling them to overcome challenges and approach new opportunities with enthusiasm and focus. At Terso, they perceive themselves as an extension of their partners' teams and recognize that success is a collaborative effort.
Integrating a new technology solution into an established supply chain is undoubtedly challenging. However, Joe stresses that collaboration among stakeholders at every level and at every step of the process is paramount for longterm success. By working together closely, sharing insights, and fostering strong relationships, the journey becomes smoother and the outcomes more favorable.
