LOGISTICS
“ You ' ve got a huge competing infrastructure on digitalisation , and as a manufacturer , it ' s quite challenging to pick the digital and technology providers that are going to be here for the long haul . Then you ’ re left wondering what the future standard is going to be , because there are a huge number of competing infrastructures , and not all of them are going to be successful . I can understand why there is nervousness .”
Skills is one barrier to digital transformation Although Naughton agrees people have to be at the heart of any transformation , he points out that skill and expertise are barriers to change .
“ It ’ s something that firms really need to be focused on . This is especially true right now because of labour constraints in the supply chain network due to the Great Resignation .”
Another obstacle to the digital transformation of supply chains is developing a business case for it , Naughton notes .
“ Lots of businesses still tend to focus on the top- and bottom-line , which is understandable because that ' s how we ' re all measured . But , if organisations are to start moving things forward , they will have to migrate towards more of a valuedriven proposition .
Naughton says this is particularly true of those with limited investment capabilities , and also points out that different sectors face slightly different challenges , and that decisions need to be made between investment from both a financial perspective and a resource perspective , because “ that will be needed to decide what you actually want to focus on within your supply chain .”
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