By accelerating out of the pandemic and into the future of supply-chain labor management with a well-thought-out strategy and flexible plan, companies will position themselves for future success and resiliency.

Technology continues to transform business operations and outcomes, especially in supply-chain management.

Automation can solve business challenges in new and non-human ways, from helping grocers stock shelves to fulfilling delivery orders.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools have been shown to be an essential component of the technology portfolio that helps to make sense of all this, and create more responsive and resilient supply chains.

The year 2021 is expected to be a turning point for enterprise resource planning (ERP) business applications, as the pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities resulting from ERP’s functionally siloed architecture.

The field of artificial intelligence and machine learning comes with intimidating terminology and lots of new data — big data, structured and unstructured, from the web, social media, news, internet of things (IoT), events and weather. Supply-chain professionals need to understand all of this data, and become expert at deploying new services, tools and processes to manage it.

Companies today have access to an abundance of data sources and advanced analytics, which are bringing forth new approaches to planning and modeling, with the goal of optimizing product flow throughout markets.

With the adoption of digital and “Business 4.0” technologies, one can only hope that supply-chain visibility will “cross the chasm” from early adoption to early majority in 2021.

The dramatic shift to e-commerce put pressure on operations that were already facing a declining labor pool, and systems and equipment that favored store replenishment and large deliveries.

Regardless of where your organization is on the e-commerce maturity curve, in response to the rapid growth of online retail sparked by COVID-19, it’s a good time to reflect on whether you have the right capabilities on your team.

Accelerated omnichannel adoption and the expectation of free next-day delivery will force all retailers, virtual and physical, to reduce supply-chain costs, while creating new competitive options for brick-and-mortar retail.

As they brace for a second wave of the pandemic — or the next disruption of any kind — retailers are seeking new ways to utilize brick-and-mortar locations to meet changing customer demands.

The volatility caused by the global health crisis has prompted many finance executives to reinspect the impact of late payments on overall supply-chain health.

In a time of lockdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic, in-person workshops, seminars and consulting engagements are at a standstill. In response, many forward-thinking companies are beginning to offer online assessment tools and action plans across all disciplines.

Amid the global health pandemic, alternative liquidity solutions such as supply-chain finance and accounts receivable finance are playing an important role in improving financial health, minimizing disruption, and increasing resiliency for buyers and suppliers.  

One of the many lessons learned in 2020 was that there is a critical need for greater visibility across many facets of the supply chain.

According to a recent report by the McKinsey consultancy, the COVID-19 pandemic “has once again driven home the necessity of managing operational and supply chain risks. It has catapulted these issues to the top of CEOs’ agendas, and the unexpected now has to be considered probable.”

The global coronavirus pandemic put a giant exclamation point on the uncertainty that retailers, distributors, and manufacturers have always had to contend with.

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are the future of warehouse sortation and transportation.

The increase in online shopping may require firms to put up new distribution facilities, in order to continue supporting traditional methods of order fulfillment, while also planning for an uncertain future.

The “last mile” in 2021 will be faster, closer, and offer more options for online shoppers.

No matter how efficient an operation might be, without access to the products the customer is looking for, there’s no order to fulfill.

To address today's opportunities and unconventional challenges, railroads need to focus on creating high-performing teams that draw on a wealth of institutional knowledge, while adding new leaders who can embrace innovation and new technology.

Over the last decade, a marked trend toward centralized hosting of WMS in the cloud has gained footing in the market. Today, WMS subscription-based pricing is rapidly evolving and changing the customer-vendor dynamic.

Changes in supply-network structure, business operating models and consumer behavior offer the opportunity for firms to significantly improve environmental sustainability.

 

A combination of trends is making sustainable, responsible supply chains no longer something that are “nice-to-have,” but rather an imperative.

Will sustainability programs be harnessed to help companies manage pandemic-related risks? Will there be a higher reputational risk for companies as worker welfare and safety issues attract more attention? Or will sustainability be sidelined until companies regain their pre-pandemic strength?