Supply Chain weekly wrap-up: 8/23 – 8/29

Deploying drones to offer logistics solutions

Supply Chain 24/7 reported this week some exciting developments in Drone technology, which is slowly making its way into mainstream media and the public conscious.

The unmanned aerial vehicles, although characteristically utilized in warfare, also have other very useful applications. One company in particular, Matternet, was singled out for offering some pretty amazing logistics solutions for developing countries.

Around one billion people in the world do not have access to roads that can be used in all weather conditions. In Sub-Saharan Africa for example, 85% of roads are completely unusable during the wet season. One can imagine that making vital deliveries, such as transporting medical supplies, can be severely difficult in such circumstances. To further matters, with Africa’s current resources, it is estimated that it would take around 50 years to build the conventional road-based infrastructure used in developed countries.

The solution would be to skip investing in road-based infrastructure, and establish a logistics network across the continent, of autonomous, electric aircraft vehicles with ground stations to change batteries and deliver or collect goods.

The cost to run a 10km flight with a 2kg load would be an estimated $0.24.

Matternet has also proposed that such technology, when further developed, could be implemented in large built up cities, to offer more efficient transport options.

To read more, and find out other potential applications of the technology, click here.

Zady—why your fashion choices are no longer just about your style, but also your ethics

Zady is a New York based e-commerce brand that launched its website this week. Currently partnered with 35 brands, they promote and attempt to show complete transparency across the supply chain of its products. The company sells men’s and women’s clothing, as well as some household items. Each product is listed with what raw materials were used, where they originated from, and where they were manufactured. The website also details a brief history of each brand, and the location of its headquarters.

There is a story behind each garment, but it comes at a more expensive, albeit arguably much fairer price. The question is: are consumers willing to pay a bit more to not only ensure a higher quality end-product, but one that does not come with the baggage of knowing it was made under poor, if not life-threatening working conditions?

Co-founders of Zady, Soraya Darabi and Maxine Bédat would seem to think so. They appear quite passionate that there is a growing trend amongst consumers, to no longer be ignorant of where their purchases originate from. In short, “fast-fashion” is out; socially conscious consumerism is in.

To read more, click here.

CFOs and their supply Chains—taking a hands-on approach