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August 2023

We have all seen the tremendous value of data analytics on the success of commercial organizations. Now, how about humanitarian and societal challenges? As one of the founders of the Analytics for a Better World Institute, ORTEC believes that analytics can also contribute to solving major challenges facing humanity - from hunger to deforestation and the extinction of flora and fauna, among others. For this edition from our ‘Jointly for Social Impact’ series, we sat down with Amref Health Africa, a leading health organization in Africa, to hear from them how data contributes to their mission to create lasting health change in Africa.

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Jointly for Social Impact

This article is part of the ‘Jointly for social impact’ series. Every article highlights another impact story based on collaborations and partnerships with Analytics for a Better World - an institute co-founded by ORTEC.

There is a lot of buzz around AI and Machine Learning, but how can you apply them in a practical way to improve your logistics? How can you create the bridge between theory and practice? In this blog, I want to explain four practical examples based on various use cases with customers, which can be applied in various industries. Two of them are pre-operations, used to simulate alternative scenarios and generate input for daily operations. The other two are post-operations, where we learn from the execution to continuously improve your business. By combining pre- and post-operations, you create a learning loop to improve your efficiency and service.

An article by Goos Kant, Managing Partner at ORTEC and Professor of Logistic Optimization.

☀️ Summer is here. Whether you are hoping to escape to somewhere new or enjoying a break closer to home, we've got your perfect literary escape covered. We've bundled some of our popular thought-provoking content: you'll find five of our popular insights listed below.

Happy reading!

July 2023

One year after the ROADEF Truck Loading 2022 started, it has now officially ended, and ORTEC is proud to have won third place. While competing against 51 other teams from various regions across the world, our team confidently solved a challenging 3D truck loading optimization puzzle. Three key ingredients that contributed to the success of the ORTEC team were dedication, diversity, and team spirit.

It will be news to no one that we are living in turbulent times, with multiple consecutive and simultaneous crises testing our defences. The combination of the global pandemic, extreme weather events, inflation, war and an energy crisis that has sparked unprecedented energy poverty and the possible loss of (European) industrial competitiveness has consequences, Stephan Segbers concludes. "We have to realize that energy will never again be as cheap as it used to be."

Interview with Stephan Segbers. Segbers has now been Chief Operations Officer at Essent Netherlands for nearly three years. On October 1, he will continue his career as Chief Sales Officer at RheinEnergie.

June 2023

This month marks the official first anniversary of Analytics of a Better world, also shortened as ABW. As one of the founders, ORTEC is happy to support in pursuing ABW’s special mission: applying analytics together with non-profit organizations, researchers and companies to make an impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Two important ingredients to make this a success: bringing the brightest minds together, and lots of data.

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Jointly for social impact

This article is the first one out of the ‘Jointly for social impact’ series: every article will highlight another social impact project done through ORTEC’s and ABW’s collaborations and partnerships.

Getting products to your customers effectively is a puzzle every business needs to solve. A smart distribution strategy can be the difference between smooth operations and logistical chaos. And in today's fast-paced retail landscape where consumer expectations are high, there's no room for error.

But how do you build a distribution strategy that works? How can you make your goods flow from factory to store in the most efficient way possible? And how can technology and data-driven insights play a role in optimizing this process?

Let's unveil the simplicity behind the complexity by giving you the tools to make your operations work smarter, not harder.

ORTEC introduces the fourth issue of the valued Data and AI in the Boardroom magazine. An ORTEC magazine to support senior executives to cope with the challenges, opportunities and risks of data and artificial intelligence, enhancing decision-making to secure long-term, sustainable growth in today's fast-changing world.

In an era of digital dynamism and evolving consumer tastes, keeping pace with market trends and customer demands is an ever-growing challenge for the retail industry. The key to survival? Mastering the art of distribution management.

Navigating through the labyrinth of supply chains, dealing with the intricacies of transportation and ensuring goods reach their intended locations on time are business administration tasks that demand more than just logistical acumen. They call for a robust, data-backed approach shifting gears from reactive operations to proactive strategic planning. And this approach, in essence, is what distribution management is all about.

Now, let’s delve deeper into this concept, taking the pulse of its workings, examining its impact and unpacking the ways it can optimize the retail and wholesale industry, particularly within transportation.

The 2023 edition of the Retail & Wholesale Summit, organized by ORTEC, brought together industry leaders, trend watchers, and valued customers. Hosted by George Ninikas, the Global Industry Director for Retail & Wholesale, the summit aimed to achieve three primary objectives: fostering collaboration, providing insights into industry developments, and building a networked community.

Here are the key takeaways from this impactful event.