New hub aims to fast-track UK digital supply chain
4 Aug 2024
Digital Catapult has launched its Digital Supply Chain Hub platform designed to enable strategic collaboration between manufacturers and digital solution providers across the country.
The new platform is intended to cater for industry demand to accelerate the digitalisation of supply chain operations, driving resilience and sustainability through the application of deep tech solutions.
It has been developed by Digital Catapult to tackle problems frequently encountered during the search for suitable supply chain partners, such as siloed operations and ineffective information transfer.
The platform includes educational modules to enable users to connect to businesses relevant to their critical skills shortages and challenges.
Other resources include tools such to help firms make their supply chains more sustainable, resilient and efficient in sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy, food and drink, and other process areas. Community forums will also feature for discussions on supply chain challenges such as logistics optimisation, sustainability and risk management.
Ravi Gidoomal, director of consulting services company Edge Digital Manufacturing, said of the initiative:
“Navigating new technologies can be overwhelming and many leaders we speak with don’t know where to start or what to do next. Others find it hard to maintain momentum and get their team excited about change with all the other pressing demands on their time.”
More than 60% of most industrial companies’ CO2 emissions are believed to originate from the supply chain, so many are keen to access so-called ‘deep technology’ to improve industrial sustainability.
The logistics industry is also seeking digital solutions to optimise its operations, with more than eight in 10 firms planning to invest in at least one digital technology solution over the next two years.
The hub is now open to users from across the UK’s supply chain ecosystem. To access it click here.
Tim Lawrence, director of the Digital Supply Chain Hub at Digital Catapult, said: “By creating a commercially neutral ecosystem, we will enable industry leaders, researchers, and technology providers to address critical supply chain challenges directly, strengthening critical economic sectors and empowering businesses to apply new solutions to transform their operations."
