The story of quantum computers began in 1981 with physicist and Nobel-Prize laureate Richard Feynman. Feynman wondered, if quantum physics cannot be simulated on a computer, why not build a quantum mechanical computer instead, which would be far better than ordinary computers? Quantum mechanics, which is the basis for quantum computers, had emerged from attempts to understand the nature of matter and light. Over the past few decades, research has moved into a new stage, which is to manipulate and control quantum systems so that they behave in a prescribed way, which has brought research closer to computer science.
These days, quantum computers have the ability to harness some of the phenomena of quantum mechanics to deliver huge leaps forward in processing power. These machines promise to outstrip even the most capable of today’s supercomputers. More processing power also means more potential to tackle business problems which cannot or only partially be solved by classical computers today. And, of course, supply chains could also profit from quantum computers.
While quantum computing systems may not be readily available right now, the level of supply chain disruption that occurred over the last two years could have been averted if we made use of quantum computing technology. This surely is a bold statement, but I think you will see the truth of this after reading the whole article. Discussing the implications of a practically not available technology certainly does not change the past, but it can give us hope that we will be able to better deal with future events of this magnitude.
What is Quantum Computing?
A quantum computer encodes information into quantum states and then computes by performing quantum operations on it. A classical computer is binary and processes information using bits, but quantum computers process information using qubits. Qubits can be linked to other qubits, known as entanglement, which is one of the key differences that set the two computer concepts apart. Theoretical studies suggest that the usage of these unique mechanisms allows for a more efficient solving of certain mathematical problems, for example the search in large data bases or factorizing of large numbers.
IBM announced a ‘road map’ for the development of its quantum computers, which includes the goal of building one that contains 1,000 qubits by 2023. IBM’s current largest quantum computer has 65 qubits. This seemingly slow improvement if you compare the numbers of bits of modern (classical) computers and qubits is a consequence of the physical constraints that need to be overcome. Until recently, quantum computers needed to be stored in unique conditions within labs of big tech companies such as IBM, Google and NASA. Scientists not only have to build the computer itself but also the ultra-protected environment in which they operate: total isolation is needed in order to eliminate any vibrations or other external influences on synchronized atoms. If the atoms become decoherent, the quantum computer can’t function. They also cost millions, if not billions, of dollars to produce. But despite these computers being perhaps not quite ready for mass production and rollout, it goes without saying that they have powerful potential to transform real-world problems. And according to the World Economic Forum, it is predicted that we might see the first generation of commercially-available, quantum-inspired devices by 2025.
Why invest in quantum computers instead of regular computers?
With marketability only a few years away, the age of quantum computing may be coming sooner than you might think. Businesses paying attention to this trend right now could get a step ahead of others who may not be thinking about this technology just yet. The benefits of having quantum computers is that they have the potential to transform industry value chains, especially in areas like chemistry, biology, healthcare, materials science, finance and AI.
For example, quantum computing can be used to help manufacturers control their energy distribution, water usage and network design. This can improve energy efficiency, mitigates problems and monitors the environmental impact of energy consumption, which is important if your company wants to become more sustainable.
One of the companies that try to be early-movers with quantum computing is BMW. The automotive company is piloting the use of quantum computing tools to optimize their supply chains for car manufacturing. The experiments were carried out as part of a new collaboration between BMW and US multinational Honeywell, which recently made a trapped-ion quantum computer available to its customers over the cloud.
How quantum computers can benefit supply chains
As mentioned before, these computers can help i.e. manufacturers to manage their energy distribution, water usage and network design. The precision of the technology gives a detailed account of the energy being used on the production floor in real-time. Real-time insight into the supply chain through the use of intelligent solutions and hardware such as quantum computers can help managers to leverage efficiency and productivity.
Quantum computing also has the potential to speed up the last-mile delivery process, and can also help to build a much more resilient supply chain that supports adaptive re-planning and the reallocation of assets in the event of unexpected shutdowns, late shipments or the cancelation of orders. This will be important for the future, especially if unexpected events such as future pandemics or severe weather due to climate change occur.
Another aspect which quantum computers also have the potential to transform are multi-level distribution processes, of everything from life-saving drugs and critical resources, to electronics, food and basic consumer goods. The more complex a process is, the more likely that large data sets are involved and processing time becomes a factor. For example, S&OP or Integrated Business Planning are likely to be improved by quantum computers, since these tools generally work with abstract information in order to be able to get planning updates as soon as possible. With quantum computing, S&OP or IBP software would not only be able to recalculate the planning of the whole supply chain in real-time, but would also be able to compute much more detailed processes. A “one tool for all things supply chain” could be a realistic option in the future.
Final thoughts
Quantum computers will be game-changing across many industries such as medical, finance and manufacturing, and are poised to solve problems within a fraction of the time that it currently takes. Quantum computers may potentially become a reality only within the next five years or so, and it will probably take significant investment and technology breakthroughs to make that happen. But the pandemic has accelerated digital transformation by months, if not years, so perhaps we will see quantum computers even sooner than we think. Future supply chain and logistics challenges may become more complicated, but the good news is that quantum computing can provide a means for mastering this complexity.
