Keeping the fax analogy in mind, Tony sees similar scenarios frequently played out in the real world. For example, a video editor might receive raw footage using digital data collection and will edit the footage on a digital system, but then transfer it to a hard drive to be shipped via FedEx or UPS. That, Tony says, is not a digital supply chain -- at best, Tony would call it a "hybrid." Companies looking for a true digital supply chain want a seamless, end-to-end solution that uses a network as its infrastructure. The goal is no human intervention and no need to physically handle the data. There may be exceptions, but ideally, whether it is an entertainment-quality video or a large medical imaging data set, the data flows through the network and every step in the process is managed digitally.
Looking for Digital Efficiencies and Monetizing Assets
Tony Lapolito believes the network transmission layer offers the most opportunities for efficiencies, often by automating repetitive manual tasks. For example, an individual might receive a file digitally, but then manually transcode the file or manually check the file into a content management system. Signiant's role is often to help its customers make more efficient use of the network, and to eliminate manual processes. In most cases, Tony says, the result is saving money and monetizing assets.
