We’ve recently talked about ways in which external trends can have an impact on supply chain management systems, while also observing that these trends are largely outside of our control. The best way to prepare for external forces is to watch them closely and prepare as best as we can. This can feel a little bit nerve wracking, but do not despair, there are also factors that are industry driven that we can continue to develop in our favor. The three main elements to notice and start working with have to do with consumer habits, product circulation and the distribution and methodology of information. We can expect to have at least some power to help shape the outcome of these factors in the years to come.

1. January 19, 2015
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2020: A Chain Management Systems
Space Odyssey
We’ve recently talked about ways in which external trends can
have an impact on supply chain management systems, while also
observing that these trends are largely outside of our control. The
best way to prepare for external forces is to watch them closely
and prepare as best as we can. This can feel a little bit nerve
wracking, but do not despair, there are also factors that are
industry driven that we can continue to develop in our favor. The
three main elements to notice and start working with have to do
with consumer habits, product circulation and the distribution and
methodology of information. We can expect to have at least some
power to help shape the outcome of these factors in the years to
come.
Consumer Habits
The future customers and shoppers of tomorrow are already
participating actively in supply chain management. As more
methods of purchase power are invented and continue to
proliferate, the people have spoken and they are happy to explore
more ways of shipping and receiving products. Whether it’s
through mobile phone, online purchases, brick and mortar stores,
keeping up with these demands is part of the new era for supply
chain logistics management. As progress marches on, and new
methods of neighborhood distribution and continuing
developments in consumer behavior and powering the value, we
can stay on top of their needs and ours with the tools we have,
and the ones we’ll develop.
Product Circulation
So then let’s talk about the flow of product. We’ve got more
people, buildings, roads, cars, more traffic than ever. For your
operations and supply chain system to remain efficient and cost
effective, you can work to make changes that
will accommodate the growing advances effecting city distribution,
transportation and traffic. Ultimately, product flow as we know it
now is becoming quickly outdated, so it’s time to start immediately
finding inventive ways to meet our customers’ required service
levels.
Information Innovation
With customers becoming ever more savvy and demanding, and
cities becoming more crowded and complex, we know that the
sluice gates of information and data exchange for supply chain
management is going to be an even crazier miasma of complexity
than it already is! Rooting out the communication problems
between companies and discarding what doesn’t work is probably
the most important thing you can do while our industry continues
to accelerate. After all, you can’t match supply with demand if the
only thing you’re leaving behind with customers is your carbon
footprint. Information will have to be absolutely seamless
and transparent, and the new central point of commerce
collaboration will be less proprietary and more communal, with an
emphasis on cooperation and shared interest.
Connection is key, whether it’s customers, suppliers, cities or
companies. Maintaining seamless integration with unparalleled
technology and professionalism must be the aim of any future
successful logistics and supply chain management system. We
have to be willing to initiate change, and work with the changes
we don’t anticipate.