The supply chain of the future will require far more hands on deck than is currently assumed, it has been suggested.
In ten years the classic needs of a supply chain - cost efficiency and items on shelves - will be joined by several others as a result of both geographical and social changes.
In a report published by one leading supply chain management company, the supply chain vice president at packaging manufacturer Crown Europe, Roland Dachs, and Xavier Derycke, director of retail chain Carrefour, explain the new challenges facing the supply chain of the future.
"Until now, the most important parameters for supply chain designs have been related to cost efficiency and on-shelf availability," they write.
"New factors are becoming increasingly critical, such as traffic congestion in urban areas, energy consumption, CO2 emissions and the permanent rise in transportation costs."
As such, it may be wises for businesses to consult a third party supply chain management company, which can provide insight to the potential pitfalls awaiting a company in the near future.
Have you got decisions about your transport to make? Start here – now!
