Anticipate the future with algorithms capable of self-learning. To integrate shipping methods, identify potential risks on commercial lines, optimize the planification and transform the huge quantity of available data (big data) into reliable, ready-to-use for the entire supply chain. The new “crystal ball” is called predictive logistics and takes advantage of artificial intelligence. The benefits are huge. But the risks are as well.
This was discussed today in Genova, during the Workshop organized by the Logistic Digital Community (LDC), national leader in the aggregation between the business world and that of institutions in the digital transition, incubator and disseminator of ideas for development and the optimization of the logistics chain.
The works were opened by the vice president of Federlogistica- Conftrasporto Davide Falteri, founder of LDC, who recalled the centrality of the Ligurian capital and its port on the global scene. “To strengthen its role – explains Falteri – the arrival of the longest submarine data cable in the world, which will connect Genova to the European, African, Indian and Arctic routes, generating formidable investment opportunities in this area by many companies, including foreign ones”. Falteri has also recalle the results achieved by the LDC, which, a year and a half after its inception, has registered the adhesion of the main institutional subjects and internationally known companies.
The greetings of the mayor of Genova Marco Bucci and the regional councillor for economic development Andrea Benveduti have paved the way for the speeches of Emmanuel Becker, Managing Director Italy of Equinix, Ivano Russo director of RAM, Giorgio Moroni Free-to-X CEO; In the second session in which cyber-security was discussed, Paola Girdinnio, President of START 4.0, the lawyer Francesco Gavotti of B-Right Lawyers and Alessio Aceti of Sababa Security. In the last session, dedicated to “Opportunities”, Tools Group, with the principal supply chain Leo Cataldino, and Leonardo, with the transport & logistic marketing manager Fabio del Vigo, have presented some case history.
Equinix’s Emmanuel Becker has mentioned 45 thousand kilometres of submarine cable, the longest ever realized which will be laid in Genova and it will link 33 Countries in 3 Continents and creating a sort of digital highway that will make the maritime traffic of goods more fluid and faster converging on Genoa. “The plan is about the whole African Continent, the Far East, the Middle East, India and touches from a side the Pacific Ocean and on the other it’s supposed to have digital corridors with the Iberian Peninsula”, explains Becker.
Tools Group, which operates worldwide but has its heart in Genova, brings two examples of predictive logistics. One of the concerns a leading company on drilling and search for new deposits. Which employs navi Fpso and needs a spare part managing system that avoids the stopping of navigation. “We’ve started with a “photograph” of the vehicle’s conditions – explains Leo Cataldino – Through AI we have created an algorithm that can treasure experience and data, making it able to self-learn. We have thus arrived at predictive forecasts by analysing the failures that occurred in the past and the characteristics of the vehicle. The next step was the optimization of stock levels, with the spare parts most likely to be useful.”
Result: savings in terms of space, time, and money.
Leonardo, which has contributed to the realization of an integrated telematic ecosystem able to focus on three factors: efficiency, security and sustainability. “Efficiency is important because the transport and logistic sector contributes to 12% of the world GDP and the potential of Italian ports is high: they are the axis of connection between Asian markets and Europe – explains Fabio Del Vigo – With the expansion of digitization, the risks of attacks increase, and an attack on even one element of the transport and logistics chain risks jamming the entire system. Cyber attacks have grown 900% between 2017 and 2020: security become the virtuous element in logistics. Then, there is sustainability, which translates (also) in energy savings, which is fundamental nowadays, as well as the integration between all digitalization systems of elements and subjects working from and for Italian ports”.
Just about supply chain security was focused Paola Girdinio’s speech, president of START 4.0: “Italy is the seventh Country in the world for cyber-attacks, and logistics and transports are the main targets where hackers’ bad intention concentrate. Not just in terms of ransom to get an economic profit, but with geopolitics goals. By attacking logistics, which is more and more digital, it is possible to weaken and entire Country’s system, regardless, security is still a very underrated topic”. Supply chain 4.0 protection will be at the centre of a European measure out in a few days. It regards, as explained by Girdinio, of the Cyber Resilient Act, which provides the CE mark for all software and hardware products that are part of a 4.0 chain. Those who do not have it will risk up to 15 million euros in fines.
