The Georgia Logistics Association, in partnership with several other logistics-related organizations, has opened its Supply Chain & Logistics Innovation (SCALI) showcase. The SCALI showcase is a permanent exhibit, located in downtown Atlanta, intended to demonstrate the modern supply chain in a “living lab,” says Jaymie C. Forrest, president and CEO of Activ Technologies Inc., and executive director at the GA Logistics Association.

“The idea was bringing the best and brightest of cloud-based technologies into one location,” says Forrest. “We wanted to make it easy for visitors to come in and see all the types of technology in one place. We wanted to make it easy for visitors to come in and see all types of technology in one place, and make it easy for the vendors to show what they do.”

After a delay caused by the pandemic, the year-round facility opened in April 2023. 

The building includes conference rooms and offices for remote workers. Vendors who are showcasing their offerings there can also use facilities such as kitchens, recreational rooms — including a basketball court — and conference facilities. There’s also a large outdoor terrace for hosting networking events. SCALI has already hosted two open houses, and on August 8 will co-host an event with the Technology Association of Georgia. The Fireside Chat is entitled “Harnessing the Power of AI — Transforming Transportation & Strengthening Security.”

Forrest says Phase 2 of development at SCALI will aim to show how multiple supply chain technologies can work together, because combining technologies is the way forward, in order to maximize the benefits of individual innovations. Forrest says SCALI will focus on combining three areas, specifically — supply chain management technology, transportation technology and warehouse operations. “We want to create a storyline so you can envision procuring something in Asia, then tracking it on a vessel, all the way to e-commerce fulfilment,” she says. 

Tours are offered by appointment, free of charge, to visitors including those attending Georgia Tech’s Professional Education program, which had more than 190,000 learners in 2021. The showcase also wants to attract the 35,000 attendees of MODEX, and all attendees will receive complimentary guest passes for SCALI. Forrest also hopes SCALI will work more broadly in the international trade community; there are some 40 consulates of foreign countries based in Atlanta. SCALI also connects with the State of Georgia and Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, which has hundreds of visiting groups annually.

The GA Logistics Association will be hosting its “Golf Classic 2023” at the Polo Golf & Country Club in Cumming, Georgia, on Monday, September 25, 2023, which raises money, in part, for SCALI. The showcase is still open to sponsors. Activ Technologies is donating integration time and resources in order to make supply chain solutions talk to each other, Forrest says. “That type of connectivity is our sweet spot.”

SCALI also plans to co-host an event in November with the Council for Supply Chain Management Professionals, on the subject of supply chain technologies.