The Visible Supply Chain

摘要

If 2005 is to be remembered for anything, it may be as the year the last gap in always-on, always-connected communications was closed. This in turn will be a great opportunity to solve the problem of supply-chain visibility. Until now, two of the biggest dead zones for trade and commerce have been the result of poor communications in the air and on the sea. Now, though, the big guns are being brought to bear on the problem. Boeing, for example, is slowly but steadily ramp- ing up its Connexion by Boeing communications services. Using satellite links, CBB offers airline passengers Internet access, including access to corporate intranets and e-mail over secure VPN connections. In addition, maintenance and medical data, as well as live feeds from the plane's infamous black box, can be sent to ground personnel. (This is all happening as the plane is flying at 550 mph, mind you.)