{"id":2230,"date":"2022-09-01T09:02:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T09:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/CIN\/CIN016\/?p=2230"},"modified":"2026-05-12T09:24:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T09:24:41","slug":"blog-posts-the-top-4-trends-of-2022s-most-successful-supply-chains-bc3cf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modomodostage.com\/_client\/CIN\/CIN016\/blog-posts\/the-top-4-trends-of-2022s-most-successful-supply-chains-bc3cf","title":{"rendered":"The Top 4 Trends of 2022\u2019s Most Successful Supply Chains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2022, the supply chain is best known for its shortcomings. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, laid bare many of its weaknesses worldwide. Meanwhile, global commerce continues to shift to a consumer-first mentality, making it all the more important to deliver on service levels in order to remain competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certainly, the odds are stacked against the supply chain due to a number of major obstacles, including raw material and parts shortages, ports so congested they became the subject of\u00a0executive<\/a>\u00a0action, an ever-shrinking talent pool and unprecedented inflation\u2014just to name a few examples. And in case those challenges weren\u2019t enough, according to\u00a0Procurement Tactics<\/a>, there will be four times as many\u00a0cyberattacks<\/a>\u00a0on supply chain software in 2022 than in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving forward, resilience against these disruptions is a must for any high-performing, global supply chain. But it\u2019s not the only success factor. Where are supply chains thriving\u2014and what can be gleaned from their successes? Let\u2019s review some of the top trends in this year\u2019s most celebrated supply chains, as well as emerging practices and technologies that promise even more long-term benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d#1: They’re getting greener<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/strong>Since 2020, supply chain leaders have enjoyed a much more prominent spot in the boardroom\u2014and the court of public opinion. And with that intense scrutiny comes renewed interest from stakeholders in consumer-friendly ESG initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many leading U.S. companies have increased their environmental commitments this year, whether that\u2019s through climate pledges, energy-saving initiatives or circular economy investments. Circular supply chains aim to eliminate waste through increased repair, refurbishment and recycling efforts\u2014often with a corresponding commitment to responsible material extraction. Cisco Systems, for example, has a takeback program called Cisco Refresh<\/a> that as of today refurbishes 99.3% of all hardware returned to the company or securely decommissions and recycles it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, new technologies like alternative fuels, sustainable aviation fuel, battery-powered trains, route optimization software and LNG-powered container ships promise to help set freight on a greener path in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, many companies are also looking to fulfill their ESG commitments beyond the environmental component through the supply chain. According to Supply Chain Dive<\/a>, retailers like Kroger, Walmart, QVC and HSN have put out calls for new vendors in order to create more diversity and sustainability to their supplier base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d#2: They\u2019re automating<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/strong>The so-called \u201cGreat Resignation\u201d and corresponding labor shortage have touched a number of industries, and supply chain is no exception. According to Future of Sourcing<\/a>, the supply chain talent shortage is expected to leave 2.4M positions unfilled between 2018 and 2028, creating a potential economic impact of $2.5T.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While self-driving trucks may still be in their nascent stages, other technologies like intelligent automation (IA) and robotic process automation (RPA)<\/a> are already making a difference in helping companies eliminate the need for human intervention in repetitive or dangerous work. Before you order a robot, however, keep in mind that these technologies require strategic implementation. You don\u2019t want to automate a bad process, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d#3: They\u2019re diversifying<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/strong>As we discussed in Trend #1, organizations are seeking to increase supplier diversity to support their ESG commitments. But many are also targeting supplier diversification as a risk-mitigation strategy in the face of increased disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating a broader network of new or alternative suppliers, previously passed over for more cost-saving approaches, has become an important tactic since companies suffered factory shutdowns in China during the beginning of the pandemic. As organizations look to near-shore their operations, they\u2019re also sourcing multiple suppliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a shipping perspective, the days of relying solely on FedEx and UPS are gone as a diversified carrier mix<\/a> can create more stability. Companies who prioritize customer experience are hedging their bets with regional delivery carriers for more personalized attention and cost savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d#4: They\u2019re digitizing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200d<\/strong>In the 2022 MHI Annual Industry report,<\/a> 64% of survey respondents indicated they are increasing their investments in digital transformation. Beyond automation, a whole range of digital tools promises to modernize supply chain operations and help companies make faster, stronger pivots, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n