We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
Home » Report: Companies embrace technology to fight supply chain stressors

Report: Companies embrace technology to fight supply chain stressors

IBM study finds CSCOs are investing in AI and automation to navigate supply chain uncertainties.

network-g8d7662e26_640.jpg
September 28, 2022
Supply Chain Quarterly Staff
No Comments
Supply chain leaders are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to navigate supply chain challenges and “future-proof” their companies’ supply chains, according to a recent IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) survey of more than 1,500 chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) and chief operating officers (COOs).

IBM’s Own Your Transformation study reveals how supply chain leaders are navigating the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, climate change, and geopolitical events. The study surveyed CSCOs and COOs in more than 35 countries across 24 industries and found that most are increasing their investments in automation, AI and intelligent workflows, ecosystems, and sustainability. The authors also said that supply chain leaders are “reimagining their supply chain operations.”

“To effectively combat the unprecedented supply chain stressors like inflation, it's imperative that CSCOs focus on using analytics, AI, and automation initiatives to build intelligent, resilient, and sustainable supply chains,” according to Jonathan Wright, IBM Consulting global managing partner, sustainability services and global business transformation. “Automation and AI can enable CSCOs and their organizations to collect data, identify risk, validate documentation, and provide audit trails, even in high inflationary periods, while also managing their carbon, waste, energy, and water consumption.”

Nearly half of CSCOs surveyed (47%) said they’ve introduced new automation technologies in the last two years, an approach the study’s authors say “can add predictability, flexibility, and intelligence to supply chain operations.” The study also found that CSCOs are using AI to help monitor and track performance.

Sustainability issues are key challenges as well. CSCOs ranked sustainability as their third biggest challenge in the next few years, behind supply chain disruptions and technology infrastructure. More than half of supply chain leaders placed sustainability at or near the top of their priority list, and 50% said that their sustainability investments will accelerate business growth. CSCOs and COOs said they experience the most direct pressure for sustainability transparency from: investors (56%), board members (50%), and customers (50%).

The study also identified “the innovators”—20% of respondents that stand apart for accelerating their data-led innovations. This group is outperforming their peers in many areas, including reporting 11% higher annual revenue growth, according to the report. Steps the innovators are taking include:
  • Integrating automated workflows across organizational functions and with their partners for real-time visibility, insights, and action (95% more than other CSCOs).
  • Modernizing their technology infrastructure: 56% are currently operating on hybrid cloud, and 60% are investing in digital infrastructure to scale and deliver value.
  • Extending their sustainability initiatives and creating new products and services; 58% said they see opportunities to improve customer engagement through sustainability imperatives.
  • Focusing deeper on cybersecurity (nearly 20% more than other CSCOs).
Logistics Technology
KEYWORDS IBM IBM Institute for Business Value
  • Related Articles

    COPAN and ToolsGroup team up to Fight COVID-19 with AI-driven supply chain

    Tech companies should do more to eliminate slavery, forced labor in their supply chains, report says

    Report: Supply chain challenges hit small companies hard

Recent Articles by Supply Chain Quarterly Staff

Energy price swings pressure businesses to change their spending priorities

Maersk’s VC arm backs inventory drone startup Verity with $32 million

Survey: most Americans unaware that truckers face shortage of parking spaces

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • Survey: most Americans unaware that truckers face shortage of parking spaces

  • Best practices in logistics sustainability

  • Postal Service plans to seize items mailed with fake stamps

  • Supply chain executives not yet seeing expected results from technology investments

  • Inflation drops again as interest rate hikes hit home, NRF says

Featured Video

20221107korber large vs

Enhancing Customer Experience with Your Supply Chain Strategy

Viewer Contributed
With the rise of e-commerce, many businesses have had to transform their warehouses to handle online orders in addition to regularly scheduled inventory shipments. This means warehouses need more information than ever before to ensure they can meet customers' needs. As a result, companies need to select warehouse...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • Guide to Pallet Rack Safety

  • 3PLs: Complete Orders Faster with Flexible Automation

  • A shipper's guide to navigating post-pandemic holiday freight

  • THE NEW WAY TO WAREHOUSE: 4 Innovations in Automation & Robotics to Boost Warehouse Productivity

View More

Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

Get Your Subscription
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • E-NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing