SUPPLY CHAIN
SUPPLY CHAIN TECH IS HELPING BUSINESSES NAVIGATE UNCERTAINTY , BUT OMNICHANNEL INVENTORY MANAGEMENT REMAINS A STIFF CHALLENGE IN A WORLD OF CHAOS
In the early stages of the pandemic , sportswear manufacturer and retailer Nike deployed radio frequency identification ( RFID ) technology to track products flowing through outsourced manufacturing operations .
It also used predictive-demand analytics to minimise the impact of store closures across China . By rerouting inventory from in-store to digital-sales channels – and acting early to minimise excess inventory buildup across its network – the company was able to limit sales decline in the region to just 5 %.
But fast-forward two years , and Nike is in the midst of a global fire sale as it bids to clear an epic inventory glut that the company blames on late deliveries over the past two seasons , compounded by earlier ordering by retailers and faster-than-usual deliveries .
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