Future of Sourcing - Container Ships https://futureofsourcing.com/tags/container-ships en Digitization: A Path to Resilience Through Disruption https://futureofsourcing.com/digitization-a-path-to-resilience-through-disruption <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Digitization%20A%20Path%20to%20Resilience%20through%20Disruption.png"><a href="https://futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Digitization%20A%20Path%20to%20Resilience%20through%20Disruption.png" title="Digitization: A Path to Resilience through Disruption" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-2037-oejcu5NmzVU"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/Digitization%20A%20Path%20to%20Resilience%20through%20Disruption.png?itok=shl6VYkT" width="624" height="325" alt="Digitization: A Path to Resilience through Disruption" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-intro field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <h1>Digitization: A Path to Resilience Through Disruption</h1> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-news field-type-entityreference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Related news:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/logistics-outsourcing-explained-defining-the-3pl-4pl-and-5pl-models">Logistics Outsourcing Explained: Defining the 3PL, 4PL and 5PL Models</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>The supply chain headaches continue. Only <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/shipments-delayed-ocean-carrier-shipping-times-surge-in-supply-chain-crunch-11621373426" target="_blank">40% of global container ships were on time</a> in March 2021, with average delays extending more than six days.</p> <p>The pervasive disruptions have made effectively managing supply chain demand, accurately forecasting inventory levels, and ensuring on-time delivery mission critical in today&rsquo;s market. Coming out of a recession, the stakes have never been higher.</p> <p>Organizations will continue to struggle and play catch-up until they fundamentally change their approach. Here&rsquo;s how to build resilience and overcome delays and disruptions by adopting a proactive and digital approach to supply chain management.</p> <h2>A Rising Dilemma Around Inventory and Delivery</h2> <p>Volatile inventory demand coupled with delivery issues are wreaking havoc on supply chains. Economic stimulus <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/consumer-spending-personal-income-march-2021-11619732790" target="_blank">spiked consumer spending up to 4.2%</a>&nbsp;&ndash; and while positive for the economy, heightened demand is leaving suppliers scrambling to keep up. Rising costs of materials, short staffing, and lack of communication further exacerbate the dilemma.</p> <p>Why? Because when <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/consumer-demand-snaps-back-factories-cant-keep-up-11614019305" target="_blank">operations shut down </a>in 2020, manufacturers deployed the standard recession playbook &ndash; slash costs to preserve as much cash as possible. The lockdowns and quarantines multiplied the problems. But when demand rebounded sharply just weeks after the shutdown, warehouses were left unprepared. Now, manufacturers also face severe <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economic-recovery-manufacturing-worker-shortage-diversity-training-labor-market-study-2021-5" target="_blank">labor shortages</a>.</p> <p>For shippers, crowded oceans and airways &ndash; not to mention the blockage of major passageways like the Suez Canal debacle &ndash; continue to hinder deliveries, causing a domino effect of delays down the supply chain.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we look ahead, buyer demand is bouncing back with accelerated velocity. Companies are placing larger orders to overcompensate and avoid being stuck without products in the face of another crisis or inventory shortage. But with limited budgets, manpower and inconsistent third parties, manufacturers are struggling to keep up with the renewed demand.</p> <h2>The Costly Consequences of Shortages and Delays</h2> <p>The price of being ill-prepared takes a toll across the organization. When companies can&rsquo;t meet sudden spikes in demand, customers look elsewhere to keep their business afloat, which results in lost revenue.</p> <p>The lack of contingency really hurts. Backorders can cost companies thousands, millions, even billions of dollars. As the current global chip shortage has shown, major manufacturers such as Ford have experienced unforeseen headwinds of <a href="https://fortune.com/2021/05/04/chip-shortage-when-will-it-end-2023/" target="_blank">$2.5 billion hitting its bottom line</a>.</p> <p>Furthermore, delivery delays can result in fines &ndash; or chargebacks &ndash; that come with hefty price tags. Big brands like Walmart recently informed suppliers that all orders are required to be 98% full and on time. Missing or delayed items would be hit with a 3% fee. What may seem like an insignificant number can equate to thousands &ndash; even hundreds of thousands &ndash; of dollars.</p> <p>With your reputation &ndash; and bottom line &ndash; at stake, it is critical to digitize processes in order to better manage supply chain demand, accurately forecast, and anticipate inventory levels to ensure business continuity and strong partnerships. &nbsp;</p> <h2>Digitization Provides a Competitive Edge</h2> <p>Overcoming significant inventory and delivery issues begins with real-time visibility. But as supply chains grow and expand, maintaining visibility is no easy task. With millions of datapoints and hundreds of touchpoints, information often gets trapped in silos and is rendered useless.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Digitizing the supply chain and EDI creates a clear view into every aspect of your operations and suppliers. When all relevant data and communications sit in a central and intelligent platform, supply chain planners benefit from crystal-ball like insights that enable them to make strategic, prudent and impactful inventory decisions.</p> <p>For example, real-time transparency into warehouse and labor resources enables businesses to swiftly anticipate supply chain backlogs, shifts in demand, third-party shortages and more. Organizations can act before disruption occurs by proactively identifying weak spots.</p> <p>The right digitization strategy centralizes your supply chain data and unveils a comprehensive view across your enterprise &ndash; and helps you ensure on-time deliveries by giving you a clear view into operations. And with the right data analytics platform, this allows you to prevent disruptions before they occur.&nbsp;</p> <p>Given the millions of data points, dozens of touchpoints and constantly changing information, the ultimate driver in the success of operations comes with investing in the right technology to aggregate and sort through this vast amount of information. From analyzing your supply network and flagging potential threats to integrating and streamlining complex EDI data, the right tech and analysis will pivot you from a reactive to proactive approach.</p> <h2>The Path Ahead</h2> <p>With operations running at optimal level, businesses can ensure the speed and agility needed to deliver accurately and on time. This competitive edge enables brands to rise above simply surviving and begin to thrive.</p> <p>The ability to expect separates who sinks or swims in business. While COVID-19 drove disruption on a monumental level, supply chain disturbances will continue to occur as complexities in global market demand mount and delivery expectations grow higher. With proper preparation, robust procedures, and contingency plans complimented by the right tech, organizations will put themselves in a prime position to survive any unforeseen circumstance.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/container-ships" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Container Ships</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/logistics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Logistics</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/digitization" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Digitization</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="Digitization: A Path to Resilience Through Disruption - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://futureofsourcing.com/digitization-a-path-to-resilience-through-disruption"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/global" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Global</a></div></div></div> Wed, 11 Aug 2021 02:00:00 +0000 Michael Rabinowitz 2037 at https://futureofsourcing.com https://futureofsourcing.com/digitization-a-path-to-resilience-through-disruption#comments