Supply chain operations aren’t getting any easier as Q1 of 2024 turns into Q2. Supply chain stakeholders are starting to see this age of volatility and disruption as a new normal rather than a temporary set of circumstances.
This week’s Cargologik newsletter addresses how organizations are planning for this new normal, including embracing technology, emphasizing orchestration, and reconfiguring their supply chains for this new age. Continue reading to get the latest from around the supply chain and logistics industry, and get in touch with the Cargologik team to learn more about our orchestration platform.
Taking Orchestration Beyond Buzzword Status
Supply chain “orchestration” doesn’t usually capture the same headlines as “visibility” or “resiliency,” but orchestration could be the key to supply chain success in the future. Supply Chain Management Review wonders if this is the year when orchestration finally gains traction as not just a buzzword but a strategic aim — one that promises productivity, speed, and the aforementioned visibility.
At Cargologik, supply chain orchestration is near and dear to our hearts. We believe that collaboration between the many stakeholders across the supply chain landscape is essential to smooth, efficient operations, and our orchestration platform was designed to make orchestration possible, handling everything from visibility to booking to document management for BCOs and LSPs. When you establish effective supply chain orchestration now, you’re better prepared to enjoy visibility and resiliency when future disruptions emerge. And, in an industry that’s often fragmented, an orchestration platform can get all stakeholders on the same page.
Be Careful With AI-Powered Tools
Everyone’s turning to new AI tools to achieve “real-world supply-chain gains,” according to The Wall Street Journal. This represents a quantum leap in our industry, where many firms have traditionally been reluctant to embrace anything more progressive than a spreadsheet. The desire for new tech to help solve today’s toughest supply chain challenges is a welcome and much-needed development.
A new report from Gartner urges caution, though, as organizations operating in the supply chain seek out AI-powered technology. There’s a lot of hype right now around AI and what it can do. It’s important that organizations focus on how AI can help solve the problems that persist in their day-to-day operations.
The Shift Away From Chinese Manufacturing
There’s a great reshuffling going on across the global supply chain. In recent decades, U.S.-based companies have relied heavily on Chinese manufacturing for its large and inexpensive workforce. Shipping lanes from China to the U.S. West Coast were relatively reliable and stable, and so manufacturing activity was concentrated in East Asia.
Things are changing now. Chinese manufacturing is no longer the obvious choice. The nation has been prone to manufacturing disruptions related to the pandemic, and there are geopolitical reasons to seek alternatives, too. Now, many U.S. companies are moving manufacturing centers to the Americas to reduce their supply chain-related risk — even if the cost of manufacturing goes up. For example, the U.S. and Mexico are partnering on semiconductor supply chain development. As the sands of the global supply chain shift, organizations will become even more reliant on effective supply chain technology to stay organized and keep their businesses moving forward.
Surprise: Visibility is Still Essential to Your Supply Chain Future
Here’s a trend we see echoed in headlines every week: Supply chain visibility is essential in our post-pandemic world. COVID-19 changed the way the global supply chain operates, and it appears that things are never going back to the way they were before. Without embracing visibility, supply chain stakeholders will find themselves lost in this new reality and rapidly lose their competitive edge over others.
FreightWaves recently wrote about how visibility benefits both shippers and carriers. Transparency is clearly a key to success in the supply chain now and will continue to be a key to success in the future. Supply chain stakeholders can ignore the need for visibility at their own peril, which would include poor customer experiences and a deteriorating competitive edge.
Reflecting on the Tragedy in Baltimore
The entire Cargologik team was saddened by the tragic bridge collapse in Baltimore last week. Our hearts go out to those affected by the injuries and loss of life related to the accident. In the short-term, taking care of the people affected by the collapse is priority No. 1. In the long term, organizations that rely on Baltimore as part of their supply chain operations are facing another stress to day-to-day operations. This article provides an insightful rundown of how the events in Baltimore may affect the global supply chain, which is already reeling from drought conditions near the Panama Canal, missile attacks in the Red Sea, pirates in the Indian Ocean, plus other disruptions.
A Higher Level of Supply Chain Orchestration
As the industry embraces supply chain orchestration, you need a single-source-of-truth platform that can provide the level of orchestration your company needs in the modern age. At Cargologik, we provide that platform to BCOs and LSPs who are searching for ways to thrive and move forward amid constant disruptions and challenging conditions.
If you’re ready for a higher level of supply chain orchestration, get started here.
