US big data company Orbital Insight uses satellites to track food supplies in coronavirus era

Orbital Insight, a California-based big data company that uses satellites, drones, balloons and mobile phone geolocation data to track what’s happening on Earth, has seen inquiries about monitoring food supplies double in the past two months, according to James Crawford, founder and chief executive officer of the company.

“We’re helping supply chain managers, financial institutions, and government agencies answer questions they never thought they would have to ask,” Crawford said in a phone interview.

The coronavirus outbreak has triggered a fresh surge in demand for alternative data to shed light on how the pandemic is impacting industries and trade across the globe. That is especially important as multiple government lockdowns and tighter restrictions on the movement of people and goods upend supply chains and logistics everywhere from Asia to Europe and the Americas.

Orbital customers have been asking for data such as when cargo ships leave ports, when plants close, and the number of passengers travelling through airports. As infections continue to spike, clients in recent weeks began concentrating on tracking grocers, wholesalers, and distribution centres to monitor everything from food supplies to the production of medical supplies at specific factories, Crawford said.

It is not just those looking to monitor supply chains that have turned to alternative data. Companies seeking to strike deals at a time when quarantine is preventing in-person meetings are also edging toward unusual methods to get more information. Coty Inc, which owns brands such as Wella and OPI, and suitors for its professional beauty unit are considering conducting due diligence by flying drones across manufacturing facilities, according to people with knowledge of the matter.