‍In the ever-evolving landscape of business, collaboration within the value chain is a key factor in staying competitive. Recognizing the need to enhance relationships not only with customers but with the entire value chain, including direct suppliers, is crucial. However, once you acknowledge this necessity, the question arises: Where do you begin? In this article, we aim to provide valuable insights and share our experiences on initiating awareness and learning within your value chains. We present a powerful enabler called Proof-of-Concept(PoC) that can pave the way, especially when you are venturing into unexplored and uncertain fields, for breaking down challenges and taking important strides forward within supply chain traceability and collaboration.

What is a PoC and what purpose does it serve?

A Proof-of-Concept is a valuable process that over a shorter time period tests and validates the feasibility and potential of new business concepts. It is particularly useful within early evaluation and assessing emerging technologies and digital tools. The PoC involves developing a simplified solution to gather valuable insights, evaluate performance, and make informed decisions before allocating significant resources.

The primary objective of a PoC is to

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·        Assess the capabilities of a tool

·        Identify potential challenges and key opportunities

·        Gather feedback to determine its suitability for achieving desired objectives.

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A PoC may serve as a great learning tool that can build trust for new concepts and empower decision-making before committing extensive resources to implementation.

PoC’s relevance within supply chain traceability

With the rapid acceleration of market forces, driving the need for supply chain integration, and the adoption of new digital business concepts such as digital product passports, product carbon footprint and primary scope 3 data, and track and trace ability to promote circularity, PoC has become a pivotal tool. It serves as a catalyst for learning within organizations that aim to embark on and accelerate their understanding, not only within their internal operations but also in collaboration with their value chain partners.

By conducting PoCs, organizations may expedite learning, foster trust, and pave the way for the successful implementation of innovative concepts within the supply chain traceability landscape.

Making collaboration a key priority within a supply chain traceability PoC

To enhance the effectiveness of your proof-of-concept (PoC) in supply chain traceability, it is crucial to prioritize collaboration with various stakeholders. Based on our experience, there may be several channels to explore when exploring collaboration opportunities:

Existing customer & supplier relations – Engage with your Sourcing, Sales, and Business Development teams, as they hold relationships with your current suppliers and customers. Collaborate to identify potential candidates within your existing value chain who may be suitable for collaboration.

Service Providers – Engage with technology vendors, consulting firms or startups that specialize in driving innovation in the domain of supply chain traceability and transparency.

Innovation Calls & Universities – Participate in innovation calls, connect with research institutions, or explore partnerships with universities to tap into great expertise and existing resource pools.

Industry Associations & Collaborations – Leverage the collective knowledge and experiences within industry associations or consortia focused on driving innovation.

Open Innovation Programs – Explore open innovation programs that provide platforms for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and co-creation with external stakeholders.

At ChainTraced we consider Proof-of-Concepts as a core part of our offering and a powerful enabler for business owners who early on in their evaluation journey seek learning and empowered decision making. If you are interested and in need of support in conducting a Proof-of-Concept within supply chain traceability, we are happy to share our experiences! Book a quick introduction meeting together with us and let’s assess your needs and figure out your best course of action!

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