Understanding the future of regional supply chains
Asialink Business partners with leading logistics company to unpack the biggest trends facing supply chain leaders today
(Melbourne, 16 June 2021) The COVID-19 pandemic, rising geostrategic tensions, technological innovation, and shifting expectations around sustainability are prompting a rethink of supply chains. As companies emerge from the pandemic, business leaders need to understand how to diversify and strengthen their regional supply chains, to mitigate risk, build resilience and harness opportunities in the post-pandemic landscape.
Asialink Business – in collaboration with major logistics company, Toll Group – is excited to commence The Future of Regional Supply Chains, a new project aimed at analysing the key disruptors to supply chains and their implications for business.
This timely project will include a survey of Australian businesses, as well as case studies and interviews with supply chain leaders, to unpack the challenges they face and build a comprehensive picture of future trends.
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"Global pressures and the pandemic have made supply chain management a C-suite issue,” says Asialink Business Director of Advisory and Insights, Robert Law.
“At this challenging time for the global economy, it is important for any business to begin thinking about how to evolve its supply chain in response to key drivers.”
Drawing on expert consultations, the research will focus on four major trends that future-focused supply chain leaders need to consider:
- Supply chain resilience: With a global rethink underway about traditional, ‘just-in-time’ approaches, businesses have a one-time opportunity for supply chain reorganisation. How can businesses leaders better understand the key sources of distruption and build supply chain resilience, whilst balancing competitiveness and efficiency?
- E-commerce: E-commerce across the region is booming. This is being driven by the growth of digital platforms, enhancements in logistics, shifting customer expectations and rising numbers of small and medium businesses leveraging e-commerce platforms to go global. In this rapidly changing consumer and digital landscape, what is driving disruption and where are the opportunities for supply chain leaders?
- Technology and innovation: Technology is often outpacing the ability of regulators to keep up, with automation having uneven effects on labour across different markets. In a world where consumers now expect ‘instant’ delivery, how is technology transforming supply chain management, through the Internet of Things (IOT), advanced robotics, blockchain, and advanced analytics?
- Environmental and social sustainability: Shifting expectations from consumers, investors and stakeholders, combined with recent laws around modern slavery, have brought ESG and environmental concerns to the forefront of supply chain management. They have also become a point of difference for responsible business.
With the global economy facing uneven growth and mixed pandemic recovery, the project comes at an important time.
“The global pandemic has catalysed a number of geopolitical risks, along with rising sustainability concerns, technological innovation and the e-commerce boom. Business leaders will need to be able to adjust and equip their supply chains for the future,” Law says.
The project will complement and build on analysis in Asialink Business’ landmark 2020 ‘Winning in Asia’ report, which identified the “one-time opportunity” for companies to reorganise their supply chains. Already, countries like Vietnam have received the majority of this reorganisation investment, but others like India (when it overcomes its current COVID crisis) are strong contenders for companies looking to shift their manufacturing hubs.
The research is expected to be launched in mid-August.
Follow Asialink Business on LinkedIn for more updates and to participate in the upcoming survey.
Media inquiries:
Heather Chai
Head of Communications and Public Relations
T: 0423 035 277
E: heather.chai@asialinkbusiness.com.au