Industry 4.0 is here

The age of digital transformation is disrupting how we live, work and play in today’s global economy. For the supply chain ecosystem, this disruption is ushering in “Industry 4.0” through increased connectivity and smart technology that enable innovative operations. Everything from “factories of the future,” advanced transportation and logistics to extremely precise asset tracking, asset management and smart warehouses is made possible by wirelessly connecting almost anything, collecting massive amounts of data from those connected devices and then analyzing that data for real-time insights. Digital transformation allows organizations to maximize their operational efficiencies and ultimately, save time and money.

Even with these potential benefits, over half of all organizations “have not actively started to build a roadmap for supply chain digital transformation.” (Source: 2020 Gartner) At Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), we see this as a missed opportunity to realize both short-term and long-term gains to help businesses stay relevant, efficient and profitable.

But knowing where to start digitally transforming can feel overwhelming. So, here’s a breakdown of how we are helping businesses across the supply chain industry take part in the digital revolution.

Connecting unconnected things

We start by connecting things we never imagined could be connected. Today, almost any device can become “smart” – that is, they can connect to its users, the internet and other devices. This enables those devices to start collecting data. All kinds of information – from inventory numbers and location or condition of assets to safe work zones and employee behavior – can be tracked and gathered.

Next, smart devices can be connected across different environments, from inside a giant warehouse to the middle of a crowded city to a highway in the middle of nowhere.

QTI leverages over 35 years of mobile industry leadership to create connectivity solutions that work indoors, outside and even when devices are offline. By utilizing 5G networks where available, devices with our tech can upload more data in a shorter amount of time. This means regardless of whether you are using cellular, Wi-Fi, a private network or other standards-based connectivity solutions, you can stay connected to your devices and data for longer periods of time without breaks in coverage.

Efficiently processing massive amounts of data

From here, our technologies enable data to be uploaded and processed quickly and efficiently. We combine our powerful Qualcomm^® AI Engine, which helps predict future behavior, with extreme performance machine learning and advanced “edge computing power” to analyze information both on the device and/or send it up to a cloud for use anywhere, anytime. This means more data can be processed in a shorter amount of time. Our technology is also power efficient, features low-latency connectivity for less lag time to send and process data and is highly reliable to make sure operations are always up and running.

Keeping your information safe

Digitally transforming a business and its use of smart devices such as wireless handhelds and sensors brings a new consideration: cybersecurity. With these added entry points for hackers, cybercriminals, or even industry competitors, cybersecurity risk assessments must be conducted and any technology introduced should meet minimum security requirements.

Businesses new to automating data and processes should look for solutions like Qualcomm^® IoT Platforms that include enterprise-grade, hardware and software-enabled security features that are rigorously tested for robust data privacy and risk management.

Insights lead to better decision-making

Once you have connected devices and technology collecting and analyzing massive amounts of data securely, you gain valuable information about your operations that help you make better decisions. From individual employee performance to tracking the specific location of assets throughout the supply chain, insights help highlight areas that are running efficiently and those that have room for improvement. In some cases, you might already know you have a problem but might not understand the cause. Analytics help shed light on these issues so you can make the necessary data-driven changes to fix them and create more streamlined operations. Inevitably, this leads to cost savings or even increased revenue, helping increase profit margins and the overall financial health of your business.

The bottom line: businesses can get real-time insights into how their operations are running, see where gaps and opportunities lie and make changes to save time and money.

Customer example: Improving operations for cardinal logistics

We recently helped Cardinal Logistics through our customer, Zebra Technologies, a global provider of hardware, software, services and solutions that digitize and automate workflows. Cardinal Logistics creates customized transportation solutions for their customers but were having to track multiple types of handheld devices with different software platforms for their drivers. This was proving to be expensive and complicated.

Zebra’s handheld devices using Qualcomm IoT platforms came to the rescue by offering a single device and software solution that could service the diverse logistics, functional, IT and security needs of Cardinal Logistics’ drivers.

After implementing the solution, Cardinal Logistics enjoyed reduced capital expenses, a reduction in operational expenses and time, less paperwork, increased customer satisfaction and increased revenue.

It's time to make the shift

From making sure employees are safe during the pandemic to ensuring goods get delivered on time to the correct location, Qualcomm IoT platforms are transforming businesses across the supply chain industry. We create end-to-end solutions to help manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and retailers digitally transform their businesses for maximized operational efficiencies.

We understand this shift can be daunting, which is why our team is here to help advise and guide you through a digital transformation process for your business.

Learn more at Qualcomm.com/supplychain.

Qualcomm IoT Platforms are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.