2020: a chain management systems space odyssey

January 19, 2015

433 E Las Colinas Blvd #850, Irving, TX, 75039

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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now is becoming quickly outdated, so it’s time to start immediately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.