Digital transformation in the Supply Chain

Slow and steady wins the race may be the way to go in many aspects of life, but it is not true in the world of supply chain. A supply chain needs to be both flexible and resilient to quickly adapt and withstand changes to market, pressure from competition and disruptions to the supply flow. Currently, the best way to adapt your supply chain to modern problems are to go digital. But many supply chains are too slow to react to changes and are still working to develop its physical capability foundations required to compete in a modern world. Developing, testing, deploying and scale digital innovation effectively is for many companies therefore a non-starter.

Leading supply chains are succeeding by first developing their foundational supply chain capabilities and then incorporating proven business and technology innovations. By moving beyond exploration to integration and optimization leading supply chain utilize more advanced capabilities to springboard innovative ways of working, new business models, value creation and finally competitive advantages.

To achieve these ambitious goals Gartner have mapped out a three-step plan for supply chain transformation.

1. Embed supply chain in the digital ecosystem by leveraging, sharing and integrations digital technologies and data.

2. Implement autonomous supply chain with the use of higher degrees of artificial intelligence (AI)

3. Synchronize with digital business to create not only a flexible supply chain, but a resilient one.