It’s not news that technology continues to change the way we work. With such a heavy focus on cost efficiency, there has been an increased focus on optimization to get ahead – something I’ve seen in the behind-the-scenes work driving today’s supply chain.
While many processes in the supply chain – traditionally focused on materials – are already automated, there are those, particularly in services, that will change dramatically in the years to come. Partially due to external factors, such as the rise of minimum wage, the total spend on services is increasing while customer demand continues to rise.
As companies zero in on the cost of services and managing the delivery of services to higher standards, there is a heavier focus on core competencies and where they add value to customers. This shift in attention to better automating services is causing firms to focus on the places where they add the most value to their customers while optimizing and outsourcing all other process. Recently, I shared some of those thoughts in an article for Supply Chain World.
As the shift to automating and optimizing the delivery of services along the supply chain becomes increasingly prevalent, I want to share my thoughts on how to best embrace the changes ahead.
- Free up time to be more customer-centric. By automating and reengineering processes and by outsourcing functions (such as the finance function), companies can optimize process efficiency and controls and free up staff time for more customer-centric activities.
- Use talent strategically. The optimization of services enables a smoother workflow and companies should take advantage of this opportunity to better utilize staff to add the most value to customers through means such as better customer service.
- Focus on savings. Automation saves time and money, and the automation of white-collar jobs will continue to free up costs. The resulting savings can be put back into the business to allow for growth and innovation.
Dramatic changes are in store for the supply chain and they will change the way we work. What do you envision as the new way of working?
