What emerging technologies are you planning on integrating into your supply chain processes over the next year, and how are you preparing your employees for their implementation?
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Retired CSCO in Retail6 months ago
From my perspective, automation is a key focus. It's not about replacing individuals anymore, but rather augmenting the labor force. With the current labor shortage, automation is becoming a necessity. We implemented auto-store and robotic bin picking at Macy's, for example. But the real challenge is in retraining and reskilling the workforce to adapt to these changes. I've also been speaking with companies that are developing fully articulated humanoids that can perform moderate to low difficulty tasks. The goal is to train the workforce to handle these new technologies effectively.VP of Supply Chain6 months ago
We're focusing on technologies that improve product delivery and communication with customers. Over the past 18 months, we've noticed a shift in how customers want to interact with companies, likely due to the pandemic. We're also looking at technologies that can assist with administrative tasks, which can often be overlooked in the supply chain world.Sr. Director of P2P in Software6 months ago
I see these technologies as augmentations rather than replacements. The challenge is getting our employees to accept these new "coworkers," whether they're large language models or delivery robots. It's about removing fear and helping employees see these technologies as benefits, not threats. This requires a significant amount of change management.
Chief Supply Chain Officer6 months ago
It's important to distinguish between physical and digital automation. Pre-pandemic, companies were focusing on automating buildings for handling a wide variety of items. During the pandemic, companies started booking up capacity for automation due to labor shortages. Post-pandemic, companies are considering the cost of physical automation versus digital tools like planning software, simulation, and modeling. We've been exploring autonomous vehicles for business-to-business moves, digital twins of distribution centers, new routing software, and drones for inventory checks. The key is to define what the future of work looks like and then bridge the gap for our employees.Retired CSCO in Retail6 months ago
I agree with Skip's point about distinguishing between digital and physical automation. They involve different workforces and have different implications. Digital automation typically involves a more sophisticated workforce, while physical automation affects hourly DC workers. It's important to be specific about what type of automation you're talking about and understand the implications for your workforce.
VP of Supply Chain in Retail6 months ago
Depending on the current state of your business, the definition of “emerging” can vary. As for current implementations, several posts have identified the key new areas of focus (automation, artificial intelligence, etc.). We are researching and evaluating the effectiveness of these tools in the context of the next year to three years.
When it comes to preparation, general change management principles remain vital to the success of any business development (I.e. knowing your team, generating buy-in, creating an urgent group of stakeholders, etc.). At the end of the day, the best ideas and strategies behind these technologies should come from within your team and they can only be realized with effective change management & supportive team dynamics.