In the past year, many of us have been personally affected by product shortages resulting from unprepared supply chains. As the retail landscape continues to change and evolve, here are a few reasons why I think organizations will increasingly integrate supply chain executive positions into their C-suites.
1. Supply chain leaders know what it takes for success.
Tim Cook and Mary Barra, CEOs of Apple and GM, for example, have deep roots in supply chain leadership and have leveraged this knowledge to transform their companies. The importance these industry leaders have placed on supply chain expertise at the highest level shows that it can truly be an organization’s differentiator.
2. Broken supply chains must be mended to bounce back from COVID.
Coronavirus’ effect on global supply chains cannot be understated. According to a survey by Interos, an incredible 98% of senior decision-makers reported supply chain disruptionsduring the pandemic, and 90% believe these disruptions will have a lasting impact on their organizations. Last year’s supply chain woes continue to impact today’s supply chains, revealing weaknesses that can be addressed with deep subject matter expertise, both internally and externally. Brands are more open than ever before to learn from expert logisticians, like GEODIS City Delivery, to bring outside intelligence to make better decisions and plan for future disruptions. There’s no one better than your front-line logistics and supply chain professionals who spent the last year in the trenches to help brands bounce back post-pandemic. Brands who capitalize on their real-world experiences have a distinct advantage and why supply chain professionals should be in the board room helping brands excel far past their competition.
3. The changing world of retail calls for supply chain transformation.
As we all know, the rapid pace of change in retail won’t slow down any time soon, with sales expected to experience record growth this year. New services and technological advancements have increased consumer expectations for fast last-mile delivery, in-store services, pickup options, and other ways to help brands de-risk the supply chain. Adding a renewed outlook and vision are also vital to determining where operations can be streamlined and what gaps in technology are holding you back. To keep innovative supply chain solutions and transformation moving forward, executive decisions should be made with supply chain leaders at the table.
Can we expect more Supply Chain professionals to appear in the executive suites of savvy brands? Let’s hope so!!
