Insights from Altana Co-Founder & CEO Evan Smith

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Background of altana
3. The Role of altana in the World Supply Chain
4. The Impact of the Pandemic
5. Changing Perspectives on Supply Chains
6. The Importance of Managing Supply Chains as Networks
7. The Future of Supply Chain Regulation
8. Balancing Effective Regulation and Economic Impact
9. The Effects of Legislation on Supply Chains
10. The Future of AI in Supply Chain Management
11. Leveraging Data to Gain Insights into the Economy
12. The Outlook for the Global Economy
13. The Future of altana

Article

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the role of altana, a New York City-Based startup that uses AI to build safe, resilient, and sustainable supply chains. We will discuss the background of altana and Delve into its role in the world supply chain. Additionally, we will examine how the pandemic has accelerated changes in supply chain management and why it is important to view supply chains as networks.

Background of altana

altana, founded almost five years ago, is a company that aims to Create a shared source of truth for the global supply chain. Their platform connects governments, enterprises, logistics service providers, and financial service providers, allowing for a comprehensive view of all companies and product flows worldwide. Through a unique federated machine learning architecture, altana connects public and non-public data to produce a near real-time picture of the global physical economy.

The Role of altana in the World Supply Chain

altana plays a crucial role in the world supply chain by providing visibility and insights into complex supply chain networks. By connecting stakeholders and aggregating data, altana enables more informed decision-making and proactive management of supply chains. This comprehensive view allows businesses to navigate geopolitical challenges, compliance risks, and sustainability demands effectively. altana's role has become even more important in the wake of the pandemic, as supply chains have shifted from operational considerations to strategic board-level concerns.

The Impact of the Pandemic

The pandemic has not only disrupted global supply chains but also accelerated changes that were already underway. altana, with its foresight, anticipated the breakdown of the globalization that had been dominant for the past several decades. The pandemic highlighted the need to know and manage extended supply chain networks more comprehensively. Supply chains are no longer just about buyer and supplier relationships; they now encompass the entire network of production. The pandemic has shifted supply chain management from a back-office function to a strategic imperative at the c-suite level.

Changing Perspectives on Supply Chains

CEOs and CFOs now view supply chains through a different lens. It is not just about Timely delivery or receipt of goods but also a license to operate. Geopolitical, compliance, intellectual property, and labor rights risks are embedded in supply chains, impacting a company's ability to conduct business in the global market. The buyer's role has changed, and the focus has shifted to engaging proactively with regulators and the extended supplier base. Supply chains are now considered a fundamental part of a company's operations and reputation.

The Importance of Managing Supply Chains as Networks

The dislocation caused by various factors requires supply chains to be managed as networks rather than isolated silos. Proactive engagement with the extended supplier base and regulators becomes crucial in ensuring a smooth flow of goods and mitigating risks. Companies need to invest in building resilient and adaptable supply chain networks that can withstand disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, climate-related disasters, and changing regulations. Managing supply chains as networks allows for better risk management, visibility, and decision-making.

The Future of Supply Chain Regulation

Supply chain regulation is on the rise. Governments worldwide are using regulations as a tool to safeguard national interests and exert control over supply chains. The balance between effective regulation and economic impact is a fine line that policymakers need to navigate carefully. While some regulations are necessary to address key issues such as labor rights and environmental sustainability, excessive regulations can disrupt supply chains and harm the economy. Striking the right balance is crucial to create a sustainable and competitive business environment.

Balancing Effective Regulation and Economic Impact

The fine line between effective regulation and economic impact requires careful consideration. Overregulation can stifle innovation, hinder economic growth, and increase costs for businesses. It is essential for regulators to work closely with industry stakeholders to ensure that regulations address key concerns while minimizing adverse effects on the economy. Collaboration and open dialogue between policymakers and the private sector are vital in striking the right balance.

The Effects of Legislation on Supply Chains

Legislation plays a significant role in shaping supply chains. The passage of laws, such as the chips legislation in the United States Congress, demonstrates a shift towards explicit industrial policies. Governments are recognizing the importance of supply chains in geopolitical and economic competition. Legislation can both support and hinder supply chains by providing funds for innovation and infrastructure development or imposing restrictions on technology, investment, and the movement of goods. The future will likely witness more policy interventions as countries Seek to strengthen their supply chain resilience and competitiveness.

The Future of AI in Supply Chain Management

AI is poised to revolutionize supply chain management. altana, with its unique data network and assets, is at the forefront of leveraging AI in supply chains. The ability to process vast amounts of data and connect previously fragmented sources of information allows for better decision-making, automation of tasks, compliance management, and risk mitigation. AI will enable businesses to ask complex questions and gain deep insights into their supply chains' resilience, dependencies, and potential vulnerabilities. The future of AI in supply chain management holds tremendous potential, bringing operational, compliance, ESG, and security benefits.

Leveraging Data to Gain Insights into the Economy

altana's access to extensive public and private data provides a unique perspective on the economy. By analyzing supply chain constraints, logistics bottlenecks, and manufacturing capacity limits, altana can identify trends that affect the supply side of the macroeconomic equation. The insights derived from the data suggest a regionalization of supply chains, fracture in just-in-time efficiency, and sustained inflation. The data reveals a complex economic landscape influenced by geopolitical and economic forces.

The Outlook for the Global Economy

The outlook for the global economy is marked by regionalization and volatility. Supply chains are adapting to the changing landscape, driven by geopolitical competition, regulations on labor rights and environmental sustainability, and climate-related disasters. The macroeconomic equation is facing supply-side challenges that are unlikely to improve in the near future. Companies must navigate through years, if not decades, of evolving supply chain networks, increased inflation, and higher interest rates. Strategic decision-making, resilience, and adaptability will be critical for businesses to thrive in this environment.

The Future of altana

altana's future is exciting and ambitious. In the next one to two years, altana aims to execute its vision and capitalize on the AI moment. They plan to leverage their unique data network and assets to power applications and services that enable strategic decision-making and task automation. In five years, altana envisions becoming a public company, serving as the Google Maps of the supply chain. Their goal is to be the shared source of truth for the global illicit economy, offering a common operating picture that powers various applications and builds a long-lasting business.

Pros of altana

• Provides a comprehensive view of the global supply chain
• Enables proactive management of supply chains as networks
• Helps businesses navigate geopolitical and compliance risks
• Utilizes AI to enhance decision-making and automate tasks
• Offers insights into the economy through extensive data analysis

Cons of altana

• Reliance on data availability and accuracy
• Potential challenges in balancing effective regulation without harming the economy
• Need for continuous innovation to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving AI landscape

Highlights

• altana is a New York City-based startup that uses AI to build safe, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.
• By connecting stakeholders and aggregating data, altana enables more informed decision-making and proactive management of supply chains.
• The pandemic has accelerated changes in supply chain management, with supply chains becoming a strategic imperative at the c-suite level.
• Managing supply chains as networks is crucial to navigate geopolitical challenges, compliance risks, and sustainability demands effectively.
• Striking the right balance between effective regulation and economic impact is vital to create a sustainable and competitive business environment.
• Legislation plays a significant role in shaping supply chains, providing both support and potential hurdles for businesses.
• AI has the potential to revolutionize supply chain management, offering operational, compliance, ESG, and security benefits.
• Leveraging data can provide insights into the economy, revealing trends and challenges that affect the global macroeconomic equation.
• The future of the global economy is marked by regionalization, volatility, and challenges in supply chains.
• altana aims to execute its vision and become a public company, serving as the shared source of truth for the global supply chain.

FAQ

Q: What is the role of altana in the world supply chain? A: altana connects governments, enterprises, logistics service providers, and financial service providers to provide a comprehensive view of the global supply chain and enable proactive management.

Q: How has the pandemic impacted supply chain management? A: The pandemic has accelerated changes in supply chain management, emphasizing the need to view supply chains as strategic imperatives at the c-suite level.

Q: What are the benefits of managing supply chains as networks? A: Managing supply chains as networks allows for better risk management, visibility, and decision-making, helping businesses navigate geopolitical challenges, compliance risks, and sustainability demands effectively.

Q: How does AI revolutionize supply chain management? A: AI enhances decision-making, automates tasks, ensures compliance, and improves risk management and security in supply chain operations.

Q: How does altana leverage data to gain insights into the economy? A: With access to extensive data, altana analyzes supply chain constraints, logistics bottlenecks, and manufacturing capacity limits to identify trends and potential macroeconomic impacts.

Q: What challenges does the global economy face in the coming years? A: The global economy is likely to witness regionalization, volatility, and inflation, requiring businesses to adapt to evolving supply chain networks and increased risks.

Q: What are altana's future plans? A: In the next one to two years, altana aims to execute its vision and capitalize on the AI moment. In five years, they plan to become a public company and serve as the Google Maps of the supply chain.