Supply chain visibility and speed to market are believed to determine success in the post-pandemic world
In a recently concluded webinar organised by Rockwell Automation titled ‘The Future of Supply Chain Automation’ business leaders from India’s leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturers emphasised the need for a long-term digital transformation strategy that leverages Industry 4.0 technologies at the enterprise level to better manage future disruptions caused by supply and demand shocks.
Convinced that supply chain visibility and speed to market will determine success, the common view to emerge was that companies in the sector need to invest in tech-led solutions for creating an efficient, resilient, and agile supply chain that enables business continuity.
“We have seen during the pandemic how technology can provide you with a strong competitive advantage,” said Nandkumar Kulkarni, Director, Integrated Supply Chain, Mondelez India. “Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) based technologies can now help predict the evolving consumer demand and move a large number of SKUs with unprecedented ease and accuracy. This type of investment will reward with a disproportionate return and needs to be a part of an organisation’s long-term digital strategy.”
“Tech-enabled supply chain visibility has been allowing India’s FMCG players to shift the inventory where needed and alter manufacturing schedules on the fly,” added Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director, Rockwell Automation India. “Manufacturers who had invested in Industry 4.0 technology were able to outperform their competition over the last year and have come out stronger. Human-machine collaboration is no longer a fantasy. Winners in the future will be those who can blend and leverage human agility with the power of the machines to maximise value creation.”
In another session titled ‘Reinventing the Supply Chain Management and Warehousing Industry,’ Senthil Kumar KK, National Manager, Supply Chain, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, said, “It is critical that we regularly reconsider how we manage our supply chains in a changing market. Whether managing distribution costs or tapping growth opportunities in the rural market, we need to assemble top notch plans.”