COO: 3 ways Big data can help you deal with supply chain disruption

As a COO, you might be dealing with supply chain disruption that COVID-19 has been causing to your company for the last couple of months. Supply chain disruption and risk management have been an important subject to all supply chain and operations executives, and it has become more and more important facing the current pandemic situation. As a supply chain professional, I find this subject fascinating. I recently found 2 articles highlighting how companies could use data and technology to reduce impacts of supply chain disruption in such challenging times.

Craig Hayman, CEO of Aveva group, a software company, and expert in global supply chain management emphasized how automation can help companies deal with supply chain disruption in a podcast on Public Radio International. He believes the more labors the supply chain requires, the more it would be exposed to disruption during pandemic time. Therefore, one of the solutions for supply chains to avoid disruption is to invest in automation. Highly efficient and established supply chains are also more likely to be disrupted. As a result, it’s important to look at and analyze data to understand the situation and react accordingly to avoid impacts by supply chain disruption.

Found in https://analysts.com/blockchain-in-supply-chain-management

Neil Soni, VP of business development and strategy for Omnichain, a Los Angeles–headquartered supply-chain company stated in an article on ApparelNews how AI and blockchain technology can help business recover quickly and operate more efficiently after the pandemic time. He says AI can rapidly spot unanticipated changes in trends or a disruption in demand flow, therefore better support companies to adapt their operations to new situations. E-commerce will soar after the pandemic and the logistics industry will benefit from this trend. Technologies such as distributed ledgers and blockchain will improve logistics efficiency and help move the goods around the globe easier. 

Drawing on these two articles and my experience working in apparel supply chain for Walmart global sourcing, I have listed 3 actions that I would recommend to companies who want to overcome supply chain disruption due to COVID-19 and thrive in the new era of supply chain uncertainty:

·       Embrace the data: use the data to analyze your operations and adapt to new situations in real time

·       Take advantage of AI technology: use AI and social media marketing techniques to predict demand efficiently and plan your supply chain accordingly

·       Invest in logistics management: make logistics improvement a priority so that you can thrive in the upcoming e-commerce shopping era

Starting today, you need to be examining how your supply chain can best use automation, big data and AI technology to improve efficiency and get ready to overcome supply chain disruption.

My name is Ann Nguyen and I’m currently a senior sourcing specialist at Walmart Global Sourcing. I’ve been working in global apparel supply chain management for 7 years and am interested in how to use technology to improve supply chain performance. I got my MBA from Duke University and master & bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering from the French engineering school INSA de Lyon. Feel free to reach out or connect with me at @anhtu47.