If you thought supply chain and logistics generated crazy amounts of information before, get ready for what's to come. 

The physical aspects and digital features of the supply chain will begin to share giant pools of information across parties in real time. Data will be constantly collected and assessed, allowing every point of the process — from retailers and manufacturers to warehousing and production — to stay connected and make changes instantly. Patiently waiting will become obsolete.

Supply chains will learn, self-correct, and prevent errors.

What is Big Data? It’s a massive cloud of information collected, processed, and applied at high speed. It determines the most cost-effective demand and innovative processes so humans make better business decisions regarding automation and operations. It’s the notion behind the all-powerful Wizard of Oz.

Big Data is applied to predictive analytics to improve:

• forecasting
• demand planning
• sourcing
• replenishment
• production
• transportation and logistics
• distribution processes 

Big Data only recently entered the supply chain management spotlight after learning how to deliver meaningful insights at certain points of the industry process, such as knowing when:

• an item is picked off a shelf
• a customer leaves a website
• an online review is written
• a damaged product is returned

The rapid advance of the internet led to cloud computing and then the internet of things (IoT). Combining it with artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics streamlines and automates our world into a fast-paced, efficient environment around the clock. Digital information will be passed on virtually error-free to supply chain employees through cognitive tools and wearables^[i].

Big Data is here to stay. Supply chain managers should embrace its nature to hoard information.

If you are a leader in supply chain, using AI will influence better customer expectations and new levels of productivity. Managers need to be testing these emerging solutions because companies still using dated technology and manual methods will not keep up with more progressive competitors.

As we digitize our super supply chain, we will attract cyber criminals and create a simultaneous need to protect our proprietary data. Old computers, servers, network systems, software applications, and security are either replaced or updated, requiring new connections and patches. Every contact point is a potential data breach if it’s not done properly. Whatever the size of your supply chain, cybersecurity processes must be put in place along the way to find, monitor, and remove risks on an ongoing basis.

[i] Deloitte and MHI Industry Report, 2018. Overcoming Barrier to NexGen Supply Chain Innovation Pgs. 19, 17, 12, 10, 9, 8