The chemical industry is -without question- one of the most important industries in the world. Not only do 90% of our everyday products contain chemicals, but the industry also employs approximately 10 million people. Naturally, they were one of the first to embrace digital technologies such as process control systems or sensors which have a long tradition in production. According to Frithjof Netzer, Senior Vice-President and Project Lead 4.0 of BASF: "A lot of energy and momentum in the field of digital can be observed, Chemicals are catching up. It is not the question if, but rather what and how it will be done." A continuous digital transformation plays a crucial role in several key aspects of the industry.

Just like the air people breathe, some of the most important things in life are invisible. Now, can you imagine your company's supply chain becoming just as invisible as the air around us? We envision the supply chain of the future in the chemical industry will be self-driving, self-maneuvering and self-correcting, resulting in a seamless fulfillment capability that delivers chemicals at the right time, to the right place and with right quality--without manual human interaction. While leading retail giants invest in emerging technologies as a matter of course, historically this has not been the case for most chemical companies. However, the benefits of doing so are tremendous.