No supply chain organization made it out of the pandemic unscathed or unchanged. As the chaos turned to complete pandemonium, it became apparent that visibility must rise to the top of company priority lists as a mission-critical capability. But this leaves a few key questions to be answered; the most pressing of which is, “How?”
With a keen eye fixated on emerging trends, it's clear that many organizations are starting to prioritize and pursue supply chain visibility through a number of different (yet often connected) avenues. A good example is the introduction of smart logistics and making use of internet of things (IOT) devices to improve insight and agility across each supply chain process. Not only does accessing near-real-time transparency offer valuable information, but collecting data related to shipment location, speed, atmospheric conditions, and more enables supply chain teams to improve planning activities and manage disruption across their networks.
The adoption of digital supply chain technology further perpetuates these visibility initiatives through advanced automation. Large-scale IOT sensor deployment and implementation leads to better insight, and automation can enable supply chain organizations to pivot more easily during uncertain or unpredictable periods. This also spills into risk, resilience, and security, offering a more complete view of supply chain processes and enabling companies to develop a layer of immunity in the face of adversity.
It's critical to note that as companies invest in technology, they should match that investment in talent. Competent and capable human capital can provide insight into data inputs and outputs leading to more informed decisions, which should enable greater transparency and visibility.
To give supply chain visibility a nudge in the right direction, ASCM has sponsored The Economist Intelligence Unit to develop The Resilient Supply Chain Benchmark. This tool assesses performance and analyzes operational and strategic supply chain resilience to identify the most promising solutions. ASCM members also have access to the Supply Chain Visibility microlearning, enabling them to achieve a high-visibility supply chain; adjust quickly to unanticipated change; and enjoy a clear view of internal data, data from supply chain tiers, and data from end customers — establishing essential transparency among all stakeholders.