Omni Supply Chain Collaboration

The changes coming to the omni channel supply chain resulting from the demands and lifestyle support of consumers will require a heightened and continuous level of collaboration from all partners that has not been required in the past.  Just as with retail shopping and purchasing you can expect millennials to mash features and functionality across the supply chain partners to support their lifestyle demands and then these capabilities will quickly be embraced by all consumers.  Supply chain partners will be forced to increase their collaboration in order to incorporate and support the changes or they will suffer the same type of consequences that large department store retailers are now suffering in the shopping and purchasing marketplace.

These types of services will include services such as scheduled delivery options such as a one hour window and abilities to re-route deliveries within a service area at any time up to the delivery.  The purchases will also vary based on the product types and the consumer delivery requirements.  The deliveries will blend across purchases and other consumer shipments and value added services such as gift wrapping and setup and configuration.  The service demands will grow and change based on the types of products and delivery requirements of the consumer.  The point to be aware of and embrace for the omni supply chain is the absolute requirement to increase partner collaboration in order to survive.  

The chief lesson to be learned from the changes buffeting the retail and even real estate marketplace is the combined requirement of flexibility and collaboration.  Consumers have embraced collaboration in dramatically new levels that is supported by the practices of millennials along with the social network enhanced and expanded capabilities enabled by wireless technologies.  These lessons and practices are going to be extended deep into the supply chain now in order to support the shifting and growing demands of consumers.  These demands extend to and link all partners across the extended supply chain bringing new demands and dramatic changes to the basic consumer interaction.

Consumer demands are increasing and changing in an ever quickening cycle and it is only natural as the changes shift and grow that they extend deeper across the supply chain.  Retailers will not be able to support all of the changes as they grow and this will require increased collaboration with other supply chain partners to meet the demands.  Supply chain partners must start now to collaborate and share experiences in order to support the demands that are coming.

And now for the audience participation portion of the show…

ECommerce will have wide ranging impacts on both the retail and manufacturing sectors.  How can you focus these abilities to improve the consumer's experience?  Improving the consumer’s experience will require a re-evaluation of the sales channels, the manufacturing channels and practices and the supply chain channels and practices from the raw materials to the consumers’ homes.  In order to ensure and maintain success in this new reality you must harness the tools and capabilities in many new areas.  How can you support these continuously changing requirements?