SUPPORTED CONTENT
POST COVID-19: THE NEW NORMAL
☛ WEB VERSION:
https://bit.ly/2O2XEjv
technology would free people to focus on the real value- adding decisions.
“The retailers that survive and prosper will be those with supply, fulfilment and return networks that are flexible, agile and responsive – capable of adapting quickly to changing consumer lifestyles, thinking and demands.
Digitisation at some level will be essential to create transparency and visibility, giving retailers more control and a faster flow of decisions and processes. The result will be a higher level of efficiency and service. This will not just be end-to-end through the supply chain, but also across the retail offer, giving an integrated and detailed view of stock, sales, orders, deliveries, and forecasts over all channels – enabling goods, people and management resource to be reallocated quickly to where they are most needed.
It should go without saying that the key to success in all of this is continued investment in people, at all levels. A supply chain is far more than its stock, warehouses, systems and vehicles.
In this together, forever? On their own, retailers may struggle to adapt their supply chains and distribution networks. It is important therefore that some of the positive lessons from the crisis are not forgotten – in particular, the benefits of collaboration. There are many parts of the supply chain that do not really form the basis for competition between brands. As far a Competition Laws allow, collaboration, through for example the shared use of vehicles, warehousing and other assets should be continued and refined. It may turn out that in some areas, such as urban ‘last mile’
30
delivery, collaboration may even become a necessity.
Finally, adversity brings new opportunities. Retailers and their partners must learn to capitalise on some of the ‘quick fix’ and ‘Heath Robinson’ solutions that the crisis has stimulated. Some improbable business models have emerged and, while many of these are likely to be unsustainable or unprofitable in normal times, some may have real merit, and with creativity these could be developed to real advantage. Certainly, retail needs to continue actively seeking out innovative ideas for a new normal that will certainly be dynamic, unpredictable, and full of opportunities.
In Conclusion In this time of crisis, despite the huge challenges that retailers face, there are likely to be many silver linings that can be turned into opportunities. It will be those enlightened leadership teams that use this time to plan, model and implement new approaches to their supply chain that will create and maintain healthy businesses fit for a post Coronavirus future.
If some of these topics have resonated with you - whether it’s short term efficiency, translating new customer demands into reality, profitability analysis, space or transport or fulfilment solutions - our team of supply chain experts can help you to talk through in the context of your own business challenges and together understand how best to support your future success.
Direct Commerce |
homeofdirectcommerce.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
