Only one in 10 businesses can stay ahead of their supply chain challenges, survey shows

Complexity and need for rapid adaptability causing headaches for supply chain managers

Among the top findings from the 2020 State of Supply Chain Complexity survey manufacturing and fulfilment complexities only continue to grow – and 91% of supply chain professionals cannot stay ahead of these challenges as more products, distribution channels, and customer expectations make supply chains more complex.

The survey was conducted by Körber, who polled 1,200 global supply chain professionals to learn how they cope with supply chain complexity, how they feel their solutions stack up against the competition and how they're managing the transition from manual to automated processes.

Technology integration and customer demand ranked among the top challenges today's supply chain faces. The issues most often noted and the share of respondents reporting them are:

  • 48% chose integrating and ensuring software, materials handling equipment (MHE), and technologies work together throughout the entire logistics ecosystem.
  • 46% picked integrating functions across the supply chain – from manufacturing to end-customer deliveries.
  • 46% said meeting consumer expectations for speed, cost and adaptability are challenges.

More businesses are paying attention to these supply chain headaches. Nearly three-quarters of survey respondents said senior executives view the supply chain as mission-critical – an important step in gaining support for upgrading warehouses and last mile technology.

"Now isn't the time for supply chains to break under pressure – yet, 48% of companies have experienced growth in complexity this past year," said Rene Hermes, chief marketing officer for Körber Supply Chain. "It's good to hear so many executives see this business area as mission-critical. Now we must transform that understanding into action."

To discover more about today's challenges and opportunities from the 2020 State of Supply Chain Complexity Survey, access the report here: https://www.koerber-supplychain.com/complexitysurvey

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