The pandemic has highlighted the fact that during such a dramatic disruption most companies had trouble managing the global and interdependent nature of the supply chain.
To move forward authors, Jason Bergstrom, Patrick Gallagher, and Ian Stewart of Deloitte offer some advice on how to cope with uncertain times.
In an article, they point out that the first order of business is to recognize that there have been shifts in a number of areas including customers, business operations and workforce.
As far as customers are concerned, “the expectation for quick and seamless on-demand delivery will likely require companies to collaborate with ecosystem partners in increasingly complex fulfillment network.”
With regard to business operations, as digital supply networks (DSN) grow the key to these systems is the “interconnectivity of digital tools, physical infrastructure, and their underlying data streams."
The workforce is changing too as companies increase ranks through the addition of contract and gig workers. The authors advise companies to “think creatively about how to train and leverage them effectively,” which includes flexible talent mobility policies.
As far as looking forward in an effort to be better prepared, the authors say it’s imperative to ensure that the supply chain operation must be an integral part of the company’s strategy. One way to achieve this is a collaboration between those devising business strategies and those managing the supply chain.
Improvements in both the ability and affordability of technology can enable collaboration. Part of this is due to the increase of cloud-based solutions which gives supply chain managers access to a larger range of products. “Supply chain leaders can thus rethink their company’s technology strategy as a means of driving increased innovation and nimbleness at a lower cost and faster speed to market,” the authors point out.
And once a strategy is devised, supply chain leaders need to take an active role in planning for future needs. Leaders must identify areas within the supply chain that could be automated and upskill the workforce with the capabilities necessary to do this type of work.
