Reimagining the supply chain in a post-pandemic world

COVID-19 has exposed the fundamental weakness of our modern supply chain, disrupting industries and shutting down businesses overnight. The inter-connectedness of the global supply chain has always been its strength, but the pandemic has turned it into our biggest weakness. As the global economy begins its recovery in earnest, there are important lessons business leaders need to glean from this episode - if we are to build back better, we need to rethink how we structure and build our supply chains so we can avoid a repeat of 2020.

Contrary to popular belief, supply chain is not something that is valued only by retailers or e-commerce players; it is the invisible force that keeps societies running and it impacts every aspect of our lives. The fidelity of a supply chain has a direct impact on operations and customer experience, and these are crucial factors that enable businesses to compete at a strategic level.

Take, for example, a manufacturer of construction materials: output levels will drop when its usual suppliers are unable to deliver machinery replacements. This, in turn, affects the business's ability to meet customer orders in a timely manner. The stakes are higher for organisations that deliver critical infrastructure, technological solutions and medical supplies to the healthcare industry as they fight to contain Covid-19. A day's delay in medical supplies could mean the difference between life and death, and a resilient supply chain is key to our fight against the pandemic.