Recent innovations in supply chain mapping through process automation have been a saving grace for businesses throughout the pandemic. However, businesses that have not implemented automation in their supply chain have been left vulnerable to future disruptions, both for their business and the B2B relations that are integral to their success. The first step toward building a stable supply chain that is prepared for disruption is to adapt to the evolving mindset.
Rethinking “Just-in-Time” to “Just-in-Case”
In 2021, nearly 30% of businesses encountered over 20 supply-chain disruptions that negatively impacted revenue. The issue, here, was the pre-existing mindset of a “just-in time” supply chain that prioritized efficiency over versatility. The future of supply chain is shifting to a “just-in-case” mindset. In order to ensure your business’ supply chain is not disrupted, you must develop a strategy that has several contingency plans in order to fully adapt to market conditions and lessen the impact of disruptions.
The Importance of Process Automation in Supply Chain Mapping
This is a complicated process for any business: tracing a service or a product from its creation along every step of its journey toward its delivery. The importance of process automation practices can help trace your supply chain in a way that is accessible and flexible. Process automation optimizes by using AI analysis of real-time data, while creating contingency plans to help you react and adapt to market disruptions within your supply chain.
The Benefits of Process Automation in Supply Chain Mapping
Creating a stable supply chain mapping system through process automation yields many benefits for businesses, including:
- Creating a supply chain that is accessible to all employees. Full transparency will ensure the right information can be in the right person’s hands at a moment’s notice.
- Anticipating potential supply chain risks before it’s too late. Supply chain mapping through process automation will create contingency plans that create a flexible supply chain that is prepared to adapt to market disruptions before they occur.
- Real-time data analysis. Process automation provides a wealth of accessible data-inputs that can be analyzed by both employees and AI in order to perpetually optimize supply chain systems.
- Creating Value for Your Business. Although planning for “just-in-case” contingencies may be more of an investment in the short-term, the flexibility of this type of supply chain mapping is both more efficient in the long term and will limit the risk of detrimental disruption in the future. Without spending time and resources adapting, you will be creating a system that is ready to adapt for you with little-to-no employee intervention.
Simply put, supply chain mapping through process automation is critical to your business’ success. If the past 20 months are any indication, it is more important than ever to create systems that are flexible to adapt to any future curveballs that may come your way.
As always, Elantis is here to help. Reach out to us if you’d like to chat with one of Elantis’ automation experts about how you can use process automation for your supply chain mapping today!
