While the disruptions to the supply chain are no longer as severe as the pandemic-era hiccups that resulted in global bottlenecks, the efforts to get goods from Points A to B continue to create logistics challenges. A new study published by Ivanti Wavelink, the supply chain business unit of the IT software company Ivanti, points to high-tech solutions in addressing ongoing supply chain concerns.
The study “Heavy Lift: Supply Chain Trends for 2023” surveyed more than 200 professionals involved in all levels of the supply chain, from corporate executives to drivers and warehouse employees. The main concern across the supply chain spectrum was workers ”“ or, more precisely, the lack thereof. Survey respondents cited attracting and retaining workers, the efficiency of the workforce and mitigating tech-related problems with staff as the primary issues facing today”™s supply chain.
The chief concerns among the respondents included the time to train the workforce (52%), the high turnover in this sector (50%) and the need for digital upskilling (41%).
Nearly one-third (32%) of respondents said attracting and retaining labor was the key issue that could improve the warehouse distribution fulfillment process. Other pressing factors included supply chain visibility (18%) and increased data analytics and “intuitive data technologies that improve productivity while reducing errors and training time” (both 17%) were also cited.
On the tech side, approximately 85% of respondents said they were planning to either invest in new technology or build upon existing systems within the next year. More than half (53%) of respondents predicted they would increase automation up to 30% in the next year, while one-quarter of respondents were aiming for an increase between 11-20%.
The most-used tools were hand-held mobile computers with barcode scanners (58%) and tablets (50%). Fewer respondents said their operations were utilizing wearable computers and automated picking tools, although these tools were at the top of the purchasing list for the next year.
The study determined that supply chain professionals are focused on procuring user-friendly tech that is dependable. When evaluating new technology for acquisition, the main concerns are reliability (69%), ease of deployment (67%), ease of learning (63%) and adaptability (63%).
“With the current shortage of available labor, many industries are better equipping their teams with technologies that help them optimize workflow,” said Brandon Black, senior vice president and general manager for Ivanti Wavelink. “By embracing technology to help streamline operational efficiency, organizations can increase productivity, reduce costs, save time, and improve customer satisfaction. Additionally, by implementing technology and automation that uses real-time data, companies can gain end-to-end visibility that allows them to evaluate information more efficiently and be more agile in mitigating issues.”
