bio chat
“Bioscience industry building ‘smart supply
chains’ by integrating key new technologies”
As per Mr Mandar Athalekar, Market and Product Development Leader - Global
Trade Management, South Asia at Thomson Reuters, the supply chain
management is evolving into a strategic function to address markets diverse in
demographics. In a Chat with BioVoice, he gave insights into the latest trends as
well as their relevance in the context of biocience industry
BY RAHUL KOUL
What kinds of new smart technologies are being
introduced to keep the supply chains updated
with the fast changing environments in the
bioscience sector?
Innovation and technology are both powerful growth
enablers of the healthcare industry, whether biotech or
biopharma, as well as agriculture industry. Therefore,
the high dynamics that entail innovation and the
process disruptions that entail new technologies pose
big challenges to this sector. That is why this industry is
now building ‘smart supply chains’ by integrating their
supply chain processes across all levels with key new
technologies as the Internet of Things (IoT), the Cloud
and Mobile Devices and Services, Smartphones and
sensors, Big Data Analytics, Optimization tools and new
business models.
Application of wide range of smart technologies like
Energy-saving forklifts or industrial trucks, RFID
(Radio-frequency identification), Drones for faster
delivery, Instrumented platforms for remote
diagnostics, Big Data tools that process information
from a huge number of inputs, warehouses and trucks
tracking inventory and delivery status, Shipment
tracking devices and other Supply chain analytics
provide efficiencies and cost reduction opportunities, as
well as means for long-term profitable revenue.
How are the perishable agriculture products
taken care of, especially when being taken to
thousand miles away from the source? How
challenging is the global logistic supply chain?
Perishable agricultural produce, mainly fruits and
vegetables, is likely to be subjected to natural decay,
spoilage or destruction, whether processed or
unprocessed. There are several other such products of
horticulture, apiculture, livestock, marine produce,
forest produce, etc. There is little disagreement that
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BioVoiceNews | July 2016
“
Perishable agricultural
produce, mainly fruits and
vegetables, is likely to be subjected
to natural decay, spoilage or
destruction, whether processed or
unprocessed. There is little
disagreement that the problem of
their storage and distribution has
fallen short of receiving the
attention they deserve.