Four Supply Chain Predictions for 2022

Many of the supply chain issues that arose in 2021 will continue to complicate operations, and business leaders must prepare now for 2022. Here are four likely scenarios you can expect this year.

Continued Supply Chain Issues

The current supply chain landscape is not going to fix itself. Businesses are struggling to find workers, which directly impacts supply chain operations, resulting in continued order delays, supply shortages, and potentially unhappy distributors, retailers, and consumers.

Automation Will Fill the Labor Gap

In 2021, warehouse managers and leaders continued investing in automation technology to perform tasks such as inventory counts and product restocking. Additionally, we have seen automation paired with artificial intelligence (AI) to complete more complex tasks. Automation will not replace the need for human workers, but rather complement human activity.

A Greater Emphasis on Security

TIn 2021, businesses saw a 10% increase in the average cost of a data breach and a record-high number of data compromises. As many organizations continue to operate in a hybrid environment, security remains top of mind.

Increased Spending on Supply Chain Technology

Nearly half of supply chain leaders increased spending on technologies such as predictive analytics and AI during the pandemic. Spending will likely continue to climb in 2022 considering the operational efficiency it provides. As organizations continue to operate in a remote or hybrid environment, anticipate the cloud to become a common tool for smaller businesses as it is for larger organizations.