Importance of digital transformation in the supply chain realm stressed
Microsoft and DHL recently jointly held the ‘Digital Difference in Supply Chain’ event which activated a number of discussions, themed around how logistics businesses are driving digital transformation and the importance of this for the supply chain.
The event holds great value in exploring current issues, with the global supply chain facing challenges throughout the pandemic, and technology offering solutions to ensure continuity of sourcing and supply of goods and of markets.
A key focus of the event featured a panel discussion ‘The importance of data-driven supply chains for all industries,” attended by leading industry figures including Professor Richard Wilding OBE, Chair, The Centre for Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Cranfield School of Management, UK; Hendrik Venter, CEO-Mainland Europe, Middle East & Africa (MLEMEA) DHL Supply Chain; and Ralph Haupter, President, EMEA, Microsoft.
“Smart supply chains now have the ability to connect optimized forecasting through electronic signals which can deliver communication across the entire supply chain,” affirmed Haupter.
“It is through the course of this year that innovative approaches to supply chain continuity have come to the fore, as companies across the supply chain have all accelerated their pivot towards digital. In particular, cloud and AI have proved essential tools to enhance the resilience of supply chains,” he asserted.
During the event, the panel discussed topics such as the globally importance of supply chain continuity during the pandemic, including health and safety considerations. Additionally, discussions expanded on areas including how e-commerce was accelerated due to the pandemic, with physical locations taking an impact and organizations needing to find new ways to connect their goods with their audiences outside of traditional stores.
“Some experts define this period as an era for logistics channels and we believe there are mammoth considerations for the industry. Smart supply chains, fueled by data, are now helping to unlock higher service levels. This is optimizing costs and to enabling prediction modelling, as well as delivering faster response times,” noted Venter.
Data is the lifeblood of any supply chain, impacting how processes, the supply chain network, the equipment used within facilities and people all interact together to create value for the customer. Ability to adapt rapidly has proved invaluable to organizations in maintaining a competitive advantage.
