SCM Webinar Wednesday | E2E Supply Chain Ecosystem Transformation survey

Introduction

Welcome to this edition of SCM Webinar Wednesday! My name is Martin Lers, Chief Trend Watcher at Supply Chain Media, and Editor-in-Chief at Supply Chain Movement, a European quarterly magazine. I’m excited to guide you through an insightful discussion on end-to-end ecosystem transformation today.

In collaboration with the EFESO Management Consultants, we conducted an extensive survey focused on end-to-end ecosystem transformation. Over the past hour, we have had enlightening conversations with two industry experts, Kristoff and Uran, who share their insights on the current landscape of supply chain management and the pressing need for transformation.

Expert Introductions

Kristoff, Vice President of EFESO in Belgium, has over 23 years of experience in supply chain and logistics, combining operational roles with consulting. He has a vast experience in operational excellence, sustainability, and collaborating with various value chain partners for efficient transformation.

Uran, also a partner at EFESO, specializes in Supply Chain Management and has helped companies develop strategies that position supply chains as strategic assets. His focus has been on defining processes and implementing the right tools to optimize supply chain performance.

Overview of Survey and Findings

With the backdrop of recent global disruptions—including COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and escalating energy prices—companies are facing increased pressure to adapt. Interestingly, supply chain management has gained prominence at the board level through these crises.

The survey revealed a foundation of key drivers for transformation:

Business Strategy: Companies increasingly align their supply chain transformations with overarching business goals.
Continuous Improvement: A push for operational excellence continues to be a prime motive for transformation efforts.

When examining the goals for supply chain transformation, resilience, agility, and the pursuit of new business models emerged as primary objectives.

Challenges Identified in Transformation

Despite the identified goals, several hurdles remain. A lack of clear business strategy often stymies supply chain executives. Participants in the survey highlighted challenges related to financial constraints for funding transformation projects and competing priorities, particularly from large-scale IT transformations, like S4 migrations.

Ecosystem Transformations and Collaborations

As supply chains evolve, organizations are encouraged to visualize their entire ecosystem, recognizing all players involved. The mapping of these relationships can actively inform strategic decisions about future opportunities for collaboration. Notably, while many companies wish to engage collaboratively with suppliers and customers, there's a call for clarity on which parties to build strategic relationships with.

Future Outlook

Survey respondents expressed ambitions to reach a more advanced state of supply chain management by 2027, marked by significant integration of AI and advanced analytics for effective decision-making, strengthened by real-time data visibility.

Keywords

Supply Chain Transformation
Ecosystem
Resilience
Agility
Continuous Improvement
Business Strategy
Collaboration
Digital Tools
AI
Visibility

FAQ

What are the main drivers identified for supply chain transformation?
The main drivers include aligning with business strategy and pursuing continuous improvement for operational excellence.

What challenges do companies face in transforming their supply chains?
Top challenges include unclear business strategies, financial constraints, and competing priorities from other major projects.

How can companies enhance collaboration within their supply chain ecosystem?
By visualizing their ecosystem and understanding their relationships with key partners, companies can identify opportunities for strategic collaborations.

What do companies hope to achieve by 2027 according to the survey?
Companies aim to implement AI-powered planning systems and achieve better agility and flexibility across their supply chains by 2027.

Is sustainability a focus for supply chain transformations?
Yes, sustainability is increasingly prioritized in strategies, particularly with a focus on managing upstream and downstream supply chain processes.