Overwhelming and fragmented data as well as a lack of ability to make sense out of information have been highlighted as the biggest challenges facing supply chain managers.
A survey by IBM of nearly 400 supply chain executives in 25 countries has suggested that although it is a costly problem, fixing it is low down many company's priority lists as it was difficult.
Sanjeev Nagrath, global leader for supply chain management at IBM Global Business Services, said: "As important as cheaper, faster, better is, this year we're beginning to hear a new verse - a clear message about the overwhelming need to greater visibility and flexibility to manage risk.
"As supply chains have become more complex, global and stresses, the executives we spoke with believe they must drive far more intelligence throughout their supply chains if they are going to anticipate rather than react."
Mr Nagrath added that increasingly, the role of a chief supply chain executive was changing, and increasingly officers in the role will become more often known as "chief collaborator", by bringing together stakeholders, and facilitating joint planning and risk mitigation.
