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One of the most common topics at TARTLE is the digitization of the modern world. More and more of daily life and of business is conducted online, something that we all know has really taken off in the last year and a half. However, at some point, goods have to be physically produced and distributed. Even if we develop Star Trek level replicator technology, we are still going to need the raw material for that. That means there are and will be factories, boats, planes, trains, and automobiles that transport goods around the world and back again. And that puts us in the world of logistics and supply chain and that is the domain of one Mac Sullivan.

Mac has a staggering resume, including multiple degrees, teaching positions, living in various countries abroad, and is currently the Head of Technology and Digital Promotion at NNR Global Logistics. He has also recently released his first book, The Digital Transformation of Logistics: Demystifying Impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As you might guess, Mac is focused on bringing the very physical world of logistics into the digital age.\\xa0

One of the things that Mac calls attention to right out of the gate is how COVID and the resulting acceleration of the digital transformation served as a great catalyst to get even the most luddite like of companies to at least explore the digital realm. A clear example is that according to Forbes, many companies report having engaged directly with customers much more than they have in the past. As you can imagine, direct engagement with customers is exactly the kind of thing we really like here at TARTLE. But I digress.\\xa0

However, logistics and supply chains remain somewhat intransigent. How badly is this digital transformation needed in the world of logistics? Very. As Mac himself points out, they are still working on fully integrating the internet into their operations. Goods are still often tracked with pen and paper that might get scanned and sent via fax. Yes, a few of those machines still exist. Essentially, Mac is working on getting a lot of simple office processes automated, things that are still done by people in cubicles entering data on a keyboard. This is actually more important than just streamlining operations. It also will help reduce human error in the form of transcription errors, errors that can cost time and money down the line.\\xa0

Money of course is one of the obstacles for a lot of transportation companies. They operate at very low margins and are very adverse to the costs of automating their systems. After all, they have a system in place. It might be slow but it works. Not to mention, these companies are constantly getting pressured to cut costs, not spend money on automating anything. This puts the pressure on Mac to show them the value added by spending some money on tracking and notification systems now and the money it will save down the line by correcting the issues mentioned above and simply making the process more efficient.\\xa0

Another barrier is that while there is a lot of excitement about a great deal of digital technology like IoT, 3-D printers, blockchain, and smart contracts, there are few working models on the kind of scale that is needed for a global supply chain. Everything is either small-scale or at the level of the theoretical.\\xa0

It is possible to change all this but it will take time. As Mac says, it will have to be pushed by new people entering the field, people who are familiar with the potential of digital technologies and have the education to push logistics into the fourth industrial revolution.\\xa0

What\\u2019s your supply chain worth? www.tartle.co

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Tcast is brought to you by TARTLE. A global personal data marketplace that allows users to sell their personal information anonymously when they want to, while allowing buyers to access clean ready to analyze data sets on digital identities from all across the globe.

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The show is hosted by Co-Founder and Source Data Pioneer Alexander McCaig and Head of Conscious Marketing Jason Rigby.

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