Shaping Future Supply Chains
Supply chains face an evolution that will change how chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) operate, according to a Gartner report. The following trends will shape the supply chain’s future, the report says:
1. The rise of digital business. Many CSCOs struggle to create a holistic digital roadmap. At the same time, they face pressure from CEOs who want to digitize. The top barrier to a digital supply chain is culture, followed by legacy technology. CSCOs must work with partners across the business to overcome those barriers.
2. Competitor and trade uncertainty. Almost half of CSCOs say their business is at risk of being disrupted in the coming years, with the greatest risk coming from startups. The U.S.-China trade war and Brexit cause trade uncertainty, and COVID-19 raises concerns about future pandemics.
3. Sustainability and the circular economy. Supply chains play a critical role in every step of the circular economy: create, use, return, recycle, reuse. In fact, 28% of organizations already implemented circular design approaches in their innovation strategy in 2019, and 39% plan to do so within the next two years.