The Supply Chain Convergence Playbook
How to identify your alignment goals, implement solutions that address your challenges and ensure technology takes a leading role in your future success
The COVID-19 pandemic pointed out flaws in business practices across industries, perhaps more in procurement and supply chain departments than anywhere else in the organization. But now, two years into this new business environment, organizations are saying they still haven’t found relief from the competing forces of procurement costs and logistics deadlines.
A recent research study — Supply Chain Convergence in a Disruptive Environment — conducted by the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Supply Chain Resource Cooperative and GEP surveyed leaders from procurement, supply chain and IT departments across a variety of industries about their priorities, strategies and challenges. The study found that the misalignment between sourcing and supply chain is the cause of common gaps in supply chains.
The main gaps include:
- Misalignment between procurement and supply chain
- Misalignment between CPOs/CSCOs and their teams
- Misalignment between key organizational initiatives and the teams tasked with achieving them
- Technology misalignment
In a disruptive environment, any disconnection and misalignment can be exacerbated and amplify problems within the supply chain. And, in the current “perfect storm” of inflation, shortages, tariffs and more, there’s no clear end in sight.
The lack of strategic alignment between stakeholders suggests organizations may not be as future-proof as they should be. By making improvements in critical areas, especially technology, procurement and supply chain, managers and executives have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform their organizations for generations to come.
