Supply chains are changing fast. While there has been little change in the physical movement of goods, customer expectations have risen alongside the Internet of Things, data analysis, the cloud, sustainability, and other competitive pressures. B2C trends are driving B2B; ease, reliability and transparency are now standard requirements. Business needs to reflect on this strategy and focus on growing in a digital world.

Next month, executives at the SCM World Leaders Forum - the annual retreat for the world's supply chain and operations elite in London - will discuss "Mastering the Matrix" of the digital supply chain. Joining the discussion will be Charlie Jenkinson, former vice president of operational excellence at Electrocomponents, as he presents on "Creating a Digital Supply Chain."

It requires a tightly integrated operation to achieve efficiency and compliance, especially when maintaining a priority on delivery, quality, and support. Abbott has achieved this balance — the company’s operational excellence stems from aligning its KPIs with customer satisfaction.

Supply Chain Digest, the industry’s premier supply chain management and logistics publication, released a benchmark report based on the results of a recent industry survey on global sourcing and trade management practices, processes and technologies. They found the majority (68 percent) of respondents felt they had underinvested in technology necessary to meet the challenges of modern supply chains. 

The survey of 200 supply chain and sourcing professionals from a wide range of companies provides a number of interesting insights into global sourcing practices and technology as well as broader GTM issues.  Most notably, the research uncovered that challenges faced by supply chain executives today are driving the dawn of a new era of globalization, known as “Globalization 3.0.” Companies that excel in global execution – strategies, processes, agility and visibility – have a substantial competitive advantage over rivals.

You are invited to attend an exclusive and complimentary webinar featuring world renowned supply expert Dr. Hau Lee, Thoma professor of operations, information and technology at Stanford Business School.

Earlier this month, Amber Road was pleased to sponsor the Global Supply Chain Excellence Summit hosted by the USC Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management. This one-day event featured global leaders across vertical markets and supply chain competencies. Industry executives shared insight on how they have managed to navigate the world of supply chain in a rapidly changing environment.