Editor’s Note
The pandemic exposed the fragility of global supply chains, shifting consumer expectations from speed to resilience. As this article explores, while technology offers crucial tools for mitigation, it cannot eliminate systemic vulnerabilities born from geopolitical, environmental, and economic pressures.
Until COVID struck in 2020, consumer expectations revolved around a two-hour delivery model. But when the pandemic disrupted that model, consumers soon discovered the implications of the term “supply chain” as they confronted delays in the delivery of household goods—everything from toilet paper, mobile phones, and entertainment equipment to gaming consoles and home office furniture. With knowledge comes new expectations. And now both consumers and organizations alike are looking to technology to enhance supply chains and alleviate, or at least mitigate, any bottlenecks in the system. Nevertheless, technology is no silver bullet. Supply chains are often hostage to a host of factors including geopolitical tensions, cyberattacks, inflation, droughts that disrupt shipping by lowering water levels, and critical product stockouts, as well as the many unforeseen effects of global warming.