Tackling Canada’s supply chain challenges head-on

Learn how these DMZ startups are harnessing AI to build world-leading supply chain solutions

It’s no secret the world is grappling with some serious global supply chain issues. Since the onset of the pandemic, supply chains everywhere have been impacted – leading to product shortages and jacked up prices. 

You’ve probably noticed there are a few things on your holiday shopping list that are out of stock. Retailers and businesses everywhere are feeling the squeeze, and it’s only going to get worse if we don’t look to innovative tech-powered solutions. 

So, what is going on and what are we doing to help Canada ease some of its supply chain chaos? We’re glad you asked. 

Since March 2020, the world has experienced multiple waves of lockdowns, meaning factories everywhere have had to shut down for weeks or even months at a time. This has led to massive bottlenecks in our supply chains, with manufacturing disruptions and shipping delays. 

To say our supply chains are in utter havoc would be a gross understatement, but if there’s anything we have learned about our DMZ startups, it’s that they love a good challenge. 

We sat down with startups from our Supply AI Program to get their take on what’s going on and to learn more about their AI-powered solutions that are working to help.

A high-tech and low-cost provider of industrial and infrastructure construction materials, Material Supply leverages technology to make it effortless for buyers to get the best prices. 

Andrew Allen, Founder and CEO of Material Supply, points to the slow rate of technological adoption as one of the biggest challenges in supply chain management today. 

“The rate of adoption to more efficient technologies and antiquated business models is too slow today.” 

By offering a complete and easy-to-use procurement solution that creates efficiencies from manufacturer to end user, Material Supply is working to pioneer how we tackle global supply chain challenges.

“The rate of adoption to more efficient technologies and antiquated business models is too slow today.”

The first automated consulting management system uniting consultants and clients, Indie Tech gives procurement teams the tools to monitor, manage and mitigate supplier risk by tracking the performance of their suppliers in real-time.

Sophia Stone, Founder and CEO of Indie Tech, attributes a lot of today’s supply chain management issues to data and transparency. 

“The keys to the future of the industry rely on better and more transparent ways of viewing data and managing suppliers across tiers with greater insights.”

Sophia highlights that the tools and quantitative framework Indie Tech provides for risk managers is working to solve supply chain issues by empowering users to act proactively. “We help suppliers better manage their risk, before they see disruptions.”

“The keys to the future of the industry rely on better and more transparent ways of viewing data and managing suppliers across tiers with greater insights.”

 

Netwila is an integrated freight application platform and service that leverages AI for forecasting, operations, and asset deployment.

Co-Founder and VP of Products and Technology, Bob Vuppal, highlights the global pandemic has not only put stress on our supply chain networks but has exacerbated existing problems.

“There’s no real easy way for companies to manage their operations across transportation forms and geographies, primarily due to fragmented networks and legacy systems. We save our companies money, increase data management across nodes and modes, support operational management of data, contracts and shipping, and manage out-of-stock.

“There’s no real easy way for companies to manage their operations across transportation forms and geographies, primarily due to fragmented networks and legacy systems.”

While the world’s global supply chain crisis is a result of pandemic lockdowns, now is the time to take action to not only resolve existing issues in the network, but embrace new AI-powered solutions to ensure its resiliency to future disruptions.

 

If you are a Canadian AI venture creating world-leading supply chain technology and are interested in joining the DMZ’s Supply AI program, check out eligibility requirements and program information here.

Our next cohort starts in February 2022. Applications are open until January 23rd at 11:59p.m. EDT.