Having the flexibility to quickly adapt to abrupt supplier changes is key to surviving the crisis.

The coronavirus outbreak is having a serious ripple effect throughout global supply chains. Factories have shut down, product flow in many cases has come to a halt, and consumer purchases of all but the most essential items are plummeting.

As bad as things might seem right now, the situation is temporary — and retailers must be prepared for the flood of consumer demand that will be released by economic recovery.

The coronavirus pandemic could result in some permanent changes to the way in which global supply chains operate.