Key Trends impacting Supply Chain Management this 2022

You can safely say that the supply chain now is a principal driver of your business growth.

When supply chains undergo sweeping changes, how jobs are handled changes fundamentally, businesses today do not see supply chains like they used to. Supply chains are now thought of while buying goods and services. The supply chain is now in the mainstream news cycle and a part of our everyday lives.

Managers and companies see the supply chain as a wave of change that implies new methods of operations and strategies. Accenture’s Global Supply Chain and Operations Lead adds that today’s supply chain models are sophisticated, flexible, and efficient systems.

Industries worldwide strive to optimize execution and identify the best ways to be a step ahead of the rest. Getting ahead on supply chain trends may help your business shape into a more prosperous and sustainable business.

Supply chain management trends in 2022:

• Automation and advanced analytics will grow

Automation and analytics will accelerate this year to an extent where your business may enjoy the perks of digital and agile supply chain management systems. Implementing prescriptive and predictive analytics with advancements in robotics, big data, and algorithms will leave long-term effects.

• Relations come at a whole new priority 

Supply chains grow at a complexity where deep partnerships become essential too. Krumland reveals how organizations that invested in long-time partner relationships helped manage crises versus those that went from sports markets to business.

How visible your relationship is with your partner also strengthens relationships. Collaborative ventures have proven to be flourishing supply chain strategies for business owners that can be explored.

• Businesses are incorporating sustainability 

Sustainability in supply chains is more of a need than a trend. Businesses now must integrate sustainability with the company, especially the supply chain. Keep your regulations in check, the crackdown carbon footprint from your business, and adopt eco-friendly strategies to drive your business.

Blue Yonder reveals how 58% of companies focused on sustainability which is excellent progress. Massive shortages and constraints will continue in logistics, but eCommerce businesses must adopt sustainable strategies now.

• Adoption of New Tech may get essential

Technologies supporting supply chains have changed over the past couple of years. With managers investing strategically and increasingly in new technology, machinery, software, and hardware are all perceived in light today.

Companies built supply chains on legacy technologies that were inflexible, inefficient, and basic. Legacy systems still critical include transportation management systems (TMS) and warehouse management systems (WMS). You can own one Order Management System to manage order fulfilments.

Investment in tech for supply chain management can help save time workforce and streamline supply management for any business.

• Operation reform must be end-to-end 

Make 2022 about optimizing your supply chain operations end-to-end. An increase of data, mainly qualitative data, holds the strength to amend gaps in the supply chain today. However, the information needs to be shared across operation teams. A visible supply chain with data ranging from front to back offices will lead to positive customer experiences.

• Risk management is still important 

Over optimizing supply chains can be expensive. Stockpiling inventory can also cause unnecessary disruptions with drive costs and more. However, anything is possible when your business is prepared to deal with risks. For instance, panic buying during the pandemic used to be damaged once, and supply chain managers came up with a solution to address the shortage! Risk management is essential now more than ever.

Risk management can be done by:

• Tap into insights and experiences to make decisions related to the supply chain. Identify potential weaknesses conduct stress tests on your suppliers to see how logistics, production, and pricing.
• Build an emergency supply chain plan based on your business priorities and experiences. Keep it updated to use it during an emergency.
• Increase supply chain agility by diversifying your suppliers. This way, you have backup suppliers vetted, making it easy to deal with shortages during a situation.

Companies who wish to stick to their old ways may die young

Supply chain management has a bright future with automation and technology integration. As a business owner, you must quickly switch or blend your old ways with new ones, like exploring OMS and WMS for the supply chain management.

The future of the supply chain holds more innovation than disruption and shortages. Let’s learn from the past and find efficient ways to build the best supply chains in the new future. With Vinculum, your business can be the best supply chain company.