Perspective
The supply chain: Realizing the power of talent + technology
10-minute read
They can achieve this by reinventing their supply chain network operating model, putting data and technology at the core—combined with people who are digitally skilled and empowered across E2E supply chain network operations. In doing so, they’ll pave the way to significant increases in productivity and profitability. In fact, their companies will be 2X more likely than their peers to achieve this performance boost.
Among the top priorities when rethinking operating models? Enabling agile supply and demand planning. Balancing greater responsiveness and customer-centricity with pressures on cost-to-serve. Improving risk management and resiliency. Increasing sustainability through enhanced supply chain network transparency. And removing barriers to innovation and new market entry.
Leaders in this space combine new technology-powered operating models with significant changes in how their people work. This includes identifying which truly distinctive capabilities need to be built and retained within the organization vs those that can be augmented through automation and/or provided by ecosystem partners. For example, according to a recent Accenture study, 43% of total working hours in supply chain roles can be transformed by generative AI. This provides a significant opportunity for talent within the supply chain network to focus on acquiring new and emerging skills that help anticipate and work toward broader strategic business objectives.
All this is underpinned by an integrated, enterprise-wide technology and data platform – democratizing data to build connections between teams across the value chain.
Rapid progress in data and technology is empowering supply chain network talent and creating new opportunities, including:
There are several short- and long-term steps supply chain leaders can take to build tech-powered skills for the future. Though some may require varying levels of investment, these fundamentals are key to realizing empowering people with the data and technology they need to accelerate growth within the supply chain network.
Technology innovations have been transforming industries and companies for decades. But the latest wave of intelligent machines will fundamentally reshape what kind of supply chain work gets done, how and by whom.
CSCOs that can most effectively use the combination of human ingenuity and intelligent machines will be best positioned to achieve the competitive agility they need to win in the years ahead. The foundation for their success? Putting their people first.