421: Tap Into A Shared Source of Truth for the Global Supply Chain, with Altana

Evan Smith of Altana talks about his mission to fix globalization; the role of AI in making data actionable; & the changing face of supply chain visibility.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [06.59] Evan’s early fascination with global issues, and how that curiosity, combined with his unwavering work ethic, ignited a passion that has driven his career and led him to co-found Altana. “I was kind of a weird kid, focused on big global issues – I actually wrote my high school senior thesis on the impending collapse of globalization… I was really curious about how the world works.” [11.07] From geopolitical consequences to environmental and social impacts, how globalization has gone wrong; and Altana’s mission to fix it. “The side effects, and unintended consequences of globalization, have resulted in its demise.” [17.30] Exactly what a value chain is; an overview of Altana and what they do; and how Altana’s Value Chain Management System is helping them to work towards a vision of better global commerce for everyone. “We need to create a ‘Google Maps’ of the world’s supply chain. There needs to be a common operating picture that everyone taps into, and you can only get so far with commercially purchasable data.” [25.55] The ideal client for Altana, and how a variety of different organizations can leverage Altana’s data and tools to meet their needs. “The blessing and the curse of Altana is that we can do so much for so many!” [32.20] The changing face of supply chain and logistics visibility; how Altana are achieving more than twice the supply chain visibility of any other provider; and how organizations can translate that data into actionable insights. “An outsourced just-in-time supply chain is only efficient when things are stable.” [38.19] AI; its vital role in making data accessible and actionable; and how Altana utilizes active learning to make connections and create a single source of truth for customers. [44.22] A case study showing how Altana helped a global apparel brand tackle a huge issue with detained imports, helping the brand to reveal a hidden forced labor problem, take action to fix it, and collaborate within their organization to optimize and develop ways to manage their whole value chain, not just their buyer-supplier relationships. [52.14] The future for Altana.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Altana’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Altana and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or X (Twitter), or you can connect with Evan on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed the show, and want to hear more about the power of data, check out Women In Supply Chain™: Procurement Leader, Stephany Lapierre on Using Supplier Data to Empower a More Connected, Diverse Supply Chain, Why Data, Focus and Follow-Through Are Shaping the Future of Supply Chain, or How To Leverage Your Logistics Data to Drive Demand.