Global Lighthouse Network 2026

The potential for further digitalization across supply chains remains significant, with much of the value still untapped. Even after years of disruption that exposed the cost of blind spots, more than 40% of organizations still lack visibility into tier-1 supplier performance, suggesting that while intent is high, achieving true end-to-end transparency remains elusive.38 Meanwhile, Lighthouses on average have onboarded roughly 36% of their customers and suppliers onto their IoT platforms, marking a move from localized efficiency to collaborative networks that create mutual value and resilience.39 Lighthouses demonstrate that true digital leadership extends beyond factory walls to supply chains. By cultivating partnerships grounded in transparency, mutual capability building and long-term value creation, they are also reducing waste, improving traceability and accelerating decarbonization.2.3 Scaling-up impact with collaboration and purpose Ecosystem collaboration: amplifying impact across the value chain Lighthouses are capable of translating early digital wins into system-level impact because they have managed to effect an essential shift from transactional to transformational collaboration across the value chain. With shared standards, data trust and aligned incentives, Lighthouses activate entire value chains whereas most companies stall at the enterprise boundary. Knowledge sharing and capability building Lighthouses collaborate across their end-to-end value chains to proliferate knowledge and drive network-wide scale. By sharing insights and best practices with suppliers, peer sites within the organization and end-customers alike, they turn individual achievements into enablers for system- wide impact. This ripple effect strengthens the entire network. Yunnan Baiyao in Kunming, China actively seeks to amplify capabilities across its end-to-end value chains. The company’s Welkin AI Platform provides enterprise-level LLM and agent capabilities, with users generating 30+ low code and 20+ AI-enabled applications. By partnering with universities, the site created a robust talent pipeline supported by project-based learning. The site trained 170+ suppliers on environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and engaged 200+ small and medium enterprises (SMEs), while supporting small farmers with an IIoT and GenAI-enabled digital platform focused on improving agricultural practices (Figure 16).40 End-to-end supply chain synchronization Another distinction of Lighthouses is their ability to synchronize the full value chain, translating data connectivity into coordinated action. Rather than optimizing in silos, they integrate planning, production, logistics and customer demand signals in near-real time. This seamless flow of information breaks down geographic and organizational barriers, enabling joint decision-making with suppliers and customers. For example, Yunnan Baiyo’s satellite remote sensing and AI-powered yield forecasting and procurement of herbs improved yield prediction accuracy by 23 percentage points and reduced inventory levels by 35%. The integration of high- resolution satellite images and AI models enabled precise monitoring of crop health and growth, ensuring stability and supply chain resilience. This approach also improved raw material quality, leading to better product outcomes (Figure 16).41 Embedded sustainability: transforming resource efficiency and circularity Through purposeful ecosystem collaboration, Lighthouses turn operational gains into network- wide impact, driving productivity, sustainability and resilience across the value chain. Resource efficiency provides a clear example: amid sharp price increases in commodities such as fertilizer, aluminium, coal and steel, Lighthouses have demonstrated greater stability by minimizing exposure to global logistics and overseas production. While supply chains and commodities tend to correct over time, recurring mid-term disruptions underscore the value of these resilient models and are fuelling new interest in circular business approaches that reclaim products and materials for reuse.42 Global Lighthouse Network: Rewiring Operations for Resilience and Impact at Scale 26