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Philosophers may say that the only thing that is constant is change, but supply chain business people will say change is the only thing that offers the opportunity for success, but only if it’s done right. The first step, though, is figuring out where the changes will begin—and it might not be obvious at first glance.
At a recent Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference, keynoter John Phillips, senior vice president of customer supply chain and go-to-market at Pepsico traced some of the looming and unavoidable disruptors. These are already starting to open the door to “fundamentally transform consumer supply chain as we know it today,” he said. “We have to make sure that the supply chain is prepared for the next set of capabilities.”
Philips pointed a broad variety of technology-based trends that are already starting to change consumer expectations—and how supply chain work is done. Although the beverage manufacturer used many retail examples, it’s clear these same trends will make their way throughout every type of supply chain, including electronics and high-technology, in the not-to-distant future.
Click on the image below to start a slideshow of eight consumer technology trends that will be disrupting the market for makers of all kinds of products including electronics.
Perhaps the key take away for all the potential technology innovations is this: The time to act is now. “These are all technologies that are actuallylive in place today,” said Philips. “This is not the time for small minded, little ideas. You have to extend your vision all the way to the consumer and then work backwards.”
What technologies do you think will bring competitive advantage to your organization? What parts of the supply chain do you think are ripe for change? Let us know in the comments section below.
— Hailey Lynne McKeefry, Editor in Chief, EBN 
