U.S. Firms Modernize Supply Chains for Competitive Edge

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Digital transformations now look beyond efficiency to goals for resilience, responsiveness, sustainability, ISG Provider Lens? report says

STAMFORD, Conn., October 22, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More enterprises in the U.S. are now implementing digital supply chains as competitive differentiators, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.

The 2024 ISG Provider Lens? Supply Chain Services report for the U.S. finds that organizations are working to make their supply chains more resilient to disruptions and responsive to abrupt market changes. In the wake of major geopolitical events that have affected supply chains, including international conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic, companies are seeking to prevent or quickly bounce back from supply or demand shocks.

"Cost is still a concern for supply chains, but capability is gaining importance," said Bob Krohn, partner, manufacturing, for ISG. "Service providers are stepping up to help enterprises implement systems that meet their unique requirements."

U.S. companies have been especially fast to adopt digital supply chains, due to lighter regulation in the U.S. and a higher willingness to take technology risks, ISG says. Many U.S. firms are undertaking digital transformation as they shift from global to regional or local supply chains to reduce the risk of future disruptions.

A growing number of companies are integrating AI into supply chains, in part because it can process large volumes of data and make real-time decisions, the report says. This is revolutionizing supply chain planning and forecasting, making those functions more agile and resilient. They are also beginning to use generative AI (GenAI), primarily for procurement and after-sales use cases such as warranty management, supply chain optimization and supplier risk assessment.

Aiming for more real-time insights and data-driven decision-making, U.S. enterprises are working to clean up and integrate data from throughout their supply chains, including from internal systems and external suppliers, ISG says. End-to-end visibility and process orchestration could improve supply and demand forecasts, order fulfilment and profitability. Providers are helping clients carry out this major transition, usually in one part of the supply chain at a time.

Companies in the U.S. are also starting to establish and track sustainability within supply chains to meet legal standards, corporate goals and customer expectations, the report says. In response to the movement toward a circular economy, which aims to reduce waste through repair, refurbishment and recycling, enterprises are taking steps to extend product lifespans.