Before we dive into the numbers predicted by industry experts let us understand the basis on which the supply chain shall evolve. You might already have guessed it. It is the technological advancements that continue to shape the future of supply chain technology.
The technological advancement has proven to be so reliable, that according to some experts 25% of all decisions will be made using technological systems through 2025.
Almost all supply chain leaders and trainers believe that supply chain technology is the main source of competition in the industry as we move forward. Digital transformation is constructively affected by emerging technologies which ensure that business owners give due importance to it.
Caption: The 5 key factors of supply chain technology trends since 2019
Huge Predictions Regarding the Future of Supply Chain Technology
Gartner, a technological research and consulting firm, predicted earlier this year that by 2026, 75% of large companies will have employed smart robots in their warehouse and logistics operations. They elaborated that these robots will join the workforce with humans while being a cost-efficient investment for the owners.
Furthermore, they predicted that 75% of official supply chain management application developers will provide better Advanced Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, and data science by 2026. That is because the need for smart decision-making in the supply chain has been growing over time.
While technology is a great aspect shaping the future of supply chain management, we cannot overlook other significant factors such as sustainability. As consumers start caring more about the environment, businesses are taking interest in ensuring sustainability through their products/services.
Another huge aspect is risk management and resilience, especially digital. We have all been spectators of how cyberattacks were a big threat in the Russia-Ukraine conflict earlier this year. That is why it is so crucial to protect supply chains both physically and digitally.
While looking at all the positive predictions, we cannot ignore another prediction from Gartner that said through 2026, 80% of companies will face significant losses consequently as they fail to combine the digital supply chain twins and control tower activities.
In short, firms involved in the supply chain will face new difficulties as well as technological advancements in the upcoming years. In order to deal with unforeseen disruptions, businesses will start concentrating on resilient supply chains. Utilizing robotics, AI, automation, and digital supply chain twins will assist keep chains adaptable, scalable, and nimble.