Backbone Reimagines the Global Supply Chain

Reimagining the Global Supply Chain

Supply chains have been broken for a long time, creating unnecessary pain felt by generations. One of the greatest challenges we collectively faced during the global pandemic is the intensification of this byzantine problem, prompting us to ask: how are these powerful companies unable to manage their supply chains? 

That’s why the Backbone platform was created to address every operator’s biggest problem: supply chain disruptions. 

We at Backbone understand supply chains and their imperfections because we have been studying them rigorously! Supply chains are only as strong as their weakest link. In fact, there is nothing linear about how supply chains really work. So how can operators promptly respond to broken chains and minimize damage? 

Answer: a supply mesh.

Supply chains today are really Supply Meshes: hyperconnected and heterogeneous. Legacy supply chain technologies were built on static, linear models of the command-and-control, vertically integrated, and fixed-asset-heavy corporations of yesteryear. This tight coupling created the conditions for a collapse that was not set in motion but was accelerated by the pandemic. Disruptions are part of any hyperconnected system so we need to take a fundamentally different approach while addressing this problem.

Backbone is a supply mesh software that manages your business logistics and helps operators quickly react to disruptions. The first of its kind, a supply mesh includes a vast network of reliable, accredited vendors suggested through Backbone's platform when volatility inevitably arises.

For the past six years, the Backbone team has been working in stealth mode to put our supply mesh solution to the test in the most complicated and highly-regulated industries - hemp and cannabis. We have since broadened our supply mesh software, expanding into the dynamic supply chains of agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and more.

Why supply mesh? 

Traditional supply chains are limited by inconsistent links (eg. suppliers) and are vulnerable to unforeseen events such as war, natural disasters, or pandemics. Approximately 60% of the world's GDP runs through these globally distributed supply chains. Here at Backbone, we want to make sure it runs smoothly. 

Backbone was founded by a group of tech veterans that approach data empathetically and use business intelligence boldly. We built a platform powered by machine learning, IoT infrastructure, and decentralization, equipping operators with a robust backend so they can focus on scaling. 

With predictive analytics, companies can strategically plan for the worst, prepare to be flexible, and create resilience across any supply chain. Backbone also helps streamline the auditing process for manufacturers to receive standard operating accreditations such as GMP, BRCGS, and ISO, which lends credibility to operating internationally. 

What else will Backbone do?

• A configurable system molded to fit your flow, not work against it  

• Real-time disruption alerts, cutting down on reaction time

• Suggested substitute suppliers when vendors are fickle

• Track and trace features display transparency throughout lifecycles 

• From COGS to ESG, analyze any part of an organization with data-driven reports 

Journey to launch day

Backbone is on a mission to turn fragile supply chains into an interconnected supply mesh. We do this by breaking down the nuances, and optimizing an organization's system so operators can worry less about volatility and focus on doing what they do best.

Leading the effort to build this novel platform is a team comprising a diverse group of problem solvers with eclectic experience spanning tech, pharmaceutical, finance, government, agriculture, cannabis, and hemp. While in stealth, we have processed 3.6 million lbs of raw materials, tracked 65,000 production runs, and onboarded 60+ new team members and that's just the beginning.

Learn more about Backbone's approach to empowering operators across the supply chain with a Free Demo or at our Social Equity Resource Hub.