Five Trends Shaping the future of supply chain

Hardly any other economic sector has developed as dynamically in recent years as logistics. Crises, conflicts and technological leaps have repeatedly put supply chains to the test. However, Bernd Heinrichs, Senior Vice President Inventory & Supply Chain at INFORM, is convinced that this has not only revealed weaknesses, but also enormous potential for innovation. “A look at the changes in logistics shows how much potential lies in this transformation and what opportunities it offers. It is precisely these changes that make supply chains central levers for competitiveness, sustainability and social progress today. And, in the spirit of Supply Chain Day, they also make it a modern and attractive field of work for anyone who wants to drive innovation and actively shape the future,” says Heinrichs.

1. Digital solutions are becoming the standard
One defining development in logistics and SCM is easier access to digital technologies. What used to be reserved mainly for large companies with the most lavish IT budgets is now also accessible to small and medium-sized companies. Cloud solutions, open-source applications, and AI-supported analyses and developments make it possible to efficiently digitize processes, use data in real time, and make informed decisions faster – without high barriers to entry. In 2024, one in five companies in Germany will already be using AI, compared to just 11% in 2021. This means that the share has almost doubled within three years.[1] Those who leave outdated, fragmented systems behind and rely on real-time data exchange and AI-supported automation will gain clear advantages today.

2. Resilience comes into focus
With technological progress, awareness of the increasing importance of resilience is also growing. The long-standing fixation on just-in-time and pure cost efficiency is increasingly giving way to the realization that resilience and stability are at least as important. This trend was also confirmed by a study by INFORM in 2023: 56 percent of the 146 specialists and managers from logistics and SCM surveyed expect resilience to take a back seat to the traditional focus on efficiency in the future.[2] To be able to react better to imponderables, companies are increasingly turning to multi-sourcing or nearshoring, supplemented by AI-supported simulations to detect disruptions early and take targeted countermeasures. Resilience is thus becoming a strategic complement to efficiency.

3. Sustainability is no longer a compulsory program but a competitive advantage
Resilient structures not only ensure stability in times of crisis, but also open up scope for sustainable business practices. In recent years, sustainability in logistics and SCM has increasingly developed from a duty into a strategic opportunity. According to a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation in 2024, 60% of companies see sustainability as an important driver for changing their business models – especially where economic interests are the main focus.[3] Those who design processes to conserve resources benefit equally in both ecological and economic terms. Intelligent software solutions that increase resilience and efficiency often automatically contribute to ecological goals – for example, through optimized transport routes or smart inventory management.

4. new technologies require new skills
Technological development not only changes processes, but also the role and tasks of people in logistics. AI will not replace anyone, but it will take over more routine tasks and people will increasingly move into roles that involve control, oversight and strategic decisions. AI will thus become an advisor to people. In this context, the question of who owns the AI used in a company will become increasingly important, due to geopolitical developments alone. A new trend is emerging here: own your own AI. The aim is to build your own controlled AI systems in order to be able to act independently, securely and confidently. This will change the way we work and, with it, the requirements in terms of qualifications and collaboration.

5. strengthen cooperation to improve our ability to act
 The demands for flexibility, speed and transparency have led to traditional supply chains increasingly transforming into networked, dynamic structures – with many participants, interfaces and data flows. Close collaboration with other manufacturers, retailers or logistics service providers opens up major competitive advantages. For example, sharing information about inventories, demand and production plans promotes robust planning and makes supply chains more resilient. Joint goods flows also improve transport utilization, reduce costs and support sustainability goals.
 

“By working together, using intelligent technologies and pursuing a common goal, we can create a future for logistics that works better for everyone – one that is more sustainable, more connected and more open,” summarizes Heinrichs. ”Those who actively shape this change and make its benefits widely available will write the next chapter of progress in logistics and help shape the future today.”

Webinar on Supply Chain Day: Best Practices along the Supply Chain

For those who want to gain insights into specific examples of how intelligent software solutions are used, INFORM is offering a webinar (in German) on Supply Chain Day entitled “Smart Optimization: Best Practices along the Supply Chain”. Experts will use practical examples to show how modern technologies such as AI can help to make supply chains more agile, efficient and transparent. The focus is on fields of application such as inventory optimization, sales forecasting and sales & operations planning. Participation is possible at short notice. Further information can be found at https://www.inform-software.com/de/expertise/events/webinar/smart-optimization.
 

[1] Jedes fünfte Unternehmen nutzt künstliche Intelligenz - Statistisches Bundesamt

[2] SCM-Studie von INFORM zeigt Trend zur Resilienz durch Logistik-IT - INFORM

[3] Je stärker Unternehmen sich wandeln, desto nachhaltiger werden sie