Accelerating the Digitalization of the Supply Chain

Abstract

The chapter proposes ways to improve the digitalization of supply chains during global crises. After a survey conducted on a sample of 49 logistics professionals, the authors find that today it has become necessary to accelerate the deployment of an advanced digitalization of the supply chain as a whole. Due to the problems encountered during pandemic crises throughout history, especially the COVID-19 crisis, and in today's computerized world, it is needed to transform the supply chains towards 100% digital. In order to do that, first the authors need to study the fluctuations in supply and demand during crises in order to understand the general effect of pandemics on the supply chain. Thereafter, it is necessary to adopt and improve the appropriate IT systems, especially to digitalize the interaction between buyers and suppliers. This will change the purchasing contracts because the buyers have more transparency on the situation of their suppliers since access to information is easier in a digital environment where everything is connected.