Removing The Pain Of Paperwork With Digital Certifications
supply chain
Aramid Technologies
With a history in aerospace and sailing, Aramid Technologies set out to shake up the supply chain marketplace with a platform of products that will do what aramid materials did for many industries: improve strength, performance, and effectiveness without having to revolutionize the systems and processes they already have in place. With Aramid’s deep experience in the Supply Chain Industry and TechFabric’s fresh, clear-eyed approach to agile application development, the team was able to masterfully yet simply tackle one of the supply chain’s thorniest and most expensive issues.
Tech Stack & Solutions
Azure Dev Ops
SQL Server DB
Azure Blob Storage
Azure Fuzzy Search
App Insights (APM)
Highlights
Challenge
Create a paperless solution for aerospace part tracking
Managing paperwork has become one of the single largest factors slowing down global supply chains where each leg of the journey holds the potential for delay due to complexities with paper-based certifications. Supply chains have a dozen “tiers” of suppliers and sub-suppliers, and you can appreciate how easily paperwork might go missing along the way. This dated certification approach was causing massive issues for aerospace suppliers, distributors, and aircraft maintenance crews.
Key Areas To Remedy:
Slow Manual Paperwork Management
Remove Potential For Missing Or Incorrect Certs
Decrease Delays From Document Damage
Time-Consuming Paper-Based Documentation
Complete Lack Of Digital Certification Tracking
Strategy
Save The Trees And Go Completely Digital
The idea was to create a simple, elegant, and flexible solution by leveraging existing, mature, and tested technology in a novel way. We decided to utilize QR Codes and Microsoft Azure technologies to digitize and enhance the supply chain's current practices. The solution was to design a SaaS-based subscription service, connecting necessary documentation and certifications, such as COCs, ISOs, and AICs, to parts as they progress through the supply chain.
Solution
Conquer Costly Supply Chain Pain
TechFabric recognized the need for SmartCert to be user-friendly and compatible with existing processes, emphasizing simplicity, speed, flexibility, and accessibility. We analyzed current document transfer methods in the supply chain and devised a QR code-based solution to replace fragile paper-based certifications. SmartCert revolutionized documentation transfer, enabling the digitization and direct attachment of critical documents to packages and parts throughout the supply chain.
It offered bi-directional access, allowing authorized users to address discrepancies swiftly at any point in the chain. Microsoft Azure DevOps played a pivotal role in project management, task tracking, repository management, and user story backlog prioritization, ensuring the successful development of a viable product.
Solution - Utilize mobile tech
Smarter, Faster, and Stronger Supply Chain, Instantly
TechFabric recognized the need for SmartCert to be user-friendly and compatible with existing processes, emphasizing simplicity, speed, flexibility, and accessibility. We analyzed current document transfer methods in the supply chain and devised a QR code-based solution to replace fragile paper-based certifications. SmartCert revolutionized documentation transfer, enabling the digitization and direct attachment of critical documents to packages and parts throughout the supply chain. It offered bi-directional access, allowing authorized users to address discrepancies swiftly at any point in the chain.
Key Features:
A Completely Paperless Cert Workflow
Single Source of Multiple Certifications
Flexible Cert Management For Modified Parts
Reliability Through Reduction In Scrapped Parts
Upload & Change Required Documents Online
Preferred Lending Partner Management
100%
Reduction in paper management
10x
Greater efficiency and usability
85%
Increase in accuracy of certs
99%
Reduction in Scrapped Parts
Solution - Key factors
SmartCert’s Beating Heart & Brain Power
SmartCert streamlines certification procedures by electronically linking certificates to packaging. It provides a secure, centralized platform connecting manufacturers, buyers, and sellers for easy identification of incorrect or missing certifications upon shipment arrival. SmartCert, a collaboration between TechFabric and Aramid, offers a significant competitive edge, unifying supply chain entities. Users experience immediate cost savings, enhanced efficiencies, and substantial ROI as it eliminates the need to quarantine or discard parts.
Data & Storage Approach:
Azure SQL Server DB Provided a Stable Platform
Lower Cost From Microsoft Scalability
Seamless Microsoft Platform
Azure Blob Storage Allowed For Unstructured Data
Ability To Migrate Storage To Different Options
Storing Files With Distributed Access
$14M - $100M
Reduction in paper management
0.6% - 1%
Of part, inventories are scrapped due to lost or damaged certs
85%
Potential annual loss for distributors grossing $30M/Yr.
$1.5M
Total gross sales lost over 5-year span due to dated cert model
results
Azure Comes In Clutch
On the SmartCert platform, user-friendliness was a paramount consideration, and this is where Azure Insights came into play from a backend perspective. The Azure Application Monitor provided developers and DevOps professionals with the capability to monitor applications live, enabling them to easily detect and resolve anomalies while offering a range of strategic insights that contributed to continuous platform enhancement. The overall package and technology used allowed for scalability and extensibility in the long term, leveraging the power of Azure Insights' robust REST APIs and SDKs.
0%
Rate Of Certification Loss After Launch And Early Adoption
100%
Reduction in Paper Management
What the client had to say about the project.
Lyndon Lattie
SmartCert, Co-Founder
“We chose the Microsoft Azure platform because we knew it would allow us to build SmartCert in a slick, modular way with the ability to create a library of APIs to connect with common key systems (ERPs like SAP and Epicor to Quality Management Systems). That approach saved time and money for all stakeholders and makes SmartCert available to everyone in the supply chain.”
key takeaway
Continue To Innovate & Adapt
Supply chain management strategies typically undergo gradual evolution. However, the lessons of 2020 have underscored the need for forward-thinking organizations to embrace digitalization to stay competitive in the rapidly changing landscape of global business, commerce, and e-commerce.
Digital transformation is an ongoing evolution, a journey without a defined endpoint. As markets evolve and customer needs shift, organizations must continually invest in digital technology to create and sustain customer-centric experiences that keep them competitive.
Let’s build something amazing.
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