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November 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 our partner Force For Nature, to hear from them how the development and implementation of an app for rangers helps to protect our planet.

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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.

The energy transition is a multi-faceted challenge, encompassing everything from international policy to finding the optimal location for offshore wind turbines and anticipating how the emergence of hydrogen will shake things up. Each facet is its own microcosm, and while not all interests overlap, there is one common goal: a green future. Math serves as our compass, our guide to navigate uncertainties. As Karin Griffioen, Global Industry Director Energy at ORTEC, puts it: “The energy transition is incredibly complex and requires us to rely on thorough analyses and models - because intuition does not always hold the answers. You can only make the right decisions with a calculated approach.”

This article is an Executive Summary of our dedicated magazine about the energy transition. Get your free copy in the download section at the bottom of this page.

In recent years, logistics and supply chains have grabbed more and more attention, according to Prof. Goos Kant (Tilburg University and ORTEC), including the boardroom. Geopolitical changes – developments in China, the war in Ukraine – have made it increasingly important to know where things come from, figure out who supplies your suppliers, and get a grip on availability. “Companies have stepped up their efforts to figure out their supply chain, and it’s just as well that they have.”

An interview with Goos Kant | Global Industry Director Manufacturing at ORTEC

COLUMN | THE INNOVATION SIDE OF THINGS
Text: Lotte van Hezewijk

"Every second, approximately 4877 packages are delivered worldwide. That’s immense, isn’t it? Meanwhile, customers are more demanding. They want to decide where, when and how a package is delivered to them — and expect this to be done quickly and sustainably. The burning question is: is it possible to deliver both sustainably and flexibly? Let’s dive into two examples: retail versus aviation."

In an era marked by rapid urbanization and a digital shift, Dr. Georgios Ninikas of ORTEC takes us through the “six plus one insights” that are shaping the retail industry. Ninikas highlights the industry’s most pressing concerns, from understanding the effect urbanization has on the retail landscape to the need to embrace the environmentally conscious and digital consumer. He also points out the transformative power of artificial intelligence, emphasizing its role in ensuring adaptability, resilience, and continuous improvement in the modern retail market. Ninikas would be the first to stress that his list is not exhaustive: “It’s a selection of the most related and pressing insights.”

Wilko Sierksma is Director of Global Planning at HEINEKEN Global Supply Chain. Together with his team, he tackles everything from opening and closing breweries, deciding whether to expand capacity at certain sites, distribution and footprint optimization and much more. Their biggest challenge? Safeguarding local entrepreneurship while standardizing global processes: “We’re a decentralized company, but we still want to leverage our economies of scale, which you can only do with harmonized, standardized, automated data and systems.”

A conversation with Wilko Sierksma, Director of Global Planning at HEINEKEN Global Supply Chain

In an industry once labeled as ‘stuffy’, Sally Miller, the CIO for DHL Supply Chain in North America and Global Digital Transformation Officer, provides a detailed look at the shifts and changes that supply chains are undergoing. From tackling labor shortages with autonomous tech solutions to driving proactive sustainability measures, Miller highlights DHL's efforts to stay ahead of industry challenges, and focus on customer experience, continuous innovation, and environmentally conscious strategies: “Our customers regard us as industry leaders in the third-party logistics market.”

Interview with Sally Miller, Global Digital Transformation Officer and Chief Information Officer for DHL Supply Chain in North America

In an illuminating interview, George Ninikas, the esteemed Industry Director Retail & Wholesale at ORTEC, delves into the intricacies of store delivery optimization. Drawing from a wealth of global experience, George reveals six paramount trends that are reshaping the retail sector, along with a valuable bonus insight.

Join us on this journey as we explore the dynamic landscape of retail logistics and the strategies that empower businesses to thrive.

An interview with George Ninikas, Industry Director Retail & Wholesale at ORTEC

Read further or download this article as a free E-Guide "The Future of Store Delivery Optimization," in PDF.

Shell1 has been generating scenarios for over half a century, and Energy Fundamentals Manager Martin Haigh has played a significant part in that for the last eighteen years. “Scenarios came to fame during the OPEC oil crisis of 1973. The capability of modelling has moved on tremendously over time, with computing power and the availability of data. Nonetheless there’s been a continuous debate: to what extent can modelling play a role? There has always been a role for quantification. A company runs on numbers in a lot of ways. But there is a danger in putting too much emphasis on numbers in scenario work. It may cause you to lose sight of what is driving change in a system. There is a tension, but also a balance to strike.” Hence the distinctive, holistic Shell approach.

Interview with Martin Haigh, Energy Fundamentals Manager at Shell

Frans Pannekoek, Head of Soaperations at Soaply and supply chain expert, prefers seeing the glass half full: he’s invariably optimistic about initiatives that make the world a better place. And Soaply tries to do just that by integrating sustainability in all aspects of its operations, including the supply chain. "We want to connect with all the links in the chain with the goal of building a resonant supply chain that continuously adapts to changing circumstances. The business objectives and impact objectives should form a perfect blend together."

An interview with Frans Pannekoek | Head of Soaperations at Soaply (Seepje in Dutch)