Every industry worldwide continues to face supply chain challenges due to the pandemic. They strive to improve execution, reduce risk, improve agility, and develop ways to gain a competitive advantage. Companies will have to overcome labor costs, inventory management, customer-centered services, and much more to achieve these goals. Getting ahead of these challenges is the need of the hour. Let us look at what the supply chain trends for 2022 will be.

Key Supply Chain Trends In 2022:

You should lookout for the following trends in the supply chain in 2022.

Advanced Analytics And Automation:

We will see advancements in the analytics and automation processes. These advancements will help organizations eliminate disruptions by using digital supply chain management.

We will also see advances in big data, algorithms, and robotics which will have broad-reaching effects. Shippers will benefit from these technologies and enjoy better visibility, data-driven decision-making, predictability, and profitability.  

Supply Chain Talent:

Talent is critical for supporting the ongoing industry progress, solutions, and structures. So, people at all levels of the supply chain should expect changes in how they work.  

You can also expect a convergence of training and better salaries for existing employees. There will be an increased demand for employees with data analytics skills. Organizations will also have to change how they attract and retain talent. The traditional approaches might not work anymore.  

Visibility:

Again, this is a crucial objective for under pressure organizations who want to achieve true transformation, satisfy customers, and target new markets. Customers are willing to pay more if they get ethical and responsible services. So, this will act as a catalyst for investment in supporting technologies. For example, as customers demand more visibility on the overall process, the internet of things will bring advancements in real-time visibility.

E-commerce:

The boom in e-commerce is the most apparent force affecting today’s supply chains. All around the world, we see overloaded warehouses. This demand squeeze can be called the most significant ongoing expansion in five years.  

E-commerce and omnichannel fulfillment will continue to influence the way organizations identify and set priorities. It will also control the way organizations improve their network efficiency to gain a competitive advantage.

Supply Chain Resilience:

We will continue to have an increased requirement for supply chain resilience. This means that data expertise, new solutions, and strong industry collaboration will be needed.

Key strategies to look out for include: diversification of suppliers, production capabilities, and transportation processes. We will also see an increased interest in finding alternative materials and transportation processes.

Supply chain resilience will also be critical in establishing a competitive advantage and generating market value.

Supply Chain Agility:

Supply chain agility is another trend we need to look out for. An agile supply chain will create a flexible network to respond to increasing demands and uncertainties. It will also be crucial in identifying proactive ways to increase responsiveness.  

FAQS

Q1- What is meant by supply chain resilience?

It is the ability of a supply chain to be prepared for unexpected events and respond quickly to minimize disruptions. 

Q2- What were the four basics of the supply chain?

There are four significant elements of supply chain management: integration, operations, purchasing, and distribution.

Conclusion:

This article only elaborates on some supply chain trends that will be popular in 2022. This list is by no means conclusive; there are other trends that will also make a breakthrough this year.

Also Read: Last Mile Logistics Challenges And Solutions In the USA