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April 2024
At ORTEC we are dedicated to protecting the privacy and security of our customers by handling their data securely. Through yearly independent audits we test our information security management. At the end of 2023, the auditors approved our processes again. As a result, our current ISO 27001, NEN 7510, and SOC 2 certificates are reaffirmed, indicating that we comply with the (international) standards for information security until December 2024.
Zoetermeer, The Netherlands: Today, ORTEC and HERE Technologies announced a five-year renewal of their more than 20-year strategic partnership. HERE Technologies provides location data and technology to empower ORTEC’s optimization product and services portfolio.
Watching the news lately shows on the one hand devastated families who have been ruined by the AI-based systems used by the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration to identify fraudsters. On the other hand, it shows how someone leaves the hospital visibly relieved, after the MRI scanner’s AI-driven algorithm caught their cancer at a very early stage, making it possible to intervene in time and with minimal damage caused. Both are examples of the use of AI. But also, both would not or barely happen anymore if stricter AI legislation were to be introduced. The Dutch tax authorities would then – fortunately – no longer be permitted to use profiling software, but the flipside is that it might become illegal to use medical data to further improve the MRI scanner’s algorithm. Crafting sound legislation therefore puts us in an impossible quandary: how do we throw out the negative sides of AI while hanging on to the positives? As Professor of Decision Sciences Marc Salomon replies: “It is precisely this quandary that makes putting in place the right legislation so very tricky.”
An interview with Marc Salomon, professor at the University of Amsterdam.
ORTEC introduces the third 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.
Over the past century, business have made huge improvements when it comes to optimal and cost-efficient planning, as well the organization of processes. However, efficient processes alone won’t solve the challenges of the current world. Demands and needs are changing; as a result, the traditional performance indicators are currently out-competed by other ones, such as customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and impact on the SDGs. The puzzle is becoming a more difficult one to solve. Businesses will need to adopt new ways to thrive, and maybe even to survive. Data and mathematics can help to solve the puzzle, but that means data and AI need a place in the boardroom.
November 7, 2022
By solving 10 out of 12 algorithmic problems, ORTEC wins first place in the company pool of the Benelux Algorithm Programming Contest (BAPC) this year. In this contest, the brightest computer science minds take the challenge to solve complex algorithmic problems. Over fifty teams from leading universities and different companies participated in this year’s contest in the student- or company pool.
Rianne Langenberg, Business Strategist at ORTEC, argues that algorithms should be treated somewhat like human employees by having the organization and management monitor whether they’re doing their job properly. She outlines five factors that, when done properly, will make it possible to manage algorithms. At the same time, she’s fully aware that life has to be made as easy as possible for human employees: “Algorithms are often new for senior management. We want to make them more accessible by giving them a familiar face. Our approach is anything but new: it’s a rejigged version of a system that most companies are thoroughly familiar with.”
Intro Frank Visseren (UMC Utrecht) is an internist, epidemiologist, and professor of vascular medicine. That combination inspires him to innovate. “You find out in practice where the gaps in knowledge are, which in turn enables you to improve care. It's nice to fill those gaps with our department with many young researchers, talented people, and national and international collaboration.” One of the issues that Visseren et al. encountered ultimately led to the development of U-Prevent: a technological-medical tool that enables customized treatment for each individual cardiac, vascular, or diabetic patient. “You get to have a very different conversation in the consultation room.”
Interview with Frank Visseren, internist, epidemiologist and professor of vascular medicine
Decision making in highly complex supply chains
The fuel industry is characterized by its constant volatility and high level of uncertainty due to shifting market dynamics and changing regulations. This makes fuel supply chains highly complex and supply chain professionals might find themselves facing challenging questions on a daily basis.
You might want to investigate the impact of closing a refinery or acquiring part of your competitors’ network. You wonder whether or not it is possible to decommission a tank entirely while still meeting downstream demand at your service stations. Or maybe it is better to swap it and increase storage for another product instead? Without the right tools, answering those questions is not an easy task.
April 2022
Shipping supply chains are characterized by long lead times and little flexibility. At the same time, the Oil & Gas industry is subject to rising prices, and the levels of disruption and uncertainty increase. One of the biggest challenges today is to respond and anticipate accordingly. The ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances might even be a prerequisite for surviving in today’s volatile market. But those who manage it well will not only survive but can achieve some real competitive advantage over their industry peers.
This article is powered by Sandra Bronsvoort, Analytics Consultant, ORTEC ANZ