Digital Innovation Magazine - February 2022 by iThink Media

Luxatia International is hosting the 2nd World Digital Procurement Summit that will take place on the 3rd & 4th of March 2022. This virtual event will focus on the smart utilization of advanced technologies and the best transformation strategies of the digital procurement roadmap. The summit will serve as an ideal platform for key business stakeholders and technical experts to examine the benefits of the implementation of recent cognitive procurement technologies & the best strategies for reimagining the role of people in your procurement ecosystem. Leading experts from global brands will be sharing pr their experience on advanced data analytics, IoT, RPA, AI, ML, smart contracts and other disrupting tools in procurement. Don’t miss your chance to join the conversations contributing to the future of digital procurement during this 2-day event, filled with knowledge exchange and networking with your peers!

MEET SOME OF OUR SPEAKERS

David Storch

Charlotte de Brabandt

Nick Jenkinson

Head of Network Commercial and Contract Management

Member of the ISM Thought Leadership Council

Chief Procurement Officer

Allianz

Institute for Supply Management

Santander UK

Key Practical Learning Points • • • • • • • •

Introducing the Latest Advances of Digital Procurement Helping the Organization Respond to Procurement Issues and Priorities Building the Roadmap for Procurement's Strategic and Digital Transformation Achieving Next-gen Procurement With Advanced Automation & Data Analytics Unleashing the Potential of RPA, AI, ML and Other Digital Trends Embedding Blockchain Technology for Transparency in Sourcing Ex Extending Beyond the Tech-based Training and Upskilling of People Developing Soft Skills and Connecting Your Supply Chain Workforce www.luxatiainternational.com

BUMPER ISSUE!

We are delighted to share with you our bumper February edition of Digital Innovation Magazine. We have been working hard over the last couple of months to bring you exclusive interview content and the latest in European innovation, so look no further for your monthly dose of all things tech! First up is an action-packed interview with SAP’s Andreas Wagner and Dr Johannes Tulusan, together with a number of their colleagues (p6). We explore the importance of supply chain digitalisation and cloud solutions in enabling resilient, customer-centric and sustainable enterprises. Thank you to all the team for their valuable contributions. Plus, we are pleased to present a further interview this issue courtesy of Atlantic Grupa. Darija Pizent, Director of Supply Chain Management, talks about running a digital transformation program in the midst of a global pandemic (p72). It was an absolute pleasure to chat to Darija – we hope you enjoy the results. What’s more, we share a preview of our March interview with Danny Berry, Vice President of HPE Pointnext Services Supply Chain. Turn to page 50 for an exclusive sneak peek! As ever, we have a host of intriguing features for you, from healthtech (p36) and women in tech (p62), through to AI (p96) and green innovations (p108), as well as our regular start-up of the month (134). Looking to attend an industry event this year? We provide our rundown of the top diary dates on page 122. We hope you have a great month!

SAP exp lains the supply the importanc e of the chain for digita services make the customers, and lisation of wh compan y more sca y cloud lable.

Meet Da nny HPE Pointn Berry, The Vic e President ext Techno of logy Service s Supply Chain

Danielle Harris Director d.harris@ithink.media

Tom Barnes Director t.barnes@ithink.media

Daniel May Senior Digital Designer design@ithink.media

+44 (0) 203 890 1189 enquiries@digitalinnovationeu.com

Anna McMahon Editor editorial@ithink.media

All rights reserved. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in Digital Innovation Magazine. However, the company cannot accept responsibility for the claims made by advertisers or contributors, or inaccurate material supplied by advertisers. Digital Innovation is a product of iThink Media Ltd. Company Registration Number: 10933897. Company Registered in England and Wales

Published by

SAP shares the key to enabling resilient, customer-centric and sustainable enterprises

Danny Berry, VP of Pointnext Services S Chain, on the critica of digital technolog

London is the new for healthtech inves

HPE Supply al role gies

hub stment

Women overtook men at last year’s Web Summit

122

The top tech events for 2022

Darija Pizent, Director of Supply Chain Management at Atlantic Grupa, talks continuous improvement

108

Uniting tech and a green ethos to achieve sustainable prosperity

How can we best collaborate with robots?

An overview of the metaverse

Volkswagen’s new 5G network

134

This issue’s startup of the month is Italian company, Matchplat 5

C OV E R STO RY

Digitalised Supply Chains and Operations

The Key to Enabling Resilient, Customer-Centric and Sustainable Enterprises SAP executives, Andreas J. Wagner, General Manager, Digital Supply Chain, MEE, and Dr. Johannes Tulusan, COO, Digital Supply Chain, MEE, together with colleagues from SAP’s Digital Supply Chain leadership team, explain the importance of the digitalisation of the supply chain for customers, and why cloud services make the company more scalable. Digitalisation relates both to the shift from on-premise supply chain solutions to the cloud and changing the company’s manual supply chain processes to a digital format.

Dr Johannes Tulusan

Andreas J Wagner

Dr Johannes Tulusan COO, Digital Supply Chain, MEE

Andreas J. Wagner and Johannes Tulusan lead a team of more than 150 sales executives, solution advisors, and business development experts for supply chain in SAP’s Middle and Eastern Europe (MEE) region, comprising Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, and CIS. esponsible for more than 25 countries, Andreas and Johannes agree that if you had asked them three years ago, they would never have believed that a digitalised supply chain would become such a main priority board level topic in almost every company. According to Andreas, an endto-end digital supply chain has recently become so important because we have had total

disruption in markets across the globe. We have seen widely fluctuating demand for goods and services, so predictability has become key. We have been confronted with an uncertain supply of critical materials, interruption of manufacturing sites, bottlenecks, and limited labour and work capacity, leading to inventory shortages and delayed shipments. These unprecedented supply

“Some companies have a tendency again to focus on best-of-breed cloud solutions. For this reason, it is important for SAP to offer supply chain solutions adapted along the industry value chains to meet the customers’ requirements” Dr Johannes Tulusan, COO, Digital Supply Chain, MEE 9

chain disruptions have been major contributors to the current economic situation, which is why an endto-end supply chain has become such a key topic for all companies. Companies have been working hard on balancing global supplies, so risk management has an important role to play, as well as a cross-functional synchronised planning process. A resilient, digitalised supply chain helps companies react much faster and even ahead of time. Investing in a synchronised, digitalised, and end-to-end supply chain will allow them to shift their supply operations from one country to another, depending on market situations. Resilience is a buzzword when we talk about supply chain, referring to the ability to react quickly to unforeseen incidents, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. This can only be achieved with digitalisation, as Andreas explains, referring to supply chain key parameters (see graphic). He continues, “The first part involves synchronising all the logistics and operational planning end to end. The companies with synchronised planning processes in place performed

better during the pandemic because they could work with existing processes to increase stability. The second part refers to automation, increasing productivity and flexibility, which, in turn, leads to resilience. It is necessary to act now with smart product development and intelligent factories, with a strong capability to react on changing market demands quickly. Thirdly, the business network topic has a focus on resilience because the inclusion of partners and customers is key to efficiency and flexibility. If an individual area of the company is facing difficulties, another company’s division or external partner (i.e. supplier) in the business network can step up to provide a suitable alternative. The last part is sustainability, moving in the direction of manufacturers’ CO2 footprint as an important driver. “All these areas impact heavily on the resiliency topic.” Speaking of sustainability, Johannes adds, “There are already legislations, i.e. the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (Directive 94/62/ECC), implemented. Companies need to understand how much plastic they are producing in their packaging in

order to comply with new regulations. If they are not able to provide these details, they need to pay a government-defined tax; for example, a non-recycled plastic packaging waste tax in Europe. The tax for nonrecycled plastic packaging waste, established already on January 1st, 2021, consists of a national contribution

based on the amount of nonrecycled plastic packaging waste.” In asset-intensive sectors, such as energy, oil and gas, telecommunications, public transportation, or retail, there is a huge cost associated with servicing and maintaining these assets.

“Companies need to understand how much plastic they are producing in their packaging in order to comply with new regulations” Dr Johannes Tulusan, COO, Digital Supply Chain, MEE

Complexity vs. Access

How can SAP ® systems, their digital innovations and people be brought together for logistics? The solution that drives enablement even before implementation

If you work in a company whose business involves logistics processes, here‘s what you know: In digital innovation lies the hope of meeting the increasing demands for transparency and efficiency. At the same time, embedding innovation poses a complex challenge, especially in logistics. At the end of the day this is the intersection where administrative and physical processes come together – processes that are mutually dependent and yet run in parallel. From the system landscape perspective, you need nothing less than a custom-fit combination of an intelligent ERP system and a flexible supply chain management supported by well-trained players, both in planning and in execution. Once implemented, SAP solutions offer the potential for this significant (if not critical) digital supply chain value add. However, for many companies, SAP projects are time-consuming and risky undertakings, especially when it comes to implementing a solution close to the standard to facilitate future release upgrades and flexible functional enhancements – such as digital innovations.

The complexity associated with the large range of functions becomes a central challenge even during the design of the logistics processes: If the decisionmakers do not understand the SAP standard and its conditions, the interaction between the system and the user cannot develop its full potential and is also not extensible. But how do you address this aspect in the initial phase without already going full bore into the project effort and investing costs and time accordingly? What if your knowledge of the SAP standard is not sufficient or cannot be consistently conveyed (perhaps even in the evaluation phase of an implementation)? Couldn‘t the system basis of a near-standard SAP system for digital supply chain management be available as a cloud demo system even before the project starts – from ERP components to the logistics modules SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) and SAP Transportation Management (TM) as well as supplementary SAP components around usability, analytics, etc., preferably already documented?

»With the preconfigured system, the ideal basis for discussion is created even before the project begins. Our customers don‘t have to rely on our statements about the SAP standard, but can try it out directly. They can compare process variants and even create prototypes already.« ⸻ Lars Gregor, Managing Director at prismat

Well, that is exactly what the prismat/RAKETE for S/4HANA is: We combined preconfigured customizing modules for SAP S/4HANA®, EWM and TM with our own development components, including frameworks, dialogs and functional enhancements. The result is a flexible overall solution consisting of SAP standard and extensions, which based on our project experience every SAP project requires. In doing so, we also keep our own components configurable and close to the standard, so that on the one hand we achieve a sustainable balance between SAP standard and required functional enhancements, and on the other hand our customers remain independent of the provider. The prismat/RAKETE allows us to start with the crucial factor for a successful implementation of SAP solutions: enablement. We called this fast and time saving approach very fittingly »Rakete«, which is the German word for rocket.

About prismat: The SAP implementation company prismat was founded in 1991 as a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics in Dortmund, Germany. Due to the close cooperation with SAP as well as several research and pilot projects, prismat always keeps up to date and continuously contributes to the further development of the standard features of SAP solutions. In the headquarters in Dortmund and its branch offices in Ratingen, Stuttgart, Bremen, Würzburg and Brașov (Romania) prismat employs more than 200 people. Thanks to the prismat/RAKETE, the company is able to pass on knowledge gained from more than 30 years of project experience – to its project teams, its customers and business partners, but also to its junior staff as well as to universities and educational networks.

The SAP spectrum for your logistics needs #prismatgmbh — prismat.de

Cigdem Kroggel Head of Sales, Digital Supply Chain, Germany

Johannes says that by making it more intuitive with an intelligent and connected asset and field service management solution, you can predict when a service of an asset is required, thus scheduling service technicians more effectively. He emphasises, “This is another important theme in the digital transformation of the supply chain. Not only to design, plan, produce, and ship on time, but also to intuitively maintain assets of a company to keep

transparency, and we can offer that with our end-to-end offerings. That is definitely an advantage. We also have an open system and a strong ecosystem, with our partners developing and adapting our solutions on our SAP Business Technology Platform.” Johannes adds, “Some companies have a tendency again to focus on best-of-breed cloud solutions. For this reason, it is important for SAP to offer

“Adaptation to new market situations, combining agile solutions, key partnerships, and Industry 4.0, allows us to remain competitive” Cigdem Kroggel, Head of Sales, Digital Supply Chain, Germany

the pulse of asset-intensive businesses ticking and innovatively saving costs.” So, why should companies choose SAP for the digitalisation of their supply chain? Johannes says, “We have a comprehensive end-toend supply chain solution offering, combining everything from planning, design and engineering, to production, distribution, and services, all interlinked to SAP’s ERP systems. Consistency of data and processes within a company is becoming more and more important to ensure

supply chain solutions adapted along the industry value chains to meet the customers’ requirements.” The value of having a clear digitalisation strategy is echoed by Cigdem Kroggel, Head of Sales, Digital Supply Chain, Germany. She considers it to be the backbone of SAP’s success in Germany. Cigdem says, “Adaptation to new market situations, combining agile solutions, key partnerships, and Industry 4.0, allows us to remain competitive. Cloud becomes 15

SAP Integrated Business Planning and the CAMELOT team helped us shape our future digital supply chain based on a state-of-the-art planning application. We’re closing in on our goal to become and stay the first choice for consumers worldwide. Dietmar Baumann, Program Manager Digital Supply Chain (Global Digital Services), BSH Home Appliances Group

Master Uncertainty Supply Chain Resilience with a Demand-Driven Approach Changes in consumer behavior, shorter product lifecycles, climate events or supply shortages unsettled supply chains even before the Covid-19 pandemic. The disruptions showed that traditional supply chain planning approaches meet actual demands less and less accurately. To manage the New Now of complexity and volatility, organizations need a more resilient approach for end-to-end, customercentric supply chain planning. One of the most promising approaches is the Demand-Driven methodology and the transformation with Demand-Driven Supply Chain Management (DDSCM). 16

Demand-Driven Planning in SAP IBP for more resilient supply chains DDSCM helps navigate the challenges of the New Now and controls variability across value chains. It maximizes contribution margins by increasing the flow of material through value chains resulting in higher service levels at reduced inventory. On the operational level, Demand-Driven Material Requirements Planning (DDMRP), as defined by the Demand Driven Institute, puts DDSCM into action. It is comprised of known and well-established methods such as Material Requirements Planning, Lean, and the Theory of Constraints. In 2019, the DDMRP methodology has been realized in SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) by SAP and Camelot ITLab as strategic development partner. SAP IBP for Demand-Driven Replenishment enables relevant material and information flow in SAP IBP. Camelot also is a global implementation partner for this solution. The unique relationship between Camelot and SAP spans more than 25 years. It is best described as a 360-degree partnership: Camelot is co-innovation partner, global implementation partner and customer of SAP.

Significantly increased performance The “Demand-Driven” concept is leveraged successfully by global companies in various industries with the help of Demand-Driven Replenishment in SAP. It implements integrated processes based on tactical planning and operational pull replenishment and leveling. This paradigm shift within the supply chain towards pull replenishment based on the principles of demand-driven materials requirement planning is empowering planners for what-if simulations, allowing improved decision-making. The effects are optimized planning results using forecast algorithms and predictive analytics while becoming more agile with respect to changing customer demands and market conditions. As a result, they achieve a significant reduction in variability and a stabilization of the material flow in their supply chain. The benefit is a substantially improved service quality and increased agility of the supply chain due to a reduction in throughput times of up to 82% and inventory reductions of up to 70%.

Service Level Increase (Points)

Lead Time Reduction (Percent)

Inventory Reduction (Percent)

Median +13%

Max. +54%

-22% -82% Median

-31% Median

Max.

-70% Max.

Demand-Driven: A Cornerstone of the Intelligent Enterprise End-to-end Demand-Driven supply chain planning directly supports the efforts towards an Intelligent Enterprise, enabling organizations to make impactful changes in order to grow more resilient, more profitable, more customer-centric, and more sustainable. For all companies relying on their supply chains, the Demand-Driven approach in SAP IBP helps achieve a competitive advantage and become more intelligent and resilient. Therefore, DDMRP now becomes a feature in SAP S/4HANA Core. 2021 IBP releases were a significant step to realize this vision with new integrated DDMRP scenarios across SAP IBP and S/4HANA. Now, organizations can leverage SAP IBP with time series and order-based planning for running the first four steps of DDMRP, and, as a fifth step, integrate supply elements to SAP S/4HANA or SAP ECC. SAP IBP for Demand-Driven Replenishment can be used in combination with any SAP ERP landscape and thus provides simulation capabilities, supply propagation across networks in one run, and more accurate net flow calculations. Supply elements for all location products can be created and propagated directly in SAP IBP using the DDMRP principles.

HOW TO START YOUR RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAIN JOURNEY: The Camelot Supply Chain Resilience Center Service includes a structured approach that guides organizations through every step of their transformation journey.

already the reality because it enables our customers to be more flexible. It is the new standard for us.” In addition, small and medium enterprises can benefit from cloud solutions because of the resilience and automation they can achieve, but how is the additional security aspect managed? Cigdem answers, “If you move to a large provider, such as SAP, the environment is much more secure

than anything a company could provide on its own data centre.” Matthias Riedel is the head of Solution Advisory for Digital Supply Chain in Germany. He believes that in addition to its broad solution ecosystem, SAP’s strength also lies in its ability to offer tailored solutions that are built according to customer requirements. Matthias explains, “The current situation

has made it even more important to speak the customer’s language and give them the comfort that we can translate their needs into SAP solutions. For example, what does the electrification of cars mean for the OEM’s supply chain, and how can SAP help? By understanding industry trends and challenges, SAP can create a solution approach that is tailored to a specific situation.”

Matthias Riedel, Head of Solution Advisory for Digital Supply Chain in Germany

As the competition is getting fiercer, it is essential for SAP to be able to articulate a clear and captivating proposition when interacting with customers. Matthias continues, “In terms of software, customers want to see the system in action and even testdrive it themselves. We have physical showcases featuring our entire supply chain portfolio at various locations, as well as online, to help customers experience how our solutions work hand in hand.” Discussing the upcoming trends in the digital supply chain field, Andreas and Johannes say there are a number of prevalent themes. Andreas elaborates, “When we talk about consumer products, I am seeing the trend of end-to-end visibility on 19

“Transparency and visibility for the consumer are also increasingly important. Customers want a solution to track their products. For example, if you buy a bowl of organic fruit, you can scan it to see where it is from, which farm grew the fruit, when they were picked, and how they were finally transported” Andreas J. Wagner, General Manager, Digital Supply Chain, MEE

various levels. In logistics, it provides predictability on the location of goods and when they can expect to arrive. Transparency and visibility for the consumer are also increasingly important. Customers want a solution to track their products. For example, if you buy a bowl of organic fruit, you can scan it to see where it is from, which farm grew the fruit, when they were picked, and how they were finally transported. In addition, more

In the automotive industry, there is full disruption happening alongside the need for continuity at the same time. We are seeing more scalable and flexible production, as we shift from global to near shore production processes. Hence more flexibility in production and an end-to-end production dashboard are also key for our customers. Additionally, the sustainability story is filtering down into every part of the business, from

“Predictive and synchronised planning is moving to the centre of businesses. When you open a new shop or release a new product, you can have full transparency beforehand” Andreas J. Wagner, General Manager, Digital Supply Chain, MEE

and more companies in the textile industry are doing the same by providing all the data on the materials and the product, such as where the materials come from, how they were produced, and under what conditions the product was manufactured. “Furthermore, predictive planning is moving to the centre of businesses. When you open a new shop or release a new product, you can have full transparency beforehand. 22

when we talk about CO2 in the manufacturing process, through to transport management and sustainability reporting.” Johannes states, “In terms of supply chain software cloud market growth, the overall expectation of the MEE market in the next four years, based on valid market research, reports that the cloud market growth will increase around 20%+ yearly. For the on-premise supply chain software

The SAP spectrum for your logistics needs

RISE with SAP Warehousing • Transportation • Track and Trace Mobile Apps • Digital Design • Analytics »Thanks to our productive partnership with SAP, we can support these and other logistics topics not only in a targeted manner, but also sustainably and with future-oriented digital added value.« – Fin Geldmacher, Managing Director at prismat

Many thanks to the teams at SAP who are working on the topic of Digital Supply Chain, and keep up the good work! We are very pleased about the partnership and the recognition, for example in the context of the Appreciation Award. Thank you very much! – prismat, (obviously) proud winner of the Digital Supply Chain Award 2021

MHP’S END-TO-END APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAINS USING SAP SOLUTIONS Digital transformation is a critical issue for companies and organisations, and one that is fundamentally reshaping many market participants. In addition, sustainability initiatives are increasingly being viewed as competitive factors, leading many companies to start thinking about the associated challenges. Sustainability is no longer merely an abstract idea – it is becoming a tangible concern for us all. As an enabler of progress, digitalisation can pave the way for a sustainable future. MHP supports its customers with their transformation to sustainable operations and empowers them to permanently close the gap between formulating strategic goals and implementing initiatives at an operational level.

business models. Digitalisation is key to any sustainability initiative, and to harness its true potential, a digital transformation must be implemented consistently at an organisational, process and IT level. MHP strongly recommends that companies evaluate their operations excellence (OPEX) when implementing sustainable transformations. How successfully can you link operations excellence with the requirements of sustainable excellence (SUSEX)? How resilient are your processes and systems in terms of being up to date or being secure in a crisis situation? As evidenced by the ongoing semiconductor shortage, maritime traffic blockages caused by accidents and the simultaneous increase in online shopping, the resilience of a value-

“How companies incorporate sustainability into their processes and IT systems will be an indicator that people will use to draw conclusions about the performance and future prospects of a company.” Ingo Windshügel, Partner at MHP – Digital Supply Chain Solutions Mounting pressure to act now is encouraging decision-makers to initiate change. Their ultimate aim is to ensure that their company is prepared for the future so that they can unlock fresh potential from company processes and establish new business models. To implement a genuinely end-to-end approach, it is necessary to utilise multiple digitalisation tools – at management level and within value-creation processes. For this approach to be successful, we first need to look at how value chains have developed. Companies started implementing their first lean management approaches back when sustainability was just a nice by-product; we are now in the compliance and standards stage where sustainability is mainly characterised by regulatory dynamics. Recognising sustainability as a competitive factor means that companies can start looking ahead and designing new

creation chain is a critical success factor for companies in today’s era of global supply chains. To open up new opportunities for companies and promote growth, OPEX and SUSEX must be considered holistically based on a strategic, conceptual and systematic framework. This is already possible using a meaningful combination of various standard application solutions from SAP. The SAP solutions and the transformation approach described above can also be used to increase efficiency long term and in a way that prepares companies for the future. However, the mentioned “management gap” between formulating strategic goals for sustainable initiatives and implementing these on an operational level must be overcome. This is the only way for all stakeholders to implement an end-to-end approach. The automotive industry in particular needs holistic solutions with which it can improve supply chain transparency, control

FOR GUIDANCE ON THE ROADMAP OF SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT FROM BYPRODUCTS TO SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODELS - THIS IS WHERE CUSTOMERS NEED OUR EXPERTISE

factories and modernise IT infrastructure in order to unlock new business opportunities for sustainable mobility products and services. This is why MHP takes a holistic approach: Using standard application solutions from

An example that has already been implemented is the sustainable optimisation of global procurement transport chains: The SAP Transportation Management solution was used to re-design inbound processes within global procurement markets from a sustainability

“System-supported transport optimisation can make processes much more fluid, transparent and innovative,” Bastian Kempe, Senior Manager MHP – Digital Supply Chain Solutions SAP, we support our customers with every step, from looking at how to develop new business opportunities and services, to formulating corporate strategies and implementing these strategies at an operational level in all areas of value creation (planning, supply chain and procurement, production and logistics, as well as after sales and services). The consistency and connectivity of the individual SAP components is what guarantees a digital ecosystem, particularly in the manufacturing, sales and transportation sectors.

perspective. It was even possible to increase the transport volume at the same time. All stakeholders in the supply chain can benefit, making each one, as well as the entire network, more competitive and better prepared for the future. The services available from MHP are ready to run, field-tested and scalable. MHP is the ideal end-to-end implementation partner for your transformation to sustainable operations based on SAP standard applications.

MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH is a leading consulting company and a subsidiary of Porsche AG (81.8%).

MHP’s unique approach to consultancy is a blend of management and IT consulting. As a digitisation expert, we optimise and digitalise our customers’ processes across the entire valuecreation chain through our service divisions of Management Consulting, System Integration, Managed Services, and Digital Services and Solutions. MHP’s philosophy: Driven by Excellence

SAP´s Innovation Hubs for Industry 4.0

market, we can expect to see a decline of around 10% yearly.” Johannes adds, “We can learn a lot from early cloud adopter countries such as Switzerland, as well as in North America and Scandinavia. SAP experts, such as supply chain solution advisors, consultants, and business developers – and our partners, of course – will also guide you in helping you make the right decision. Customers often look for business cases and industry-specific best practices to find out the impact of their cloud transformation.” So, for a company starting their digital supply chain transformation 26

journey, where do they begin? Andreas answers, “Planning is almost always the best starting point, as far as the end-to-end processes are concerned. In this case, SAP experts such as consultants are involved, who analyse the initial situation and make recommendations about the next steps based on this.” With the shift from an integrated global supply chain to local production lines, Andreas says the independence of the key supply chain changes means complexities are increasing. He continues, “During the pandemic, many companies tried to maintain the status quo because they could not change their processes. The digital champions

“Planning is almost always the best starting point, as far as the end-to-end processes are concerned. In this case, SAP experts such as consultants are involved, who analyse the initial situation and make recommendations about the next steps based on this” Andreas Wagner, General Manager, Digital Supply Chain, MEE

SAP also provides SAP Innovation Hub locations and SAP Experience Centres around the world where customers can experience the products live in person or virtually. Hereby Johannes also emphasises the importance of the Innovation Hubs: “This is very beneficial for customers to experience the product in action and, above all, to get first insights and impressions of SAP’s solutions.”

was chosen because they did some very innovative and powerful demand generation events. They have a broad knowledge across all SAP solutions paired with strong expertise per solution area. Westernacher is excellent when it comes to the solution areas in logistics and warehouse management, besides having in-depth knowledge of other SAP (supply chain) solutions. Prismat are also experts in logistics, warehouse management solutions and further SAP solutions. They have a very strong footprint in all industries and customer segments.”

In terms of partner recognition, SAP has launched a ‘Diamond Initiative’ to award selected partners that have contributed to the success of customer projects, with a special appreciation award for the Digital Supply Chain (DSC) line of the business. Three partners each year are recognised for this commitment to customer projects. Last year´s winners were Valantic, Westernacher, and Prismat. Johannes says, “Valantic

However, besides the three DSC Appreciation Award 2021 winners, all SAP partners are an important part of the company and its solutions. All partners have a major role to play in the success of SAP and digital supply chain solutions. The teamwork and commitment of each and every one is nothing but amazing! Johannes adds, “It is important to mention that we have great collaboration with all partners, and that every one of them

were those early adopters. The best planning processes and a balanced supplier landscape can work towards mitigating the risks.”

has contributed a huge part to the success of SAP Digital Supply Chain. We are very grateful to accomplish something big in such a fastchanging environment.” SAP’s partners are essential given the broad customer demands to run and implement projects on time. Johannes says that this could not be achieved without the company’s

Arsim Jahii

“To drive large-scale transformation, customers and SAP work on holistic strategies and translate those into digestible operational plans” Arsim Jahii, Head of Digital Supply Chain for Switzerland

important partner network. He states, “We have a strong partner base for the supply chain to help customers validate a proposition with business use cases or see if a solution is the right one according to their industry requirements. The partners are part of a trusted advisory network for our customers to make their supply chain transformation projects successful on all levels.” Arsim Jahii is the head of Digital Supply Chain for Switzerland. He is experienced in working on end-to-end supply chain projects to enable innovation, flexibility, 28

and unleash business value. He says, “Functional leaders across various sectors must foster collaboration with an aligned flow of information for better visibility and agility. Siloes create lonely island and the prices for those are corporate inefficiencies and dissatisfied customers.” So, how does SAP win key customer projects? Arsim answers, “To drive large-scale transformation, customers and SAP work on holistic strategies and translate those into digestible operational plans. It is important to define a common and clear vision, supported by management, with clear business values attached to the

THE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OF TOMORROW At NTT DATA Business Solutions, we design, implement, manage and continuously enhance SAP solutions to make them work for companies – and for their people. When our customer DENIOS AG decided to develop a new business model – they found a strong partner in us, which combines tailored solutions and high-level expertise for maximum project success. DENIOS AG is a global leader in the handling of hazardous substances and is now focusing on new, innovative scenarios in order to continue to successfully position itself in the market. To this end, a new business model is now being developed to address the challenges faced by customers. The focus is currently on the core business, but the medium-term goal is to expand the business model to safety management as a service in order to also act as a service provider on the market. DENIOS places particular emphasis on ecologically sustainable, social and economic development.

DIRECTION FOR THE FUTURE Together with us, DENIOS has designed a digital roadmap that shows the timeline for the implementation of many new digital services. In addition, the challenge of making all knowledge about the storage of hazardous substances available digitally is to be solved. With the conception and realisation of an app on the topic of quantity testing of hazardous substances, the first digital product could be implemented. But the digitalisation of this knowledge also opened new doors for the future storage of hazardous substances.

THE INTELLIGENT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WAREHOUSE The question arose as to which innovative possibilities could now be implemented with the digitalised knowledge. The idea came up to develop a prototype for an intelligent hazardous

materials warehouse in which the most modern technologies are combined and orchestrated. In connection with the digital twin of the warehouse, the digitised knowledge about the storage of hazardous substances can now be used with the help of a digital voice assistant based on artificial intelligence to support customers in the storage of hazardous substances. The connection of the intelligent hazardous substance warehouse and the sensors installed in it was carried out using MQTT, a machine-to-machine communication that enables the transfer of data between devices. Through the integration into the SAP backend processes, all data and information are recorded. This pilot project shows how concrete added value can be achieved through the interaction of innovative technologies: New business models are created, hazardous materials can be stored in an environmentally friendly way and processes become safer.

nttdata-solutions.com

transformation. At the same time, you need to include the end-users. Scalable technology platforms are the foundation to drive global scale, but businesses need to find compromises between global scale and local requirements.”

Dominik Metzger

To drive business innovations, Arsim says that trust is the absolute foundation. He continues, “You must have a joint understanding of each other and the values both parties

“The idea (‘Showcases’) was born in 2013, with the goal of building an interactive experience for customers that reflected the motto of ‘Run Different’” Dominik Metzger, Head of Product Management – Manufacturing and Industrial Internet of Things

can bring to the table. Think outside the box about how you can solve the challenge then feasibility comes next. It is about defining engagement areas, which are future-orientated and of massive business impact, but at the same time, delivering strong ROI during the planned stages.” When it comes to experiencing SAP’s supply chain solutions in action, Dominik Metzger, Head of Product Management – Manufacturing and Industrial Internet of Things, tells us more about the interactive

‘Showcases’, built to help inspire customers to experience innovations around Industry 4.0 which are reality today, based on SAP software. He says, “The idea was born in 2013, with the goal of building an interactive experience for customers that reflected the motto of ‘Run Different’. The Showcase is now part of the Innovation Hubs for Industry 4.0, placed in Walldorf, Newtown Square, and Tokyo. They are based on a ‘hybrid system’, which provides visitors the option to visit 31

Experience Industry 4.Now Hub Find out more

the Showcase either physically at the respective SAP location, or virtually. The virtual experience combines a digital showcase on sap.com with a webcast directly into our Intelligent Factory. The team of industry experts provides an interactive tour, supported by cameras and screen sharing.” One great example of the Showcase is the IoT-enabled Kanban (a procedure for controlling production and material flow based on the material stock in production). With this, the replenishment or production of a material is triggered only when a certain quantity of the material has been consumed. As a result, material is only replenished when needed, enabling organisations to avoid out-of-stock situations or overstocking, and reducing operational cost by automatically triggering replenishment processes, without the need for human intervention. This Showcase is based on smart sensing capabilities of SAP IoT, and allows customers to see, in real time, the value of implementing such a solution. Johannes adds, “These concepts also require an innovative awareness and communication strategy. For this, we apply an intuitive social media communication strategy

concept with the support of a digital transformation expert, GeronimoNoah Hirschal, Founder and CEO of the Vienna-based agency, Digital Optimist Gmbh.” Geronimo says, “We make digitalised communication personal, because people always do business with people. At SAP, we meet with Johannes’ concept of the DSC EX.PLORE Series. Groundbreaking projects are presented in the context of an online event and narrated by key people at SAP, their customers, and partners. It is an outstanding experience that combines the virtues of storytelling with innovative supply chain content.” Johannes and Andreas conclude, “The shift from on-premise to cloud supply chain solutions and the digital transformation to a resilient end-to-end supply chain entails many potentials for all companies in all industries. Companies need to continue to transform their supply chain processes to stay as agile as early adopters, the digital champions. SAP and the strong partner ecosystem offer many best practices to prepare, plan, showcase, and implement this supply chain transformation successfully, and most importantly, sustainably.” For further information on SAP’s offerings, visit www.sap.com

Cover image: © Loopding & Digital Optimist | Article images: © Digital Optimist

H E A LT H T E C H

London has become the top hub for healthtech, as investments increase tenfold.

Europe is now the fastest-growing region globally for healthtech.

According to the latest data from London & Partners and Dealroom, the UK is driving forward the rapid growth of the global healthtech sector, with European healthtech start-ups raising $8.1 billion in 2021, up from $1.7 billion in 2016. Growing at a rate of 4.9 times in Europe, London is leading the way in healthtech investment. The findings further reveal that $51.3 billion funds were pumped 38

into global healthtech startups in 2021. Notably, this is up from 280 per cent in 2016. The data was released to coincide with the Silicon Valley Comes to the UK event series, which took place at the end of last year, bringing together investors, entrepreneurs and CEOs from the UK and the Bay Area, both physically and virtually, to discuss the role of technology in building a better future and solving the great challenges of our time.

$8.1 billion European healthtech start-ups raising $8.1 billion in 2021

“The new findings reveal that UK healthtech growth is being driven primarily by the Golden Triangle of London, Oxford and Cambridge” Growth of UK’s healthcare sector The pandemic has acted as a catalyst to an already growing healthtech sector, with investment reaching record highs in 2021. The US leads globally with $31.9 billion in venture capital (VC) investment, while the UK comes in third with $3.8 billion, which is close behind China’s $4.1 billion. The UK healthtech investment has risen from just $420 million in 2016, which is an increase of nine times, while US investment has increased by 3.4 times. 41

The new findings reveal that UK healthtech growth is being driven primarily by the Golden Triangle of London, Oxford and Cambridge, home to five universities in the world’s top 25 for life sciences and medicine, and

“Like Silicon Valley, London is a hub for AI and data programming expertise” Neelam Patel, CEO of MedCity

a world-leading hub for research and development. Total VC investment for these three key city clusters between 2016 and 2021 is $5.7 billion, accounting for over 25 per cent of European 42

healthtech investment, and 65 per cent of the UK’s over this time period. London healthtech start-ups secured $2.9 billion in funding, while Oxford’s attracted $2.2 billion, and Cambridge, $600 million.

The new hub Europe is now the fastestgrowing region globally for healthtech according to the findings, with European healthtech start-ups raising $8.1 billion in 2021, up from $1.7 billion five years ago, and growing at a rate of 4.9 times. In Europe, London is the leading hub for healthtech investment, and the fastest-growing subsector here is remote monitoring and wearables, raising $345 million at the time of the report, which is up from $17 million in 2016, an increase of 20 times. Some of the largest rounds last year involving monitoring and wearables companies included a $130 million Series C for Huma and a £58 million Series C for femtech company Elvie. Other fast-growing healthtech subsectors in London include drug 43

development with AI, home tests start-ups, and digital health insurance. Laura Citron, CEO at London & Partners, London’s business growth and destination agency, said, “Coronavirus has accelerated the use of tech and innovation to address human disease and health. Today’s

“It’s an incredibly e health investor in Lon innovation wherev partly due to the volum healthtech, deept

Matthieu Vallin, health inv

exciting time to be a ndon, with remarkable ver you look. This is me of top talent across tech and biotech”

vestor at Octopus Ventures

findings demonstrate that the UK and US are leading the way for innovation in this sector and tech hubs like London, the Bay Area and New York are key partners for collaboration. The UK’s Golden Triangle is home to world-class universities for life sciences and medicine, a deep research and development landscape and dedicated funding and

government support. These factors make London, Oxford and Cambridge a worldleading innovation hub for life sciences and healthtech.” Neelam Patel, CEO of MedCity, the life sciences cluster organisation for London, said, “Like Silicon Valley, London is a hub for AI and data programming expertise. When you combine this with the city’s academic excellence in life sciences and the UK’s actively evolving regulatory environment and unrivalled dataset, it helps to explain why London has become a world leader in healthtech. There are synergies between the UK and US markets in this respect, so we are seeing UK companies establishing a presence in the US, and US companies moving to the UK to grow in the healthtech space.” Matthieu Vallin, health investor at Octopus Ventures, said, “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a health investor in London, with remarkable innovation wherever you look. This is partly due to the volume of top talent across healthtech, deeptech and biotech all converging to create categorydefining companies. We’re also lucky to have lots of 46

brilliant incubators, early-stage investors, and growth funds, which help start-ups build their product, grow at pace, and then keep scaling into bigger markets such as the US, which is something we focus on with our own portfolio. More than ever before, founders have the ambition to build global health companies from Europe, and they now have talent and capital to make it happen.” Dr Mridula Pore, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of London-based healthtech start-up, Peppy, said, “In the UK and in the US, the pandemic has exacerbated key trends that support the traction of health tech startups like Peppy. Firstly, we’ve proven that it’s possible to work and access healthcare remotely. Secondly, employees have started to value their health and wellbeing more highly, and employers have recognised that investment in wellbeing is paid back in improved productivity and retention. Finally, we’ve seen gaps in the healthcare market widen, particularly around family, reproductive and gender-specific health.” *All figures accurate at time of report

Source: www.uktech.news 47

MEET DANNY BERRY The Vice President of HPE Pointnext Services Supply Chain answers our quickfire questions. Q. What types of functions does your supply chain organisation perform? A. The supply chain organisation consists of three integrated teams. The first team is responsible for getting spare parts to our enterprise customers; this is the backbone of the organisation. Here the goal is to get the right part to the right place at the right time, with the right quality and cost. The second team is a sales operation, selling HPE genuine authorised parts to customers who do not have active support contracts or have out-of-warranty products. The third team are our Global Integration Centres, who provide a broad range of IT integration services to customers. Q. What are the key focus areas across your organisation? A. We base our Strategy and Plans around five focus areas: Customers, Supply Chain Optimisation, Supply Chain Transformation, supporting the Big Picture – which means supporting key strategies at a HPE or HPE Pointnext Services level, and finally, People & Culture. Of these focus areas, Customers are always our #1 focus area. Ensuring we are doing the day job well to give great customer experience is always our primary concern. Q. How are digital technologies being deployed within your organisation and company? A. In simple terms – in many different ways. At a Supply Chain organisation level, we are using them to improve key operational processes, like part returns. We are using them to automate daily activities to remove laborious work for our people. We are using them to fix bad 50

quality data in our environment, to support our decision-making processes, and to design our network, for example. The deployment space is continuing to expand, but it will always be a blend of digital with traditional things like Lean process improvement work. Then at an HPE Pointnext Services level, we are very hooked into some exciting digital transformational work being done at the customer interface that we call Digital Customer Experience (DCE). Here we are utilising customer personalised portals capturing IT environmental health, support case status, technical knowledge on-demand for customer self-solve, AIenabled troubleshooting, and more. Q. How do you decide where to make these types of investments? A. We examine our business, asking ourselves, ‘Will this improve a customer’s experience? Does this make a team member’s job easier? Does it help us improve a key metric?’ If it doesn’t pass these types of test questions, it does not get done. As business leaders, we have all seen pretty slides that change nothing. None of the leaders I speak to across the industry have time for innovation for the sake of innovation – it has got to make a real difference. Q. What are the critical success factors in this work? A. Bottomline – our people. It’s our people who develop strategies, drive the projects and change programmes, run the daily processes, come up with the smart ideas. Our people are the foundation of everything we do.

INTERVIEWEE BIO anny Berry is Vice President of HPE Pointnext Services Supply Chain. He is responsible for leading the spare parts management for HPE products, spare part revenue sales, and HPE’s Global Integration Centres. Danny’s organisation delivers parts 24x7x365 to customers located in 170+ countries in time-critical situations, for millions of customer service contracts. His organisation enables customers to have a worry-free environment for their critical IT infrastructure and achieve their business outcomes. He has served in a variety of executive and managerial roles throughout his 25+ years, first with HP Inc, and then HPE. He has spent time in supply chain, manufacturing, engineering,

consulting, sales operations, and customer solution centre roles across PC’s, Printers, Storage, Networking, and Pointnext Technology Services. Danny holds an MSc in Systems Engineering, a PhD in Supply Chain Management, and an Executive MBA. He is a strong supporter of research and academia, and has published in a broad range of international journals. Danny maintains a very active interest in people development and in deploying real innovations – without the hype.

You can read the full interview with Danny Berry in our March edition of Digital Innovation.

V I RT UA L R E A L I T Y

What is the

Everything we know so far a

Metaverse?

about this new cyber world!

The Metaverse is the buzzword of the moment – a bit like the ‘internet’ back in the 1970s. lthough the concept of this new cyber world is likely to evolve, it is difficult to imagine what it will look like without laying down some basic principles. Broadly speaking, the technologies that make up the metaverse include virtual reality – characterised by persistent virtual worlds that continue to exist even when you're not there – as well as augmented reality that combines aspects of the digital and physical worlds. However, it doesn't require that those spaces be exclusively accessed via VR or AR. A virtual world that can be accessed through PCs, game consoles, and even phones, could be metaversal. It also translates to a digital economy, where users can create,

buy and sell goods. And, in the more idealistic visions of the metaverse, it's interoperable, allowing you to take virtual items like clothes or cars from one platform to another. Right now, most platforms have virtual identities, avatars and inventories that are tied to just one platform, but a metaverse might allow you to create a persona that you can take everywhere, as easily as you can copy your profile picture from one social network to another. How does this differ from World of Warcraft, for example, where players can buy and sell goods in a persistent virtual world, or Fortnite, with its virtual experiences like concerts and exhibits? You can even strap on an Oculus headset and be in

"Broadly speaking, the technologies that make up the metaverse include virtual reality – characterised by persistent virtual worlds that continue to exist even when you're not there"

your own personal virtual home. Isn’t the metaverse just some new kind of video games? Well, yes and no. Saying that Fortnite is the metaverse would be a bit like saying Google is the internet. Even if you could, theoretically, spend large chunks of time in Fortnite, socialising,

"If VR and AR headsets become comfortable and cheap enough for people to wear on a daily basis, then perhaps the idea of this virtual world could be closer than we think" buying things, learning, and playing games, that doesn't necessarily mean that it encompasses the entire scope of the metaverse. On the other hand, just as it would be accurate to say that Google builds parts of the internet – from physical data centres to security layers – it's similarly safe to say that Fortnite 56

creator Epic Games is building parts of the metaverse. And it isn't the only company doing so. Some of that work will be done by tech giants like Microsoft and Facebook, while many other assorted companies including Nvidia, Unity, Roblox, and even Snap, are all working on building the infrastructure that might one day become the metaverse. Will the metaverse include fake houses where you can invite your friends to hang out in? Facebook has launched Meta, which has developed a virtual home for the future, while Microsoft seems to think it could involve virtual meeting rooms to train new employees or chat with co-workers remotely. Meta put out a presentation on the metaverse, showcasing a scenario in which a young woman is sitting on her couch scrolling through Instagram when she sees a video a friend posted of a concert that's happening halfway across the world. The video then cuts to the concert, where the woman appears in a hologram. She's able to make eye contact with her friend who is physically

there, they're both able to hear the concert, and they can see floating text hovering above the stage. But, when tech companies show fictionalised videos of their visions of the future, they frequently tend to gloss over just how people will interact with the metaverse. VR headsets are still very clunky, and many people experience motion sickness or physical pain if they wear them for too long. Augmented reality glasses face a similar problem, on top of the not-insignificant issue of figuring out how people can wear them out in public. Another of Meta's demos shows characters floating in space – is this person strapped to an immersive aerial rig or are they just sitting at a desk? Does a person represented by a hologram have a headset on, and if so, how is their face being scanned? These artistic impressions of what the future could be do not necessarily account for every technical question. However, we can start to get a feel for which aspects of the

WATCH Everything Facebook revealed about the Metaverse in 11 minutes

various visions of the metaverse could actually be reality one day. If VR and AR headsets become comfortable and cheap enough for people to wear on a daily basis, then perhaps the idea of this virtual world could be closer than we think. The paradox of defining the metaverse is that in order for 60

it to be the future, you have to define away the present. We already have MMOs that are essentially entire virtual worlds, digital concerts, video calls with people from all over the world, online avatars, and commerce platforms. So, in order to sell these things as a new vision of the world, there has to be some element of it that's new.

It's tempting to compare the proto-metaverse ideas we have today to the early internet and assume everything will get better and progress in a linear fashion, but that's not a given. There's no guarantee people will even want to hang out in a virtual office or play games in this new cyber space, much less whether VR and AR tech will ever

become seamless enough to be as common as smartphones and computers are today. It may even be the case that any real metaverse would be little more than some cool VR game and digital avatar. Only time will tell. Source: Wired

WOMEN IN TECH

LEADING

Europe’s biggest tech event, Web Sum first time in its 10-year history, there w

G LADIES

mmit, returned last year, and for the were more women than men in attendance.

Having finally held its first in-person event in two years, Web Summit drew over 42,750 attendees from 128 countries to the Portuguese capital last year, representing leading companies redefining the global tech industry.

In what was said to be the biggest tech gathering since the start of the pandemic, for the first time in its history, the event attracted more women than men. Some 50.5 per cent of attendees were women, according to the organisers, with female representation having grown from 46.3 per cent in 2019, and 45.8 per cent in 2020, respectively.

WATCH the Web Summit 20 Opening Night

Figures regarding the conference were shared by its founder and CEO, Paddy Cosgrave. He said that by the opening night, there had already been 500,000 connection requests sent in the Web Summit app, with thousands of founders having the chance to meet with investors to make deals. The event addressed internet technology, developed new generation tech, the startup ecosystem and venture capital, representing all levels spanning the global tech industry,

from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Hot topics among the most discussed issues during the course of the event included AI, security, blockchain and cryptocurrencies. An opportunity to network, learn and be encouraged by tech leaders, policymakers and gamechangers across all industries touched by tech, Ana Morro Chávez, Nina Ann Walters and Roberta Messuti were just some of the female attendees.

021

"Hot topics among the most discussed issues during the course of the event included AI, security, blockchain and cryptocurrencies"

ANA MORRO CHÁVEZ Co-founder & Managing Director, AirWayBill

product, if you’re an investor seeking opportunities, Web Summit is the marketplace of the tech community. We never want to miss it. “Last year, I got to chat with Jaden Smith, who’s a really nice guy and such a great ambassador for environmental sustainability. There’s always a chance of crossing paths with someone like this at Web Summit.”

“Since we exhibited in previous years at Web Summit, our motivations were quite different this year as general attendees. It was important for us to be present as part of this ecosystem, and maintain – as well as create – new connections. We also had a lot more freedom to check out a lot of start-ups and expand our network within our sector. “Also, as is always needed as a start-up, one of our objectives was to fundraise for next year. We wanted to speak with investors and some specific people. If you’re a general attendee there to find out what’s happening in tech, if you’re a start-up to showcase your 68

NINA ANN WALTERS Managing Director, Expandise

“Our company helps companies who want to expand into other countries, so there’s definitely an incentive for us to attend a global event like Web Summit. I’d been told that the attendees at Web Summit are of a much higher quality than other events, and I was very interested to see if that was true.

T w 4

F v 70

“The quality of people I was being matched with was very high – generally C-level – and from all across the world. I probably covered about a dozen countries in total. The things we were talking about were 95 per cent real business questions that we could continue offline, rather than just filler small talk. “I also thought the line-up of speakers was very strong. I wouldn’t be the biggest fan of celebrities by any stretch, but I was interested to see how some of the speakers at Web Summit would fit into a business and entrepreneurs conference where you wouldn’t normally expect to see them. “I’ve made a few connections who are potential clients – one girl runs a start-up in Tunisia that needs help expanding into Europe. We also made a few potential partners, so the networking was really beneficial for us in many ways.”

The next Web Summit event will take place on 1st to 4th November, 2022.

For further information or to pre-register, visit www.websummit.com

ROBERTA MESSUTI Digital Wellbeing Coach

“My main goal was to get inspiration and connect with people. Since we (were) in lockdown, I really felt I wanted to connect with people. We’re all in the same boat, and it was nice to speak with passionate people who are all interested in building a better future together. As a digital wellbeing coach, I was really interested to hear Arianna Huffington and Jessica Alba. Both talks were so empowering for women and inspiring to hear. “The pleasure of meeting these new people was so great. In the very beginning, I thought three minutes was nothing, but it actually felt quite natural, and there was a nice momentum moving from one person to the next.” 71

B U S I N E S S I N T E RV I E W

DARIJA PIZENT, DIRECTOR OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT ATLANTIC GRUPA

arija Pizent is Director of Supply Chain Management at Atlantic Grupa, a Croatian multinational company, focused on the production, development, sales and distribution of food and beverage products, with market presence in over 40 countries around the world.

up by our IT department, leads the transformation across logistics and other departments within the group. We started the journey because we were struggling with various challenges that came from both outside and inside the company.

“For many years, the only strategy for logistics was to lower costs, but the challenges Darija is responsible for all we faced grew bigger, logistics operations, as well particularly the increasing as the operating purchasing sales demand, seasonality, department for the entire people leaving the country region of Croatia, having and reducing the availability recently undergone a digital of labour, and the fact that transformation of Atlantic our processes were not Grupa’s operations. She reflects, “We started our digital standardised. We have a large network of customers, with transformation in 2017, and it different sales channels. We is still very much an ongoing have direct delivery to central program, which we call our warehouses, as well smaller Digital Agenda Program. The Digital Agenda Council, headed outlets, so there are lots of

exceptions in our processes. Sales in volume during peak season can increase by as much as eight times for some brands (like drinks) compared to regular sales in the rest of the year. We needed to standardise processes and get better visibility in order to be more efficient.” Darija and her team had strong support from the IT department and management board, the starting point being to find the gaps which could bring the highest and fastest productivity to warehouse operations. Darija explains, “The warehouse was our main focus. We started with a voice picking project, which was very successful, giving a 20 per cent increase in productivity, and a 10 per cent decrease in picking errors. But, our biggest achievement has been the change in mindset, not just for the workers in the warehouse, but also for the board. This gave us the trust and push to move forward with our digital transformation.” Voice picking is a technology from Honeywell, which is used

by pickers in the warehouse. Before its introduction, workers used scanners, requiring manual task management, with very little room for optimisation. Darija says, “We set up the project with Honeywell in less than 60 days. It is a fully customised solution that was integrated quickly into our warehouse management system, covering our local language. The workers use headphones and microphones instead of scanners, picking up orders on their headphones. We are the first user in our region – our pickers couldn’t believe how much faster they are able to work!” The voice picking technology opened up a new job position in the department, which saw one of the female pickers upgraded to the role, supporting her co-workers with her new knowledge. And that created even more trust from the workers and increased their engagement. The company was very aware of change management issues, but they carried out this project really carefully, giving the workers changes to adopt. Darija says that the learning curve has also decreased by 90 per cent. She adds, “All of the new workers that come to work during the summer season used to undergo training for one or two weeks to get to know the system. With voice picking, they are able to start on their own after just two days.” 76

Some of the challenges that have arisen during the transformation on certain projects have come from customers not wanting to change the status quo. Darija explains, “We have contracts with customers that started a long time ago, and many of them did not want to change, so there was real reluctance on that side. As we were so successful with our first project, it was easy to move on to others, such as a new paperless application for delivery drivers that we call Digital Shipment, giving full transparency of the order process. We found our customers did not want electronic invoices – they wanted a piece of paper. When Covid hit, it was much easier for us to transform to digital, even though we had been trying to do so for two years beforehand!” Darija says that collaboration with customers has been one of tests along the way, but during Covid, everyone was in the same boat. She continues, “Covid strengthened relationships with our suppliers and customers. For many years, we struggled with a wide portfolio and high stock levels. But, during Covid, we could not reply on our ABC strategy – some of our main products with the highest turnover were standing in the same place for three months, while some C category brands were sought-after during this time. We therefore needed better collaboration with our suppliers

"Every minute in the warehouse process counts, and every minute can be made shorter" to make a new assortment list and avoid any stock issues. In addition, from the operative side, we wanted to avoid blocking on inbound, so implementing the Yard Management System helped both sides, suppliers and us.” In short, is it fair to say that Covid accelerated Atlantic Grupa’s transformation? Darija answers, “Definitely. When Covid first struck, our main objective was to keep people healthy, maintain stable operations, and not have to lock down the warehouse. We worked

throughout the whole of the pandemic. In March, when people started to stockpile, we went more than 15 per cent over our budgeted planned sales, and we changed the shifts in the warehouse to have one team on standby should the first team go down with Covid. We were able to do all this because of the productivity increases we had made. Even though the focus is back on the cost of logistics, we have the support and experience to know that the optimisation will come if we are able to move on with the rest of the transformation.” 77

THE MOST IMPORTANT VOICE IS YOURS.

Getting the most out of your business begins with a dialogue. It’s our business to understand yours. And when you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen. Visit sps.honeywell.com.

"Voice picking is a technology from Honeywell, which is used by pickers in the warehouse" When Darija started looking into the warehouse processes, she undertook a detailed breakdown of the structure of each process in order to increase efficiency. She explains, “Every minute in the warehouse process counts, and every minute can be made shorter. After voice picking, we implemented cycle counting. It is a form of inventory control. We used to do one physical inventory at the end of the year,

with manual counting of each product, and we had to shut down the warehouse for three days and three nights. Cycle counting uses voice picking technology to count A articles each day, B articles every month, and C articles every quarter. At the end of the year, we can run our annual inventory in just 15 minutes.” Fully customised yard management software controls all inbounds in the 79

"We optimised the layout and introduced our autonomous mobile robots from our partner, Gideon Brothers" warehouse, which has replaced a manual Excel spreadsheet. Darija adds, “We now have a system that is connected to our main SAP system, offering total visibility on suppliers’ delivery and inbound. All these changes have made the organisation of the inbound process easier and much more efficient. Our next logical step was to implement a digital control system for our quality control standards, starting from the inbound process.”

to work smarter. Gideon Brothers is a Croatian company, so we did not struggle with any language barriers. The first thing we did was prove that the robots were safe. We tested them for a few weeks and everyone in the warehouse was on board to test them, giving the workers the chance to adopt and accept them.

“After proving their safety, we moved on to testing the transport of goods in the warehouse from position A to position B. We didn’t pause our operations in the warehouse for In 2018, Atlantic Grupa moved deployment and the support from into its own warehouse, having Gideon Brothers was extensive. They struggled with insufficient capacity stayed with us the whole day and over the eight 3PL warehouses. night to get those robots working Darija continues, “We built our new smoothly. We tested the heaviest distribution centre at the end of pallet at almost 900kg, which the 2018. It has become a polygon for robots were able to handle, proving testing all our new technologies. that they were efficient at easily We optimised the layout and introduced our autonomous mobile moving products from position A to position B. The robots are able robots from our partner, Gideon to help humans in this way, rather Brothers. Their AMRs are cuttingthan replace them. The technology edge technology, powered by AI also introduced a new job role and computer vision. It is a real within logistics, working directly privilege to work on this project. Motivation for this came again from with the robots, as well as assisting the lack of labour and need for more co-workers in their use. With new job roles and new knowledge, the efficiency, and we saw AMR not importance of logistics grows.” replacing people but helping them 80

Forming partnerships with likeminded companies such as Honeywell and Gideon Brothers has been one of the keys to Atlantic Grupa’s success. Darija elaborates, “Partnerships are really important because our partners have the knowledge of the technology, and with our knowledge of the operations, it’s a win-win for both sides, where we learn from each other and develop even more.” Darija’s forward strategy for 2022 is centred around a continuous improvement mindset. She enthuses, “We need to continuously improve our processes. Just because

we have implemented something does not mean it is done. We are working on a new project on the warehouse side, as well as focusing on collaborating with other departments to have cross-functional KPIs, and continuing

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to nurture collaboration with customers and suppliers. On the operation side, we will be trialling drones in our warehouse to count stock, test more efficient outbound control processes, and we have just launched a new project with Gideon Brothers. We want to integrate their robots into more warehouse processes, not just for inbound, but in picking etc, to see if this is feasible for the future.”

"We pushed the boundaries by continuing to develop during this time, which is something that fills me with pride" On a final note, Darija is pleased that logistics and supply chain have been recognised as having such an important role within Atlantic Grupa. She concludes, “Covid did not stop us, and what is crucial is that we continued working. After the initial crisis stage of a month or two, operations were not affected. We pushed the boundaries by continuing to develop during this time, which is something that fills me with pride.” For further information, visit www.atlanticgrupa.com 83

5G NEWS

Volkswagen has 5G standalone production o

launched a local network for its operations.

VOLKSWAGEN HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS TAKING A FURTHER STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF FULLY NETWORKED SMART FACTORIES. local 5G private network, dubbed ‘campus network’, is now available at its main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, which is initially covering the main production development centre and the pilot hall. The pilot project will test whether the 5G technology meets the demanding requirements of vehicle production, with a view to developing this for industrial series production in the future. A dedicated 5G radio frequency will be used to safeguard secure, delay-free transmission of data. The Transparent Factory in Dresden has also put a 86

so-called ‘5G island’ into operation. Volkswagen undertakes set-up and operation of the 5G infrastructure itself in a move designed to build up competitive expertise in using this important technology of the future and ensure data security. Christian Vollmer, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand responsible for Production and Logistics, said, “In implementing our accelerate strategy, we are working at full speed to transform our Volkswagen sites into smart factories. Our goal is to continuously optimise our production and make it even more efficient and flexible.

“WE BELIEVE THAT 5G TECHNOLOGY HAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR INNOVATION” Christian Vollmer, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand responsible for Production and Logistics

“EFFICIENT WIRELESS COMMUNICATION IN REAL TIME WILL BE CRUCIAL FOR FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION IN THE FUTURE” Beate Hofer, CIO of the Volkswagen Group

“We believe that 5G technology has great potential for innovation, from the use of intelligent robots and driverless transportation systems, to networked control of plant and machinery in real time, up to wireless software flashing of manufactured vehicles.”

REAL-TIME DATA TRANSFER One scenario to be tested in the pilot phase under real-life laboratory conditions in Wolfsburg is the wireless upload of data to manufactured vehicles. With ever-higher levels of digitisation and fully connected vehicles, the production process requires large amounts of data to be transmitted to the cars. 5G makes it possible to perform this much more quickly and at any time during production. Indeed, as there are already around 5,000 robots at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, as well as many other machines and systems, secure, delayfree transmission of data will be required in the future to control and monitor these.

Beate Hofer, CIO of the Volkswagen Group, explained, “Efficient wireless communication in real time will be crucial for flexible production in the future. 5G has the potential to be one such driver of the Industrial Internet of Things. Our aim is therefore to build up extensive experience in the operation and industrial use of 5G technology.”

IN PARTNERSHIP Volkswagen is using Nokia network equipment for the 5G pilot network. For the campus network in Wolfsburg, the company applied for and was allocated a private radio frequency at 3.7 to 3.8 GHz with 100 MHz bandwidth by the Federal Network Agency. Exclusive spectrum is a key enabler for 5G campus operations at the manufacturing site. The deployment of Nokia DAC offers reliable high-bandwidth and low-latency connectivity for sensors, machines, vehicles and other equipment. Initial use cases that are being tested include wireless upload of data to manufactured 90

“BY DEPLOYING PRIVATE WIRELESS TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP ITS POTENTIAL IN MANUFACTURING, VOLKSWAGEN UNDERSCORES ITS LEADING POSITION IN LEVERAGING DIGITALISATION TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY” Chris Johnson, Head of Global Enterprise business for Nokia

vehicles and intelligent networking of robots and wireless assembly tools. The deployment also ensures that all data remains on the campus, processed at the network edge in real time, giving Volkswagen full control. Dr Klaus-Dieter Tuchs, Network Planning at Volkswagen, said, “Predictable wireless performance and the realtime capabilities of 5G have great potential for smart factories in the not91

so-distant future. With this pilot deployment, we are exploring the possibilities 5G has to offer and are building our expertise in operating and using 5G technology in an industrial context.” Chris Johnson, Head of Global Enterprise business for Nokia, added, “Nokia is a worldwide leader in private wireless technology for Industry 4.0 digital transformation proven by over 380 large enterprise customer deployments, of which more than 75 incorporate 5G. “By deploying private wireless to explore and develop its potential in manufacturing, Volkswagen underscores its leading position in leveraging digitalisation to enhance efficiency and productivity. We are delighted to support this effort with the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud and our extensive experience in private wireless networks.” For further information on Nokia’s network, visit www.nokia.com Source: www.5gradar.com

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Scale up Driving forward the next generation of European tech giants

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A RT I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E

With fear of robots taking over jobs, how can we collaborate with machines to be more efficient?

FOR YEARS, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ADVANCES IN ROBOTICS LEADING TO LOSS OF JOBS, BUT AI IS UNABLE TO STEAL YOUR JOB IF YOU LEARN TO WORK ALONGSIDE IT hat is unique about AI is that we can program it to do things we are unable to do ourselves, such as quickly processing vast amounts of data or training it to carry out specific tasks. Where human intelligence is required is when it comes to being more creative, adaptive, or using our intuition. Even in the future, there will still be plenty of things that humans can do better than robots. So, by combining both forms of intelligence, we can provide a better outcome than either can achieve on its own. This is what

is known as ‘collaborative intelligence’. Collaborative intelligence characterises multi-agent, distributed systems, where each agent, human or machine is autonomously contributing to a problemsolving network. It is the premise of CSIRO’s new Collaborative Intelligence (CINTEL) Future Science Platform, which aims to maximise benefits of an amalgamated human and machine intelligence. Essentially, AI systems designed to work with a

human element are assumed to offer better results in cases of complex problems that display changeable contexts that are not easy to define, as compared to those developed to work independently. The project will design a dynamic and robot human-robot collaboration, allowing humans and robots to react to environmental changes in real time and help them make decisions together. The technology will be useful in situations like rescue missions, which urge dynamic situation awareness and mechanisms that assure a collaborative human-robot dialogue throughout. CINTEL leader, Dr Cécile Paris, said, “Rescue missions are often ill-defined and dynamic, and the humans must use their own knowledge and skills, like reasoning, intuition, adaptation and experience, to identify what the robots should be doing. CINTEL will investigate how humans can fully utilise their unique skillset in collaboration with the robots for successful outcomes.” The purpose of the CINTEL initiative, according to Dr Paris, is to take use of the 100

“IN CYBERSECURITY AND COMPUTERS COUL IDENTIFY WHICH OF THE CYBERCRIMINALS ARE

Y SETTINGS, HUMANS LD WORK TOGETHER TO E MANY THREATS FROM E THE MOST URGENT”

fundamental differences between human and machine intelligence in order to achieve the best results. She added, “We’re used to hearing about machines competing with humans in games like chess. But what isn’t as well-known is that humans collaborating with AI have proven superior to both the best AI systems and human chess players. Human intelligence is creative and adaptable, while machine intelligence is more specific and able to handle vast amounts of data. “Collaborative intelligence moves beyond the idea of machines replacing people or even just ‘keeping people in the loop’, aiming instead to unlock completely new capability by creating teams that maximise the benefits of both types of intelligence.”

CHECKMATE While chess has been used in the past to illustrate AIhuman competition, it also provides an example of collaborative intelligence. In 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue chess computer was pitted 101

against grandmaster and reigning world champion Garry Kasparov, having lost to him the previous year. But, this time, it won. This illustrates what is unique about AI – we can program it to do things we cannot do ourselves, such as beat a world champion. However, humans are not rendered obsolete. In fact, human chess players collaborating with AI have proven superior 102

to both the best AI systems and human players. And while such ‘freestyle’ chess requires both excellent human skill and AI technology, the best results don’t come from simply combining the best AI with the best grandmaster. The process through which they collaborate is crucial. So, for many problems – particularly those that involve

complex, variable and hardto-define contexts – we’re likely to get better results if we design AI systems explicitly to work with human partners, and give humans the skills to interpret AI systems.

LANE KEEPING A simple example of how machines and people are already working together is

found in the safety features of modern cars. Lane keep assist technology uses cameras to monitor lane markings and will adjust the steering if the car appears to be drifting out of its lane. However, if it senses the driver is actively steering away, it will desist so the human remains in charge (and the AI continues to assist in the new lane). This combines the strengths 103

Pictured: Human operator (top) providing mission goals and supervision to a team of robots during a DARPA Subterranean Challenge deployment inside a natural cave system. (Photo credits Katrina Lo Surdo)

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of a computer, such as limitless concentration, with those of the human, such as knowing how to respond to unpredictable events. There is potential to apply similar approaches to a range of other challenging problems. In cybersecurity settings, humans and computers could work together to identify which of the many threats from cybercriminals are the most urgent. Similarly, in biodiversity science, collaborative intelligence could be used to make sense of massive numbers of specimens housed in biological collections.

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS We know enough about collaborative intelligence to say it has massive potential, but it is a new field of research. CSIRO’s CINTEL program thus addresses four foundations of collaborative intelligence:

1. Collaborative workflows and processes – collaborative intelligence requires rethinking workflow and processes, to ensure humans and machines complement each other 105

2. Situation awareness and understanding intent – working towards the same goals and ensuring humans understand the current progress of a task

3. Trust – collaborative intelligence systems will not work without people trusting the machines. We must understand what trust means in different contexts, and how to establish and maintain trust

4. Communication – the better the communication between humans and the machine, the better the collaboration. How do we ensure both understand each other? Whilst there are currently more questions than answers, this field is still very much in its infancy. We are yet to fully understand how we can implement collaborative intelligence to improve outcomes, but this is an excellent starting point. Source: thenextweb.com 106

“THE BETTER THE CO AND THE MACHINE, T

OMMUNICATION BETWEEN HUMANS THE BETTER THE COLLABORATION” 107

ENVIRONMENT

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hat, however, is about to change, as we’re on the cusp of a new era of disruption – an environmental revolution that is being led by Europe.

corporations publicly aiming for significant, ambitious emission targets, some of the world’s most active organisations in addressing climate change are based in Europe.

Across the continent, in both public and private sectors, organisations are actively seeking solutions to address the sustainability emergency we face. From the European Union’s Green Deal and its rulebook on what constitutes sustainable investment, to national governments and major

But, perhaps more importantly, the general public is committed to climate action in Europe. One report by the European Environmental Bureau revealed that 94 per cent of Europeans say environmental protection is important to them personally, with 33 per cent

of Europeans say environmental protection is important to them personally

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believing that the most effective way of tackling environmental problems is to change the way we consume. This is helping to create a significant market for environmentally-sensitive products and services. It is all contributing to a vibrant ecosystem, where new products are actively sought after. Large corporations alone cannot meet the demand, and this is giving start-ups a major opportunity to both prosper and make an impact. And they are coming at the sustainability issue from all angles. From banking and grocery delivery to waste management and shipping, there’s a host of ambitious businesses seeking to tackle the defining challenges of our time.

Take, for instance, DeepSea, which specialises in using artificial intelligence to improve vessel performance monitoring and optimisation in the shipping industry. Based in Athens, it gives fleet owners and shipping companies the ability to track 112

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vessel emissions and take action to reduce fuel consumption. With so many of the products we buy transported by sea, DeepSea is helping to improve the sustainability of a major part of the global supply chain. Or there’s The Modern Milkman, a grocery delivery service headquartered in Manchester. It works with local farmers to provide a range of groceries to customers, all in innovative recyclable or returnable (and plastic-free!) packaging. Its founders were inspired to do their part to solve the plastic crisis in our oceans after watching David Attenborough’s Blue Planet, whereupon they made a commitment to be completely plastic-free. As well as growing rapidly across the UK, the company has also recently attracted investment from the US venture capital firm Insight Partners, which counts Twitter, Shopify and Hello Fresh among its previous investments.

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Thirdly, Berlin-based Tomorrow is a digital bank that wants to make it easy for people to have a positive impact with their finances. Whereas many banks invest in fossil fuels and other environmentallyunfriendly resources, Tomorrow has committed to only investing in social, sustainable and ethical bonds. In doing so, these bonds finance a variety of projects and causes that contribute to improving life on the planet. Its stated aim is to be Europe’s largest sustainable bank, and since launching in 2018, it has invested nearly €20 million in sustainable projects, saving more than 28 million trees and attracting 72,000 customers.

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What about the impact of waste? The food and drinks industry, for example, produces huge amounts of it, while at the same time, we have massive issues with hunger and poor nutrition in economically deprived populations. The French company Phenix uses technology for good in solving the problem of wasted, unsold food products. Its services include a platform that connects producers and retailers with non-profit organisations and charities to get unsold food to those most in need, a consumer-facing app that alerts individuals to reduced prices on unsold products, and a supermarket chain selling food that does not meet the standards of mass distribution. As a result, in 2020, it saved the equivalent of 44 million meals from being thrown away. These are businesses driven not just by commercial success; they are missionbased and striving to deliver change across all parts of life in Europe.

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There is a huge groundswell of enthusiasm for having an impact today. Founded in 2006, ETF Partners is Europe's authentic leader in sustainable investment. Each year, the company has more than a thousand start-ups contact them, and more start-ups than ever before are coming forward. ETF Partners are seeing double to what they saw just 10 years ago, and all of these start-ups are focused on driving sustainable change.

climate change is an increasingly urgent crisis. Technological innovation is critical in helping us to solve big problems such as this. Indeed, urgency during the pandemic drove the development of vaccines far faster than people ever thought possible. It is a lesson that needs to be applied to the climate revolution – we need governments, corporations, scientists, entrepreneurs and the public all committed to making sustainable, lasting change.

There is such great momentum developing, but we still need to try harder, as

The environmental revolution is happening, and Europe is leading the way.

Source: www.euronews.com

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D I A R Y D AT E S

Our rundown of the top tech events for 2022.

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e have witnessed a series of virtual technology events for the last couple of years, owing to the pandemic. But, many events that got cancelled or conducted virtually are planning an inperson comeback for 2022. So, which are our top picks for the year ahead? Whether you wish to hear from interesting guest speakers, network with industry experts, or catch up on the newest advancements, we bring you the best European tech events to help fulfil your business goals. 123

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS (MWC) 28TH FEBRUARY TO 3RD MARCH, 2022 | BARCELONA, SPAIN

MWC Barcelona is the world’s most influential event for the connectivity industry. It is where world-leading companies and trailblazers share the latest thought leadership about the progression and future of connectivity. And it’s the best place for networking opportunities with mobile and tech industry influencers. Attended by global mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, vendors, and content owners, MWC Barcelona is the place to be seen, exhibit ground-breaking products and technologies, and make remarkable connections with senior decision makers, creators, and innovators in the industry. With over 1,000 exhibitors from 140 countries, previous keynote speakers have included none other than Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.

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CLOUDFEST

22ND TO 24TH MARCH, 2022 | RUST, GERMANY

Set in the grounds of a theme park, there are plenty of opportunities to work and play hard at this unmissable tech conference! The number one internet infrastructure event in the world, connecting the global cloud computing industry, CloudFest returns for 2022 to deliver an even bigger, more engaging live event experience – with three key themes. The first, called ‘The Intelligent Edge’, analyses the industry’s next steps in the wake of recent global events. ‘Our Digital Future’ seeks to ascertain what the new status quo will look like, while ‘The Sustainable Cloud’ focuses on eco-friendly ways forward for cloud-based businesses. Featuring a packed agenda of inspiring talks from industry leaders, with former speakers including Steve Wozniak, Edward Snowden, and the father of the Java programming language James Gosling, CloudFest offers the unique opportunity to forge new partnerships, share deep knowledge, and revel in one of the best parties the industry is likely to see! 125

IMPACT SUMMIT MAY 2022 | DETAILS TBC

Impact Summit is Europe’s leading purpose-led business event – an annual gathering for those who dream of a thriving global economy that puts people and planet at its very heart. From entrepreneurs to executives, educators to business leaders, Impact Summit provides a platform to the people shaking things up, changing the status quo, and using purpose-driven business models as a means of tackling global challenges. As sustainability becomes an increasingly crucial focal point, companies looking to shape a more environmentally and socially responsible future will find inspiration at this one-of-a-kind event. Plus, those looking for long-term professional relationships can join the accompanying FutureX Plus community to receive year-round support and connect with global business leaders tackling the planet’s biggest challenges. 126

SOUTH SUMMIT

8TH TO 10TH JUNE, 2022 | MADRID, SPAIN

A gathering of the tech industry’s biggest disruptors, South Summit is a hub for innovators who wish to instate a different business world based on more sustainable practices. With a vision to shape the future via initiative, entrepreneurship, open innovation and business opportunities, attendees become part of a high-value ecosystem comprising investors, start-ups and larger corporations. The highlight of the event is the South Summit 100, a competition where selected start-ups can network with investors and form new relationships with potential clients, with a focus on crafting alliances that are useful year-round.

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LONDON TECH WEEK

13TH TO 17TH JUNE, 2022 | LONDON, UK

On a mission to build a better, more inclusive digital world, London Tech Week gathers the world’s most inspirational founders, global leaders, senior investors and rising stars to collaborate and discuss the vital role of technology on society. The festival’s purpose is to showcase how tech is transforming both business and society by driving important conversations around transformation, diversity and innovation. Focused on connection building, London Tech Week also aims to increase diversity in the tech scene. Last year’s speakers alone included twice as many female CEOs as male, in what was a massive move for inclusivity. If you are interested in seeing how technology can transform both business and society, this is the event for you!

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VIVA TECHNOLOGY

15TH TO 18TH JUNE, 2022 | PARIS, FRANCE

Billed as Europe’s biggest start-up and tech event, Viva Technology saw a staggering reach of over 119 million people last year. Whilst it’s continuing its hybrid offering in 2022, those joining in person will be amongst 26,000 tech leaders coming together for inspiration and to network with the industry’s biggest and brightest start-ups. With an impressive roster of past speakers, previous attendees have enjoyed talks from Apple CEO Tim Cook and co-founders of well-known organisations such as Slack, Canva, and Klarna. An ideal opportunity for those looking to boost their profile, the conference is home to several exciting challenges and the chance to pitch to investors in a high-stakes accelerator contest.

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THE NEXT WEB CONFERENCE

16TH TO 17TH JUNE, 2022 | AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

Organisers are working hard behind the scenes to make The Next Web Conference 2022 even bigger and bolder, with more speakers, more workshops, more businesses, more networking, and more attendees than ever before. Claimed to be the best breeding ground for tech superstars outside of San Francisco, the conference uses AI to pair delegates and make suggestions for more meaningful meetings. Expect to rub shoulders with international tech executives, venture capitalists, policymakers, authors, start-ups, and scale-ups, during the two days of business. Boasting a jam-packed schedule of workshops, keynote speeches and seminars, attendees can benefit from video replays of any sessions they miss. The perfect mix of business, inspiration, actionable information and fun, tech companies in the market for investment or hiring new talent should schedule a trip to the Dutch capital in June. 130

IFA

2ND TO 6TH SEPTEMBER, 2022 | BERLIN, GERMANY

The largest tech conference for consumer and home electronics companies, IFA is returning to the German capital for another bumper-filled edition in 2022. Part trade show and part conference, this event attracts over 5000 media outlets from around the world, presenting the latest products and innovations in the heart of Europe’s most important regional market. The main meeting place for key retailers, buyers and industry experts, visitors can explore emerging trends and celebrate the premieres of the newest technologies taking the world by storm.

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IOT TECH EXPO

20TH TO 21ST SEPTEMBER, 2022 | AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

Europe’s leading IoT conference and event, IoT Tech Expo promises two days of top-quality content and innovative thought leadership discussions encompassing the IoT ecosystem. Exploring the latest developments, innovations and best practices within the Internet of Things and the impact it has on industries, this conference is ideally suited to the ambitious enterprise technology professional seeking to explore and evaluate cutting-edge thought leadership topics and valuable strategies to drive businesses forward. Or, perhaps you are in the process of making investment and strategy decisions, or building and executing pioneering projects within your organisation? Bringing together over 5,000 attendees to analyse the latest challenges and opportunities within the Internet of Things ecosystem, there will be live demos, fireside chats, expert panels, and the chance to mingle with some of the industry’s biggest names.

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AI & BIG DATA EXPO

1ST TO 2ND DECEMBER, 2022 | LONDON, UK

The preeminent exhibition of AI and data science returns to London in December. A showcase of next-generation technologies, it offers an opportunity to explore the practical and successful implementation of AI & Big Data in driving forward your business, with over 100 global leaders sharing their strategies for the future, plus unparalleled industry knowledge and real-life experiences. Around 5,000 attendees are expected to congregate for the event including IT decision makers, developers and designers, heads of innovation, chief data officers, chief data scientists, brand managers, data analysts, start-ups and innovators, tech providers, c-level executives, venture capitalists, and many more. This is an unmissable event for those wanting to discover how automation and machine learning can drive progress in 2022 and beyond. 133

IN THE SP OTLIGHT

START-UP OF THE MONTH

This Italian start-up is poised to revolutionise the way we do market research. ombining a database containing over 400 million active companies in 196 countries – with AI – Matchplat is able to provide market research that requires weeks or months of work, in just two hours. The combination of these databases and Matchplat technology allows companies to

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achieve more effective solutions; on one hand, reducing working times and costs, and on the other hand, increasing the quality of results in their market research. Matchplat’s uniqueness lies in its cataloging – no longer through industrial codes, but on the basis of the activities carried out by companies. Matchplat Explore ‘extracts’ keywords from companies’ websites – which are normally accessed by hand – and combines them with data collected from public and private institutional sources. Thanks to this, the data is constantly updated and turned into detailed and reliable information. The platform sold as a SaaS (Software as a Service) model also offers the opportunity to scale sales and

“The platform helps our clients in finding new suppliers, distributors, business partners or customers. Each client can take market research in a personalised and automated way, optimising the workflow in terms of time and money” Andrea Gilberti, CEO and founder of the company, together with Elia Calissi and Yuri Sabbadini internationalise the business more quickly. Based in Bergamo (Lombardy, Italy), the company has recently opened a new branch in London to support UK companies in the development of their business. Thanks to Matchplat Explore, they will be able to build valuable relationships online, opening new opportunities and optimising investments for business

relationships through trade fairs, travel and meeting opportunities. Andrea Gilberti, CEO and founder of the company, together with Elia Calissi and Yuri Sabbadini, said, “Explore is able to replicate all the activities of a data analyst. The platform helps our clients in finding new suppliers, distributors, business partners or customers. Each client can take market research in a personalised and automated way, optimising the workflow in terms of time and money.”

For further information, visit www.matchplat.com 135

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