IDB Best Practices for Technology in Defense Logistics
Emerging technology is transforming the defense enterprise and how organizations develop strategy while simultaneously combating threats. To advance defense logistics, the industry is now depending on technological innovation to predict uncertainty in order to achieve maximum efficiency in execution. When considering going digital in defense endeavors, technology should be completely implemented to foster validity, security, intelligence and innovation. Some of the best practices for technology in defense logistics stem from these applications:
1. Prediction
The defense industry can benefit immensely from technology’s predictive capabilities. Those in a variety of defense-related organizations constantly find themselves faced with high-stakes decision-making. Predictive technologies allow for prompt, informed decisiveness that promotes further questioning and reasoning before action occurs. This mechanism has been translated into various related sectors, from predictive analytics in defense to predictive health in medical logistics. With the foresight that predictive technologies offer in defense logistics, industry leaders are now able to develop their strategies without being strictly confined to hindsight and insight. As these technologies become more accurate, practical and affordable, they should always be used to calculate and model the probabilities of various scenarios. Using technology to create these “what if” scenarios will improve planning efficiencies, saving time and money.
2. Security
Where technology is used, it also must be protected. Security technology is especially important in defense because a threat to defense logistics can be a threat to national security. Technological innovation in the categories of cybersecurity, munitions and engineering is essential to the defense industry to protect sensitive information and equipment. The defense enterprise is a huge target for attack, so extreme precautions must be taken when developing, using and protecting valuable resources. In all, technology should be implemented into defense organizations’ strategies to maintain secure, low-risk logistics.
3. Information Acquisition & Data Management
Another effective use of technology in defense logistics is for collecting, processing, storing, and communicating information. To make predictions and maintain strong decision-making capabilities, information technology must be applied to extract and analyze relevant data. Implementing emerging technology, such as artificial intelligence, enables the data to be processed faster and more accurately than ever before. To achieve industrial readiness in military depots, technology should be used to integrate the acquired data that can in turn be applied to multiple areas of defense logistics. The development of cloud-based services and data privacy regulation has placed an even greater emphasis on the use of technology for secure data management and storage. These methods optimize defense logistics through information acquisition and data management technology.
4. Centralization
When applying technology in defense logistics, centralization is crucial to attain an integrated system of supply chain, communication and software. In order to ensure the technical components of each of these departments are compatible, technology should be applied to maintain a cohesive defense process. Technological centralization allows for life cycle logistics to run more efficiently in collaboration with other areas of defense, while providing new opportunities for its utilization. The better defense logistics are centralized with technology, the easier it will be to apply intelligence in a wide range of circumstances.
5. Innovation
Using technology in any business setting requires continuous process improvement, but the defense industry especially requires constant innovation. In the race to invent bigger, better, faster systems, technology is defense’s greatest asset. Technology serves as a key tool in all stages of innovation. It can be used for defense innovation to assess needs, speed up production times and apply data to pertinent areas. Defense logistics will reap the benefits of technological innovation through higher quality, more reliable developments, lower costs and the ability to drive creation without the risk associated with physical prototyping.
Still interested in learning more about the best practices for technology in defense logistics? Check out the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) for our Advanced and Executive courses in Logistics and Technology, Industry Based Broadening: Logistics, or our virtual program on Logistics for the 21st Century.
About the Institute for Defense and Business
The Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) is a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and research institute which provides custom solutions and programs for a variety of defense-related specializations. With over two decades of success in creating meaningful change, IDB seeks to train, challenge and inspire leaders involved in the defense enterprise. IDB’s curriculum promotes collaboration between the military and government, private sector and academia through courses offered in relevant, evolving subjects. Ready to enhance your leadership and advance your organization? Learn more about our courses in Logistics and Life Cycle Management, Complex Industrial Leadership and Strategic Studies.