The digital age is transforming the way we do business worldwide, including the way supply chains are managed across several industries. The trends we will examine will change the game this year and beyond.
Many of these Supply Chain trends will be related to technological innovations and advancements that have made things more efficient and easier.
Redefining Brands and Business Names for the Digital Age
With supply chains becoming more digitized by the day, it might be one of those times when businesses reconsider their identification regarding their brand and business name. Moreover, the new strategies and markets they are working with could also be one of the major driving forces behind it.
Suppose your business is considering the idea of rebranding and changing its business name. In that case, it might be a great idea to consider some tools that will help you create a business name (like the free business name generator offered by Canva) that will resonate with a digitally-centered audience and align with the strategic goals you implement in the future.
AI-Powered Supply Chain Analytics
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to become one of the significant technologies adopted in supply chain management. Nonetheless, AI can perform plenty of tasks, including predicting demand patterns, optimizing inventory levels, presenting analytics, and allowing business owners to make more informed decisions than ever before.
This will significantly make things more efficient in the supply chain management space, as it simplifies some of the tasks that were previously considered complex and difficult to navigate before AI was adopted.
AI will be a continuous worker for supply chain management in so many ways. For example, it’ll continue to analyze ongoing data and make the necessary suggestions for business owners regarding the production of specific items they sell. Specifically, they can analyze the sales data of that product and decide if it is best to increase and decrease production.
If the product’s sales have increased and there is a forecast for more sales, obviously the common sense decision is to produce more. On the other hand, if sales are not as good, less production will make better sense. Strictly speaking, AI can help you make decisions that will be cost-effective in the long run.
Sustainability-Driven Logistics
Aside from living in a digitally-centered era, sustainability is also being taken seriously. What seemed like a buzzword in years past is now becoming more mainstream. Businesses can implement plans to help reduce their carbon footprint by optimizing transportation routes, providing eco-friendly packaging, and implementing related measures such as circular economic principles.
This shift will not only make sustainability in the supply chain more attainable, but it can also benefit the environment as a whole and enhance one’s brand reputation. In addition, it can attract consumers and investors who highly regard environmental consciousness.
Sustainability is possible even if the vehicles being used to transport products to customers are not electric vehicles. It takes careful route planning and optimization so damage is done on the environment.
Automation and Robotics in Warehousing
Warehousing is part of the supply chain space where automation and robotics can thrive. More adoption is expected in the years that follow. Implementations may include automated storage and retrieval systems, robotic process automation, and autonomous guided vehicles.
These will be useful in streamlining operations while reducing labor costs and making inventory management sharper and more precise than ever for many supply chain management strategies.
Not to be outdone, the use of automation and robotics in warehousing can be a blessing for those who hold safety in a high regard. This can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries that human workers typically face. It also reduces the workload for human workers, making things easier for them work-wise.
Advanced Risk Management Strategies
Of course, we must address all risk management situations that could arise in supply chain management. Identifying and mitigating potential threats will be critical, especially in the digital age. Companies should integrate advanced analytics, scenario planning, and risk assessment tools powered by AI to anticipate such issues and solve them accordingly with the right contingency plan.
Risk management relates to fluctuating prices, unexpected delays such as weather disruptions, and cybersecurity threats lurking around the corner. Every business should have a plan for these everyday situations to be better prepared.
Final Thoughts
These five supply chain trends are changing the business landscape this year and beyond. Yes, it is becoming more digitally centered, but this is for the better. Technologies such as AI and machine learning are eliminating what otherwise would have been complex obstacles that have hindered businesses for years.
Things will be more efficient and more manageable when handling supply chain management, and global commerce will move faster and face fewer obstacles than in past ages.
Article and permission to publish here provided by Linkbuilder.io. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on August 27, 2024.
Cover image by pexels.com.