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Until the quantum thing comes along - this is a test

Azure Quantum drives data storage improvements https://t.co/ywLiqKjEbO via @VentureBeat

— Jack Vaughan (@JackIVaughan) November 16, 2021

One among the many takeaways from the COVID-19 pandemic an awareness that industries needed to take another look at supply-chain optimization. It may not be quite up there with security, but supply-chain optimization is near top of mind in many of today’s digital transformation undertakings.

Logistics and optimization are oft-cited uses of quantum computing. Though it is still a trickle, there are growing indications quantum algorithms are being applied to research in such supply-chain optimization. 

These are often quantum-inspired efforts, meaning they reap the benefit of research in quantum simulation, but don’t rely on working with actual quantum computers to work.

An example comes by way of Microsoft, which is using its own quantum software to optimize storage – that is to increase capacity and predictability -- on its Azure cloud. You can read about it on VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/2021/11/15/azure-quantum-drives-data-storage-improvements/

Computer storage management turns out to be a useful use quantum-inspired algorithms, to hear in Microsoft’s telling, and certainly they are well versed in cloud hyperscaling. Some of this is outlined in a Microsoft blog. 

But the company said its QIO optimization solvers can work on other domains, and were joined by geospatial and logistics services system mainstay Trimble in the announcement. Trimble said it is using Azure Quantum QIO to i.d. the best routes for vehicle fleets,” ensuring fewer trucks run empty, and maximizing operating load for each trip.” Useful trait, that. 

When it comes to quantum-inspired algorithms on classic computers – it will just have to do, in the words of Sammy Cahn’s immortal song, until the quantum computing thing comes along.