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If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that it’s never been more important to get ahead of supply chain and shipping trends. After two years of the pandemic, supply chains and shipping trends are slowly starting to return to business as usual.
There’s still unpredictability in the market with businesses prioritizing their supply chains to keep themselves on-float instead of seeing it as a way to reduce costs. In 2022, it’s all about creating resilience within supply chains by utilizing technology. With COVID-19 variants bringing uncertainty, there’s still rapid change happening within the shipping industry.
At ShipERP, we connect you to all your shipping carriers to streamline your supply chain and boost efficiency. Read on to find out about the supply chain and shipping trends that will dominate the industry in 2022.
6 Supply Chain & Shipping Trends for 2022
1. Need for resilience within the supply chain
If there’s anything that industry leaders want to see in 2022, its resilience within the industry. After two years of the pandemic, supply chains are still facing delays and labor shortages. The Wall Street Journal says that 45% of economists expect it to take until the second half of 2022 for the shipping industry to become more resilient.
Companies can work towards building resilience by diversifying their manufacturing location. They want to rebalance across different geographical areas to reduce the risk of local restrictions disrupting production. Companies will need to work in unison with their suppliers to create a resilient supply chain that can withstand the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.
2. Incorporating sustainability into supply chains
The next decade is destined to be defined by the environment. Companies across every industry are aiming to meet sustainability goals set by their local authorities. Countries internationally are attempting to meet their net-zero targets, regulating industries to meet these ambitious goals. Supply chains and shipping play a vital role in this.
It's important to recognize that while companies prioritize sustainability within their corporate image, only a small number are taking actionable steps.
With every company looking to promote their environmental credentials to their clients, attention will inevitably turn to supply chains. Environmental, social, and governance initiatives (ESG) will see supply chains needing to up their game to meet the pressures of their corporate clients.
Consumers are actively looking for sustainability in every aspect, from manufacturing to shipping. Shipping companies and those within the supply chain will be working to incorporate sustainability to pass on these credentials to their partners.
3. Increase automation with advanced analytics
Automation is set to grow even faster across the supply chain and shipping industries to help companies mitigate for disruption being caused by the pandemic. Advanced analytics will have far-reaching effects within the supply chain to allow for more data-driven decision-making. The success of this trend will depend on data security and how organizations train their employees to meet the needs of automation.
4. Visibility through the shipping process
How often do you place an online order and start tracking it the second it leaves the warehouse? It’s something we’ve all done, and it’s what customers expect. With e-commerce sales accounting for almost $5 trillion worldwide, it’s no surprise that online shopping is becoming second nature for most of the population.
The e-commerce shopping industry is expected to grow by 50% over the next four years to reach $7.4 trillion by 2025. With this growth, customers expect to be able to see exactly where their order is at any moment in time. Visibility is essential to gain trust with your customers, who are willing to pay more for tracked shipping.
In 2022, you want to collaborate with your shipping provider to offer real-time visibility for your customers on where their packages are. In the event of shipping delays, this visibility can prove vital for giving your customers a clear image of what’s happening. It also allows you to create a more resilient supply chain.
5. Cybersecurity
Every day, we’re finding out about more data breaches and cyberattacks. The personal information you have about your customers is sensitive. It includes their credit card information, home address, and even their phone number. There’s a need to get ahead of cyber threats by taking proactive measures.
Supply chains are interconnected, meaning you could be inadvertently exposed to a privacy breach through one of your partners. In 2022, cybersecurity is expected to be one of the biggest talking points within the industry. There are calls for greater collaboration to protect information that travels throughout the supply chain. One investment you want to make in 2022 is to improve your cybersecurity by leveraging the latest technological advances, including end-to-end encryption and firewalls.
6. Agility in the supply chain
The supply chain as we know it is changing. It’s evolving to meet the demands of a world where customers want their products faster than ever before. This growing demand comes when the pandemic is creating uncertainty throughout supply chains.
Instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach to your supply chain, you want to create flexible networks that can react quickly and address delays head-on. Companies that have agile supply chains will see higher levels of customer satisfaction and growth in 2022 and beyond.
Making your shipping and supply chains resilient in 2022
The theme for trends in the supply chain and shipping industry is resilience. It’s all about finding ways to make your business resilient and flexible to meet the unpredictability that the pandemic is still creating. While it may feel like business as usual in many aspects, you never know what will come next. Part of this growing trend includes future-proofing your business, whether it’s by incorporating sustainability measures or investing in cybersecurity.
You can scale your business in 2022 with the help of ShipERP. We work with our clients to help them stay ahead of the trends, whether it’s automated shipping or increased visibility. Our SAP Shipping Software reduces costs while enhancing efficiency for your business. You can get started by scheduling your live demo today.
