The document summarizes key takeaways from the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference in 2017. It discusses major challenges facing supply chains like limited workforces and the need for digital projects to be better aligned. It also covers topics around disruption from new entrants like drones and robots. The future of supply chains is discussed as moving to an intelligent, self-adapting system with little human intervention using data, suppliers, customers and machines. Talent retention and acquisition challenges are also summarized like a more fluid workforce model and need for targeted skills development.

1. Key takeaways from the
Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference 2017
Supply Chain or
Supply Change?

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Major
Challenges
Disruption Future of
Innovation
Talent
Retention &
Acquisition
Future of
Supply Chain
• Change is happening at a record pace. The time to act is now. Extend your company vision to the consumer.
• Leaders must engage to build a better future and expand their vision to architect a foundation for the future supply chain.
• The future foundation is a digital ecosystem enabling customer interaction and APIs, tying together disruptive technologies.
Key takeaways observed at Gartner’s event this year:

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• Limited workforce.
• 76% say digital projects are not aligned.
• Companies held back by old ways of thinking and need
to be open to change.
• Need vision and executive voice. 40% of CEOs still
view supply chain as a cost center.
• Are you close enough to customers? Leaders are!
Major Challenges

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• Chaos is the new norm.
• Human ability to keep pace is dwindling.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all around us. Most clients
are ready for AI, but do we trust the data?
• New entrants: sensor-based retail, dash buttons,
robots, drones, a connected home.
• A shifting workforce.
Disruption

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• Speed of innovating is key to survival.
• Processes for introducing innovation need to be
deliberate.
• Innovation must be tied to business strategy and the
direction of where business is headed.
• Biggest driver for innovation is under direct
management control.
• Experimentation is an important part of building
innovation.
Future of Innovation

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• Fewer workers; workforce impacted by robots.
• “Uberization” of talent - working for a network vs. a
company.
• “Talent on tap.”
• Corporate Social Responsibility.
• Expanded concept of career path – a web of
experiences.
• Targeted skills – learning by doing vs. through training.
• Cultural shift to enable the “Beginner’s Mind” concept.
Talent:
Retention & Acquisition

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• By 2020, we’ll have dedicated people employed to
support “neural networks.”
• An algorithmic supply chain.
• An intelligent, self-adapting organism, with little to no
human intervention, will autonomously reconfigure the
network to adapt at the speed of digital. Data, suppliers,
customers, machines.
• Augmented Reality will be the biggest business for the
supply chain.
• Our movements will be tracked and traced and
massively amplified.
Future of Supply Chain

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Want to learn more?
Meet the
author
Read the full blog by Patty McDonald, Global Solution Marketing
Director, for a more detailed look into the future of supply chain.
Read blog
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experts from Southeastern Grocers, Smart & Final, REMA 1000,
Supply Chain Insights and more.
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