DECEMBER 2023retailtechinsights.com8In my opinionGlobal pandemic lockdowns set off a series of disruptions and delays that put "supply chain" in the headlines and at the forefront of everyone's minds. These troubles exacerbated the operational issues and dependencies already present in modern-day supply chains. As a result, many technology companies zeroed in on the supply-chain sector for opportunities to develop, market, and deploy new applications. However, most of these enterprises lack an operational understanding of how complex supply chains work in real-world scenarios and circumstances. At a time when teams are already stretched thin, introducing a new platform into your supply chain can stretch resources to the breaking point, even if that new platform is the key (eventually) to unlocking greater efficiency.This brings us to digital modernization. You may ask yourself, "Is digital transformation even necessary for my business?" Recent history has proven that necessity. If you are not digitizing your business, you are already behind the curve and at a disadvantage. A retailer with no online sales channel in 2020 or 2021 was left questioning whether it would survive the extended store closures.It is estimated that technology initiatives and adoption in the retail industry were accelerated by an average of three years as a result of the pandemic. Encountering issues like supply-chain disruptions, inventory imbalances, and new fulfillment processes, retailers recognized the need to be more ACCELERATED ADOPTION: TECHNOLOGY IN RETAIL SUPPLY CHAINSBY BRYAN RANSFORD, Director, Global Sales & Marketing, Retail & Fashion Vertical, ExpeditorsJackie Long
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