Even though the supply chain hitches that caused worldwide bottlenecks during the pandemic era have diminished, moving goods from point A to point B still poses logistical difficulties. Ivanti Wavelink, the supply chain business arm of the IT software company Ivanti, recently released a report that suggests using cutting-edge technologies to address current supply chain issues.
More than 200 people working at various levels of the supply chain, from corporate executives to drivers and warehouse workers, were polled for the report “Heavy Lift: Supply Chain Trends for 2023.” Workers, or more specifically, the lack of them, were the main source of worry for the whole supply chain. The main challenges facing today’s supply chain, according to survey respondents, are finding and keeping employees, improving workforce productivity, and addressing staff tech-related difficulties.
The respondents’ top worries were the length of training programs (52%), the high turnover rate in this industry (50%) and the requirement for digital upskilling (41%).
The main challenge that may improve the warehouse distribution fulfillment process, according to nearly one-third (32%) of respondents, is finding and keeping workers. Increasing data analytics and “intuitive data technologies that improve productivity while reducing errors and training time” were both listed as additional pressing considerations, along with supply chain visibility (18%).
In terms of technology, almost 85% of respondents stated they intended to either invest in new systems or improve upon existing ones during the course of the upcoming year. In the upcoming year, more than half (53%) of respondents expected to boost automation up to 30%, while 25% of respondents expected an increase between 11% and 20%.
Tablets and handheld mobile computers with barcode scanners were the most commonly utilized tools (58 and 50%, respectively). Wearable computers and automated picking tools were mentioned by fewer respondents, despite the fact that they were the most anticipated purchases for the following year.
According to the report, supply chain experts prioritize buying durable, user-friendly technology. Reliability (69%), deployment ease (67%), learning ease (63%) and adaptability (63%) are the top considerations when assessing new technology for purchase.
Brandon Black, senior vice president and general manager for Ivanti Wavelink, stated that many businesses are better supplying their teams with technology that assist them optimize workflow due to the current labor scarcity. Organizations may boost productivity, cut costs, save time, and improve customer satisfaction by embracing technology to assist simplify operational efficiency. Companies can also achieve end-to-end visibility through the use of technology and automation that employs real-time data, which enables them to assess information more effectively and respond to problems more quickly.
