Supply Chain Digital Magazine September 2023 | Page 7

FOREWORD

PEOPLE , NOT TECHNOLOGY , ARE SUPPLY CHAIN ’ S MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS

“ Supply chain , like life itself , is built on relationships ”

THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS IN SUPPLY CHAIN WILL BE ON FULL SHOW AT
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TECHNOLOGY MIGHT BE ADVANCING AT A DIZZYING SPEED BUT NONE OF IT MATTERS A JOT IF NOT UNDERPINNED AND INFORMED BY STRONG HUMAN RELATIONS
Strong supplier relations have always been critically important for an efficient and cost effective supply chain . In today ’ s uncertain world , though , it has never been more crucIal .
In the past , such a thing might have been called having an ‘ in-the-round ’ view of supply chain . Now , people are more likely to refer to it as having a 360-degree view of the supply chain , or of having end-to-end visibility .
It ’ s not just the language that has changed of course ; technology has moved on – and continues to move on – at a dizzying pace . Data is the currency of supply chain visibility .
But what is the currency of data ? That ’ s simple : relationships . Supply chain , like life itself , is built on relationships .
And like all relationships , it ’ s a two-way street . Suppliers want to build strong relations because this is what gives them preferred supplier status .
Organisations want the same thing , because such relationships help add value outside of supplier contracts , and when scaled-up these benefits bring resilience .
In this issue we explore supplier relations in depth , and it ’ s a timely reminder that technology , however awe inspiring , comes in a distant second to supply chain ’ s most important assets . People .
SEAN ASHCROFT sean . ashcroft @ bizclikmedia . com © 2023 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED supplychaindigital . com 7