A study also reveals that more than half of the country's executives responded to supply chain disruptions by introducing new technologies such as AI, machine learning and hybrid cloud
A new study by the IBM IBV (Institute for Business Value), titled Own Your Transformation, points out that 67% of Brazilian Supply Chain leaders place technology infrastructure as the main challenge for companies in the next two to three years — the highest percentage among the more than 35 countries that participated in the survey. More than that: 53% of these Brazilian executives responded to supply chain disruptions by introducing new technologies such as automation. The IBV survey was attended by 1,500 Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) from around the world.
The study envisages a scenario of industry transformation in Brazil by pointing out that 60% of Brazilian executives interviewed are using predictive approaches in supply chain operations as a way to manage risks, in addition to 49% of respondents confirming that they are accelerating investments. In these two aspects, the numbers for Brazil are higher than the average for Latin America, which shows that companies in the country are paying attention to digital transformation in Supply Chain. It is also worth adding that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (49%) and hybrid cloud (40%) are the technologies presented in the survey that leaders believe will most help in the results of the organization of supply chains in the country in the next three years.
“Overall, the study reveals that supply chain leaders are rethinking their operations based on the challenges they faced at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and also because of issues related to inflation, climate change and geopolitical events. The vast majority are increasing investments to transform their workflows with automation and AI and joining the ecosystem to be more sustainable and generate a more satisfying experience for consumers”, says Marco Kalil, Head of IBM Consulting in Brazil.
In Brazil, sustainability is both a challenge and a driving force for change for these leaders. 36% from CSCOs place sustainability on their priority list and 40% see it as one of the biggest challenges for the next 3 years. 42% said they believe their investments in sustainability will accelerate business growth and report experiencing the most direct pressure for transparency on this topic from investors and board members (56%) and customers (53%).
The main global results of the study also show that:
“The Innovators”: 20% of survey respondents stand out for accelerating their data-driven innovation to prepare for a challenging future. This group is already outperforming its peers on key metrics, including 11% higher annual revenue growth. They are:
— Integrating automated workflows across organizational functions and with your partners for real-time visibility, insights and action (95% more than other CSCOs).
— Modernizing their technology infrastructure: 56% is currently operating in a hybrid cloud and 60% is investing in digital infrastructure to scale and add value.
— Focus on cybersecurity (almost 20% more than other CSCOs).
— Expanding its sustainability initiatives, with the creation of products and services: 58% see opportunities to improve customer engagement with the brand through this theme.
The full study is available on here
*Methodology
In cooperation with Oxford Economics, the IBM Institute for Business Value surveyed 1,500 CSCOs and COOs from over 35 countries and 24 industries as part of the 26th edition of the IBM C-suite Study series. For simplicity, we refer to the full population as CSCOs.
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