The name “Manuchar” may not ring a bell with many people, but this Antwerp-based company is one of the world’s largest supply chain companies of chemicals and raw materials, and a cornerstone of international trade and logistics, bridging the gap between producers and consumers in emerging economies. Five years ago, Patrick Putman was recruited to steer Manuchar onto the digital bandwagon with real-time, digital interactions with customers, suppliers, banks and logistics partners, integrating artificial intelligence, IoT sensors and automated systems. The goal was the monetisation of data-driven insights for commercial advantage and customer value creation. The first step was to standardise, as the company had grown in using a variety of different ERP solutions. With DigIT, customers gained a self-service portal, real-time track and trace capabilities and digital product passports. With MoveIT, information was pulled out of the silos to create unified global operations. This has led to streamlined processes and automation, reducing costs and improving speed, accuracy and scalability across the business. The foundations have been laid for Manuchar’s future digital evolution. De digital transformation has reverberated far beyond the bounderies of the organization.
Will Patrick Putman, CDIO at Manuchar, become the CDO of the Year 2025?
