from that ,” he says . “ What we ’ re trying to do is to get the platform to learn and to come up with the best solution that it thinks is right , coupled with a human being in that loop , advising the customer and thinking logically about how that could possibly work . Using those two things together to give the customer the best solution .”
Maistro works with customers in a wide variety of industry sectors and this provides the company with a broad picture as to what different industry players demand and what the key drivers behind that demand are . Cook points to a tobacco company , one of Maistro ’ s biggest customers , that has a footprint spanning 12 countries . In Europe , the company ’ s focus is centred around innovation while in Asia its cost . Through this one customer Maistro has a view of the intricacies of multiple markets . “ They are looking to move from tobacco to reduced risk products and that ’ s a massive change for their business ,” he says . “ What they need then is speed and innovation across their supplier base . How quickly can we find them a supplier to match that changing focus ? Maistro looks for innovative suppliers that can offer something different to any customer in any industry .”
Another example of this saw a customer request that Maistro connect them with suppliers connected to sonic branding , the practice of using auditory elements to brand a product or service . This was an area that even Cook himself admits to having a limited understanding of and this required Maistro to approach this particular request a little differently . “ What we do a lot of the time is help bring the suppliers to customers that can educate them and help them make their companies more effective and , in the process , we learn as well ,” he says . “ There ’ s no substitute for making sure that we are keeping ahead of the game by doing research ourselves . We don ’ t simply react , we are proactive .”
This proactive approach has seen Maistro recognised on a global scale , not only by current and future customers but also by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply ( CIPS ). In late 2018 , CIPS announced that Maistro had become the latest CIPS Knowledge Partner . As a knowledge partner , Maistro will work with CIPS and its global members to address the
43 www . supplychaindigital . com