Inbound Logistics | March 2024

The company is trying to use AI to help determine if it can efficiently move products where they’re needed after an event occurs, says CEO Romaine Seguin. For example, Seguin has been working with a donor to determine how Good360 can help in areas impacted by wildfires. “We’re bringing in AI technology for mapping weather and identifying how much damage is in an area and what’s needed, such as water or hygiene products,” she says. CYBERSECURITY As supply chains digitalize, the risk of cyber attacks increases. “It’s the flip side of the digitalization and automation coin,” Stank says. Some chief information officers are even throttling back supply chain initiatives because of cybersecurity concerns, he adds. A criminal may act as a carrier, broker, or even a customer to break into a system and then try to hijack freight or access customer or employee data. “Any system is open to attack,” warns Nathan Johnson, founder and CEO of transportation consultancy GLCS. SUSTAINABILITY While it’s difficult to pin a single weather event on climate change, the drought at the Panama Canal is capturing the attention of supply chain experts. Drought cycles used to occur once every five years, but now are happening every three years, said Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, administrator of the Panama Canal, in a statement. Another sign of the emphasis on sustainability is the European Commission’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. CBAM, which will be phased in between 2023 and 2026, is intended to fairly price the carbon emitted during the production of carbon intensive goods entering the EU. CBAM will initially apply to some goods whose production is carbon intensive and at most risk of carbon leakage, such as cement, iron, and steel; additional goods will be added. Here’s a look at one company helping shippers navigate global logistics:

Technology tools can help shippers tackle the challenges of global logistics operations. Here are a few of the many available solutions. Descartes: Datamyne™ is a searchable trade database that provides real-time access to import and export information from customs authorities and trade ministries across 230 markets. e2open: Features on e2open’s global trade management software include due diligence screening, the ability to automate export compliance and import management, as well as a database of government trade regulations. ImportKey: The AI-driven algorithm leverages global and U.S. import and export data, as well as U.S. customs data and records, to identify top products, sellers, and buyers for given time periods. Oracle Global Trade Management: This solution allows companies of any size and in all geographies to centrally manage global trade operations and to optimize, automate, and monitor cross-border transactions from a unified trade and transportation platform. PartnerLinQ: This supply chain platform integrates with more than 70 TMS, WMS, and ERP systems using industry best practices, common workflows, and data structures. SAP Global Trade Services: This platform integrates trade services across the entire enterprise and automates and streamlines trade processes. Trademo: This solution connects billions of supply chain data points and leverages software to provide organizations visibility into their global supply chain networks. Zonos: The platform provides a range of cross-border solutions, like Landed Cost, which offers the ability to show guaranteed duty, tax, and carrier fee calculations on all orders. GLOBAL TRADE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

March 2024 • Inbound Logistics 37

Powered by