Subsidiaries of Vodafone (NASDAQ: VOD) and Sony (NASDAQ: SONY) are embracing blockchain technology in their quest to tackle supply chain fraud, as the broader industry seeks new solutions to age-old challenges.
Pairpoint, the brainchild of a partnership between Vodafone and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, has collaborated with Sensos to explore the feasibility of a blockchain-based smart labeling feature. Launched in 2022, Sensos is a subsidiary of Sony Semiconductor Israel with significant experience in this field despite having been in business for less than three years.
The partnership between Pairpoint and Sensos will see both entities leverage their respective strengths to roll out a viable product that will revolutionize the supply chain landscape in the coming months.
To start, the partnership will leverage Sensos’ Internet of Things (IoT) tracking solution, which leverages the smart label, to ensure efficient supply chain processes. The solution, coupled with an AI-based control tower, will enable the offering to collect data and provide real-time alerts to customers without increasing operational costs.
“Using Sensos’ mobile tracking labels and AI-powered control tower to detect anomalies in the supply chain, alongside Pairpoint’s digital identity, trust and transaction platform, all goods movements – from port departure to final deliveries – are recorded securely and immutably,” said a statement.
The partnership with Pairpoint will introduce blockchain into the mix to ensure data transparency and immutability. Pairpoint’s parent company, Vodafone, has made significant progress with blockchain, making its Digital Asset Broker trading platform famous with a heavy capital injection from Sumitomo.
According to the statement, the offering requires a printable sensor device on top of Sensos’ underlying supply chain solution and Pairpoint’s blockchain-based platform to make logistics transactions tamper-proof.
“Technology supports superior supply chain management, along with deep insight and a strong solution,” said Osi Tagger, CEO of Unilog. “By navigating between numerous partners, we can deliver a seamless set of robust services for customers that build on the strong Sensos and Pairpoint alliance.”
Neck deep in experience
All players in this space have gained a wealth of experience in recent years, with Pairpoint’s parent companies – Vodafone and Sumitomo – spending almost $100 million on blockchain research. Japan-based Sumitomo is testing the waters with tokenization, while Sony has delved into blockchain-based gaming and metaverse.
Sensors’ smart labeling solution has seen action in the pharmaceutical sector with Bayer, scoring home runs after an integration by supply chain heavyweight DB Schenker. Experts believe that cross-pollination with DLT will open up new opportunities for Sensos while improving processes in the vertical supply chain.
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