Real-time data interpreted by artificial intelligence and machine learning will allow companies to move away from more static and traditional supply chain patterns.

Cloud connectivity of applications will ensure customer and partner data is visible across the supply chain, regardless of its location, and this will enable flexibility, agility and resilience.

Kenneth Creasy, Senior Director, Manufacturing Technology & Innovation and Advanced Engineering at Johnson & Johnson, says his company spent a lot of time understanding what digital progression for big data and analytics meant.

“It’s really setting up that digital stack appropriately, making sure the data is available to support things, and doing it purposefully,” he advises. “Instead of a data lake, or data swamp, you actually say, ‘Ok, what data will we need and how do we best go about getting that?’

“Answering that means the ability to do more effective service work for customers and patients.”