Group 486

Core principle 1: Connect physical to digital

Sharing data via the BDI allows for a direct connection between physical processes and digital information. Physical processes — such as the delivery of materials to a construction site, the processing of an agricultural product, the transport of raw materials, or the delivery of goods to a warehouse — are supported by data and information exchange. While such communication used to occur via manual registrations, phone calls or single documents, the BDI allows for it to be structured completely digitally through connected IT systems.   

How does it work?  

After the occurrence of a physical event, such as

  • the delivery of hot asphalt on an infrastructure project;
  • the harvesting and processing of a agricultural product;
  • the arrival of components at a factory;
  • the transfer of goods, energy or materials between supply chain partners

this event can automatically be translated to digital data because of the BDI. This data is than directly made available for the authorized parties in the supply chain.

Because all involved systems use the same agreements, standards and language, a single shared and up-to-date view of reality emerges. This does not only provide better insight, but also greater flexibility, improved decision-making, and smarter collaboration between organizations, people, and systems.

The BDI allows the physical and digital worlds to grow closer together. It creates a more robust digital foundation on which sectors can innovate and increase their sustainability and efficiency — e.g. by calculating their emission footprints, reducing waste, or planning more intelligently.

What does that mean in practice?

  • Greater control over physical processes through direct, automatic support with up-to-date data
  • Transparency in supply chains and networks, where authorized parties have insights into relevant data
  • Faster and more reliable handling of physical, administrative and financial processes
  • Increased predictability and scheduling through real-time data availability
  • Faster and more effective reaction to disruptions, changes and new circumstances through faster data availability
  • A foundation for sustainability, innovation and chain-wide optimalisation (e.g. through CO2-monitoring and circular processes)