Red Sofa interview
How automotive supply chains are building long-term digital capabilities
On the Red Sofa at Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Digital Strategies North America, Christopher Ludwig explains how a run of recent crises has exposed supply-chain weak spots – and how the industry is now investing in digital capability, deeper collaboration and long-term resilience.
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In his first Red Sofa appearance as an interviewee rather than host, Christopher Ludwig, chief content officer at Automotive Logistics, reflects on how a succession of crises has exposed long-standing gaps in supply chain visibility, data access and systems integration – and how manufacturers and logistics providers are now beginning to address these more systematically.
Rather than responding to individual disruptions in isolation, many are investing in foundational digital infrastructure – bringing together data across functions, improving internal collaboration, and introducing AI and control tower capabilities in ways that are aligned with actual operational needs.
The conversation also explores how compliance pressures and regulatory requirements, such as those relating to forced labour or sustainability, are accelerating progress on digitalisation – while also revealing ongoing challenges in trust and data-sharing across partners.