In the last six months, the world’s leading brands have dealt with a seemingly ever growing number of supply chain headaches — shortages, long lead times, COVID-19 shutdowns and labor constraints, just to name a few. Companies have responded to the chaos with a mix of ingenuity and resilience, deploying new technologies, opening warehouses and rejigging freight networks all in an attempt to get products on shelves and keep consumers happy.
Some, like the increased use of automation and talent inclusion programs, have yielded positive results that bring new people into the workforce and improve efficiency. Others, such as the notoriously tricky process of overhauling an ERP system, have been less of a success. Our roundup shows the depth and breadth of innovation that has sparked so far this year as companies learn to adapt to whatever problems lie ahead.
