SAS: Digital Twins Help Companies to Prevent Crises

Q: How do digital twins and AI technologies complement each other to create more resilient end-to-end supply chains?

A: A digital twin creates a replica of a business model. By merging digital twin capabilities with analytics, it is possible to use the available data within a business model to create different potential scenarios. Imagine having the capability to predict a problem before it happens by using the analytics capability that SAS offers. We provide intelligent planning and decision capabilities.

For example, the baby formula crisis currently affecting the US could have been prevented using a digital twin, AI and analytics software. If a digital replica of those businesses would have been modeled three months ago, the important KPIs would have been identified and decisions that supported those businesses would have been made. 

Q: How transparent are SAS data-driven conclusions to clients?

A: The conclusions are extremely transparent because SAS is able to generate outputs and visualizations that make sense for any customer. Each client interprets data differently and identifies the KPIs that are important to them. As there is a large amount of data, we filter it to understand what is meaningful and the digital twin creates different scenarios. 

The world has seen a data explosion during the past five years, especially pertaining to real-time data. We filter through this information and turn it into something meaningful for our customers. Afterward, we work with the client to allow them to make intelligent decisions in real time. 

We work side by side with clients to develop those digital twin models. We recently partnered with Cosmo Tech, a world leader in digital twin capabilities with fantastic competences and good track records with customers.

Q: SAS announced it will be ready for an initial public offering (IPO) by 2024. What benefits will potential investors get from trusting SAS?

A: We are a company with over 40 years of experience that works with many industries around the world. SAS is one of the world’s best-kept secrets; nobody really knows who we really are. By going public, SAS will reach more customers that will be able to gain value from our solutions. 

Q: How will the introduction of 5G revolutionize SAS’s commercial offer?

A: We welcome and consume any technology that facilitates data transfer. The ability to have instant data movement and respond to it is essential for our customers. The capabilities to respond in real time to data inputs add value to our customers. 

Q: What initiatives does SAS have for 2022?

A: Some of our priorities include our partnerships with Cosmo Tech and Microsoft. The latter gave us large computer power, allowing us to scale up quickly. The main concern of customers was our ability to scale up and manage the workloads but thanks to the Microsoft partnership, it has become a low-cost, low-risk operation. We are working closely with Microsoft’s engineering teams and creating those joint capabilities. 

We are also working on connected analytics capabilities to create an end-to-end supply chain. For example, we aim to connect the typical demand planning forecasting capability with transportation. In Mexico, transportation has its own unique complexities. Last year, we announced a partnership with multinational three-point logistics provider C. H. Robinson. We are also looking for other partners to allow logistics customers to truly have visibility of their supply chains, allowing them to make faster decisions regarding their inventories. Another of our key initiatives is to continue to educate the logistics industry about digital capabilities. 

SAS is a multinational analytics solutions developer that supports organizations seeking immediate value from their data. The company has over 40 years of experience and has customers in 150 countries.