How to Advance from Manual to Digital and Then Automation

As time passes, the world is more and more willing to digitalize/automate processes. Whether internal or related to interactions with the suppliers, DigiKey quickly understands how many processes can be impacted. Fortunately, new technologies can help supply chain, quoting activities, and more.

However, when it comes to the beginning of the journey towards digital transformation, we may be lost finding the right way to start. By looking at autonomous driving levels I realized the steps to go through and the order we should go.

The chart above is inspired by autonomous driving levels that have been defined by SAE International. It goes from 0 (no automation/human-driven) to 5 (automation driven/no human involvement).

What is important to understand in this chart is that the next levels can’t be reached until the previous ones are completed. Like the adaptative cruise control that needs a digital speedometer and real-time digital information of the distance to the car in front, you can’t have an assisted quoting process until you digitalize prices, delays, and stock availability.

For an assisted supply chain, the first step is to clean data by digitalizing all relevant signals in the procurement process (Level 1), and before the autonomous supply chain (level 3/4/5), there will be the assisted supply chain (Level 2).

This diagram can be applied to independent processes and gives a first impression of your current level and what the next steps are to move toward automation.

As a supplier, DigiKey understands the need for digital signals and how it is critical for your digital transformation. Therefore, we provide a set of digital connectivity to achieve Level 1, accessible to all our customers. You can find these solutions on the Digital Solution webpage.