In almost every new supply chain focused industry periodical, you will find an article discussing transformation or digitization. Industry analysts, consultants, solution providers, executives and practitioners are all focused on how to transition from traditional to more “digital” planning capabilities. In fact, a Google search using the words, “Digital Transformation” yields 2,800,000+ results. As a supply chain practitioner it is critical to understand what digital supply chain planning looks like and how to ensure your supply chain is on the right transformational path.

What is Digital Transformation?

Digital Transformation involves a focused effort of activity across multiple processes that accelerates performance and delivers new value-added capabilities. Digital Transformation in supply chain planning usually involves development of new tools, skills, and/or processes that target a step change in speed and/or agility.

Why is Digital Transformation Important?

Digital transformation is one of the top concerns and areas of focus for C-Level executives. There is a growing awareness within senior executives that transforming supply chain planning capabilities to take advantage of the emerging areas of “Big Data,” “Artificial Intelligence,” “Advanced Analytics,”  and “Cloud Computing” is a competitive imperative.

Most supply chain managers already know that there is a “War for Talent” being fought to find and retain qualified supply chain personal. Today there is only one qualified supply chain candidate for every seven planning openings and this ratio is projected to increase before it gets better. The best supply chain planning candidates want to work with advanced technology platforms that allow them to spend more time analyzing problems and developing value-added recommendations. Digital transformation of supply chain planning capabilities is critical to hiring and retaining the best talent.

Supply chain practitioners are being asked to accomplish more with less, to be involved in more business processes and deliver more value-added capabilities while lowering costs and ensuring high customer service. Materials and components are sourced from ever-more remote locations and finished products are being sold into expanding regions and channels. The amount of external data continues to grow at exponential rates. Planning cycles continue to shrink and customers expect shorter and shorter delivery cycles.  All these pressures demand a step change in performance building the need for Digital Transformation.

As a Supply Chain Practitioner, How Can I Facilitate a Digital Transformation?

The first step is to obtain C-Level sponsorship. Unlike most supply chain improvement efforts focused on managing and maintaining the current state and making incremental improvements, transformation involves multi-year, multi-functional, disruptive, and expensive efforts that can only be accomplished when embraced by top company executives. Often to gain executive approval requires a business case showing substantial hard and soft benefits.

Start with documenting the “As-Is” process capabilities and corresponding key performance metrics. This will lay the foundation for any future performance comparison and provide the starting point to develop benefits for transformation. Envision the “To-Be” process capabilities and desired performance metrics through benchmarking, group brain storming sessions, and alignment to business strategy and direction. Include envisioned capability cases to provide a vision of what the “To-Be” environment might look like. Develop a flexible roadmap with critical milestones required to transition from the “As-Is” state to the “To-Be” vision. The trick is to have enough detail in this transition plan to execute against while still maintaining flexibility to adjust to new priorities and emerging technologies.

The skills people need to operate in the envisioned “To-Be” environment will be drastically different requiring training and education. Some employees will find it impossible to make the transition requiring the hiring of new talent. A dedicated focus on change management and employee development is necessary for successful transformation.

Conclusion:

The move to digital business capabilities is affecting all areas of a company including the supply chain. Today, technologies such as RFID, GPS, and sensors have enabled organizations to transform their existing supply chain execution capabilities to be more flexible, open, agile, and collaborative. This same type of transformation from embracing digital capabilities is starting to take place in Supply Chain Planning.

To be truly competitive in an increasingly volatile world, forward-thinking companies will need to transform its supply chain planning capabilities by investing in digital supply chain planning capabilities to improve customer service, reduce costs, and enable company strategies. This new vision of a digitally transformed supply chain has caught the attention of executive management and supply chain practitioners must step up and meet this digital transformation challenge.

Additional Reading

• Research: Impact of Digital Transformation on the Supply Chain, Technology Evaluation Centers
• White Paper: Three Checklists to Build a Successful Supply Chain Analytics Foundation