THE SUPPLYCHAIN INTERVIEW
“Planning leaders must be proactive if a new tech is to be widely adopted ”
If the tool can achieve the level of data granularity and visibility needed to make an informed decision , complexity itself is not the main barrier . The main challenge to using a new tool is that planners struggle to transition their workflows in accordance with the new tool . When they encounter challenges that they can ’ t quickly overcome , they tend to regress back to using their ‘ reliable ’ old planning tool .
As a result , planning leaders need to have a mechanism for receiving feedback early in the process of introducing a new tool to their teams and ensuring that the feedback is addressed .
If concerns are not met early in the process , negative attitudes about the new tool ’ s shortcomings have a way of snowballing through the team and creating entrenched negative attitudes that are hard to overcome later .
WHAT IS THE SECRET TO SUCCESSFUL SUPPLY CHAIN TECH ADOPTION ?
» Planning leaders must take proactive steps before , during , and after a new technology is introduced to ensure it is widely adopted . In the early stages , planning leaders should actively involve their teams in the tool selection process , not just customising it after the tool has been selected . Discrepancies between the output from new and legacy tools must be addressed before going live with the new tool .
The nature of training also needs to be updated , as planners will face more questions from stakeholders when using tools based on emerging technologies , such as AI . This means they need soft skills , such as communicating how the tool ’ s output translates to business strategy .
Also , planners need to have confidence that they will be allowed to experiment and not have their mistakes held against them in the early stages of adopting a new tool .
20 February 2024