by 
Luke Smith
The supply chain plays a vital role in our economy. It helps to ensure that consumers and businesses access goods in a timely and efficient manner. When this chain is disrupted, there are serious implications for everyone.
This is one of the reasons why it’s important to adopt effective security protocols. The supply chain is subject to a variety of risks, from cybersecurity to worker health. Without tools to address such issues, the supply network and everyone reliant on it is vulnerable. The good news is that technology is increasingly addressing this challenge.
Let’s take a closer look at how technology is enhancing physical and digital security in the supply chain industry.
Digital breaches
One of the key risks to the supply chain at the moment is cybercrime. Businesses face a range of cybersecurity threats and must develop a strong security posture to navigate these. This includes understanding their exposure to both internal and external risks. Not to mention recognizing what tools can help them respond to and recover from common issues such as ransomware and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Thankfully, technology is a part of how supply chain businesses can handle this.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently playing a key role here. The supply chain is naturally a machine with many moving parts. There are multiple companies involved and various points of vulnerability. This can make assessing and identifying risks unwieldy. However, AI scanning and monitoring software tracks all systems in the supply chain.
On one level, this allows the software to spot breaches, infections, and suspicious network behavior in real-time. The result is a more swift and effective response. Yet, AI’s monitoring capabilities, along with wider industry data the software learns from, also can predict the potential for issues and make advance recommendations.
Worker well-being
From a physical risk perspective, employee health — or the lack thereof — can be one of the common risks within the supply chain at every level. In the supply chain, employees can be subjected to health issues such as chronic pain that can be caused or exacerbated by poor posture and a traumatic injury. Not to mention that employees in more sedentary roles may experience joint and muscle issues from sitting for long periods. Stress and other mental health challenges are also commonplace. Technology can play a role in ensuring supply chain businesses can keep worker wellness a priority, which in turn bolsters retention and productivity.
Wearable technology can be used to track how long workers remain in a single position. This data can be combined with employee wellness software that triggers recommendations to switch working positions or exercise. In the shipping element of the chain, cameras and sensors can be used to monitor driver behavior. Alongside maintaining legal driving limits, this can send alerts when stress or tiredness may be hampering drivers’ abilities.
It’s also worth considering that telehealth is a rising feature in workplaces. Businesses are giving supply chain workers access to telehealth appointments with doctors and therapists, alongside private spaces to take advantage of these. This means employees can address physical and mental health concerns conveniently and without spending unnecessary time away from work.
Property protection
The supply chain is constantly hosting valuable property. This includes the products for sale, operational technology, and company intellectual property. The theft of these elements is a cause for concern, but tech is currently being utilized to mitigate the risks.
Real-time location systems (RTLS) increasingly form part of the industrial internet of things (IIoT). On one hand, RTLS can be used to track employee and visitor locations to ensure the visibility of unauthorized entry or activities. However, sensors in the IIoT can track individual items from manufacturing, through the inventory warehouse, all the way to delivery. This aids investigations when items go missing and can be a deterrent to internal theft.
Similarly, devices in the IIoT can be utilized to monitor the premises of supply chain businesses. Sensors can be placed on all entryways and windows, alerting security staff to all changes in status. Security checkpoints can also scan employee and visitor biometric data to limit access to the facility only during agreed working or meeting schedules.
The supply chain is currently able to maintain security as a result of advances in technology. As technology continues to develop, we’re likely to see greater adoption of tools that can keep this essential industry safe.
