{"id":7094,"date":"2022-04-19T20:24:59","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T20:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/?p=7094"},"modified":"2022-04-19T20:24:59","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T20:24:59","slug":"recent-supply-chain-issues-are-soon-to-be-a-thing-of-the-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/latest-news\/2022\/04\/19\/7094\/recent-supply-chain-issues-are-soon-to-be-a-thing-of-the-past\/","title":{"rendered":"Recent Supply Chain Issues Are Soon to Be a Thing of the Past"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The COVID-19 pandemic felt like the breaking point for the global supply chain. From shipping delays and manufacturing slowdowns to minimized warehouse management, endless issues put pressure on supply chain managers at once. However, while COVID-19 certainly escalated supply chain problems, in part due to complete factory shutdowns and international policies that limited cross-border travel, many core issues were already taking shape at a smaller scale.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7095\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7095\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7095 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-300x192.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-1024x655.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-768x491.jpg 768w, https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-1536x983.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-2048x1310.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-696x445.jpg 696w, https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-1068x683.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-1920x1229.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/mika-baumeister-3XjMwxUHx0Q-unsplash-656x420.jpg 656w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7095\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/3XjMwxUHx0Q<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The fact that many supply chain problems already existed pre-pandemic can be a reason for hope. In the years that warehouses increasingly worked at max capacity, the supply chain world has seen numerous technological advances that can bring traditional processes up to date.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this article, we\u2019ll explore how new developments \u2014 including artificial intelligence and automation technology \u2014 can mitigate <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/picante.today\/blog\/2021\/06\/24\/new-study-shows-global-supply-chain-disruptions-cost-companies-an-average-184-million-annually\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the pain points<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that were exasperated by the pandemic and help us overcome today\u2019s supply chain issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Expedite Shipments Through Automation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When your employees are fully responsible for executing the shipping process, it\u2019s hard to guarantee a consistent level of efficiency. Even quality can be difficult to control since human error is only natural. But with many warehouses already overloaded with work (and running behind), mistakes can keep the world in a never-ending cycle of supply chain issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Automation is key to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/picante.today\/blog\/2022\/02\/07\/global-ai-in-supply-chain-management-market-2022-2027-challenges-opportunities-ecosystem-company-analysis-case-studies-recommendations\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> expediting the shipping process<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. When customers place orders, automation software and equipment can instantly place orders in a queue, then perform key tasks like packing and inventory management. Automation allows these simple tasks to be completed faster with fewer errors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some new software is even helping manufacturers automate the process of booking freight train service providers, allowing shipments to move more smoothly from Point A to Point B. As modern tech is implemented more across the supply chain, present issues may soon become last year\u2019s news.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reduce Reliance on Manpower<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shipping is a huge factor in the delays that began with COVID-19, but it isn\u2019t the only bottleneck in the supply chain that modern technology can automate. Artificial intelligence can greatly reduce reliance on manpower for suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, and more. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear, employees calling out sick or resigning can be a critical issue if you can\u2019t keep the supply chain running without their help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When applied to supply chain management, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.copperproject.com\/2017\/12\/click-find-ai-shaping-future-business\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">AI can increase operational efficiency<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> by replacing and improving upon human skills. For instance, in the manufacturing and operations process, AI can train itself to eliminate risks, which allows for steady improvements across the broader supply chain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adopting AI allows you to drastically reduce your spending on low-value tasks. However, this doesn\u2019t mean that employees will be left out of work. As AI technologies reduce the need for manpower in areas that can directly cause supply chain failure, employees will have more time to take on more complex parts of supply chain management (like product planning).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to the Harvard Business Review, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2022\/02\/research-how-do-warehouse-workers-feel-about-automation?ab=hero-main-text\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">most workers are actually optimistic about automation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and its ability to boost safety, productivity, and product quality.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Protect Your Company\u2019s Future<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the biggest threats to the supply chain is the rise in cyberattacks. Many modern <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zdnet.com\/article\/supply-chain-attacks-are-the-hackers-new-favourite-weapon-and-the-threat-is-getting-bigger\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">hackers aim to compromise business supply chains<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to target thousands of customers at once. Though the threat of hackers often feels less immediate, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/10\/13\/cyberattacks-cost-small-companies-200k-putting-many-out-of-business.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a single cyberattack costs an average of $200,000<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which is more than enough to shut down a small business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The good news is, technological advancements in the supply chain world are increasingly helping businesses future-proof their IT systems. For instance, DeVry University predicts that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devry.edu\/blog\/technology-trends-2022.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">privacy-enhancing computation will strengthen data security<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> by limiting data sharing, while new digital architecture like cybersecurity mesh will offer a better virtual defense than traditional firewalls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As cybersecurity systems continue to evolve, businesses can better ward off IT disasters \u2014 which will be particularly important as many supply chain processes become digitized.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Improve Decision-Making With AI<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When analyzing supply chain issues, it\u2019s easy to pinpoint where poor decisions were made in hindsight. While it\u2019s true that it\u2019s impossible to predict the unpredictable \u2014 for instance, how a global pandemic or a natural disaster will impact the supply chain \u2014 it is possible to fortify the future of the supply chain by making smarter choices from day to day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to DeVry University, the rise of decision intelligence, which analyzes patterns in data, can help supply chain managers make the best possible choices. By backing up every decision with analytics, supply chain professionals can strategize without any biases.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A Smooth Supply Chain Is in the Future<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The pandemic may have escalated global supply chain issues, but the end may be near. Thanks to advancing automation, AI, and cybersecurity technologies, the most problem-ridden parts of the supply chain can run more efficiently and with minimal errors. As supply chain managers start implementing new tech on their own teams, supply chain issues can steadily resolve themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The COVID-19 pandemic felt like the breaking point for the global supply chain. From shipping delays and manufacturing slowdowns to minimized warehouse management, endless issues put pressure on supply chain managers at once. However, while COVID-19 certainly escalated supply chain problems, in part due to complete factory shutdowns and international policies that limited cross-border travel, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,74,6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7094","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-business-and-management","7":"category-guest-articles","8":"category-latest-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7094\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picante.today\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}