Technological Trends in the Supply Chain

Technology is constantly changing and improving the supply chain. Technological advances assist companies in becoming more competitive, efficient and improving operations.Also, with consumers’ expectations of companies providing quality products and excellent service, technology has assisted to fulfill customers’ needs. Thinking back to what the supply chain first was and fast-forwarding to the present, there have been vast improvements and changes to meet consumer demand. Technological trends that are changing the supply chain include:

3D Printing

Presently, 3D printing catered towards producing small volumes rather than mass production. 3D printing has the ability to match the demand of consumers if the demand is low. However, with the growing interest in 3D printing and the progress in this technology, it soon could accomplish mass production. This new technology allows companies to produce products at a rapid pace since the design files are sent straight to the printer and created. 3D printing provides high-quality management and assists in maintaining efficiency.

Drone delivery

With the rise in online shopping and consumers having the convenience of shopping at home, they also expect to have their products delivered quickly. The speed of delivery has become a crucial part of the consumer experience. Deliveries that are not made on time can damage the shopping experience and can destroy brand loyalty consumers have. Drones will provide an enhanced shopping by offering next hour delivery. While there are regulations to overcome (safety, environmental) companies such as Amazon and Google are researching drones and are in development to provide this service to consumers.

Growth of e-commerce and cloud-based platforms

E-commerce will continue to grow as consumers are seeking the convenience of online shopping. Also, cloud-based platforms will become a part of shippers’ strategy to grow their customer base. Shippers are turning to cloud-based programs as they are easily accessible on electronic devices and data is processed at rapid rates. Companies that are turning to e-commerce and the cloud are growing their business by having the ability to reach more consumers and adapting to the changing needs of consumers.

There are constant technological advances that are improving manufacturing and meeting the demand of consumers. With constant technological advancements in the supply chain, this improves operations and assists in achieving customer satisfaction.