The results of a survey published by GS1 US reveal that most supply chain professionals are highly confident (64 percent) or moderately confident (35 percent) in their ability to manage disruptions. However, confidence does not always equate to effective supply chain management, with nearly half (43 percent) reporting that they struggle to maintain supply chain visibility. The study, titled “Powering Supply Chain Confidence: The Role of Data and Standardization,” examines critical areas for driving supply chain confidence, resilience and effectiveness.

The survey supports that supply chain confidence is closely tied to key operational capabilities that strengthen supply chain management. Those companies with “high confidence” in their supply chains report having:

• Centralized systems to manage disruption in real time (56 percent), which is further improved when they trust the accuracy and consistency of data in centralized systems (68 percent)
• Full supply chain automation (72 percent), which gives them the ability to manage supply chain agility very well (61 percent)
• The ability to handle consumer demand fluctuations very well (51 percent)
• GS1 Standards use, which makes them very confident in their ability to respond to supply chain disruption (77 percent).

The survey also showcases that companies that implement real-time tracking technologies are 68 percent more likely to report improved visibility and better inventory control. Additionally, while 99 percent of all companies consider sustainability to be important, only half have taken steps to implement sustainability practices within their supply chains. Those advancing sustainability initiatives are prioritizing:

• Waste management and recycling programs (52 percent)
• Sustainable packaging (48 percent)
• Certifications and impact accounting (48 percent)
• Sustainable sourcing of materials (45 percent)

The study, conducted by Redpoint exclusively for GS1 US, is based on a national survey of more than 500 supply chain professionals ranging from directors to C-level executives in the retail grocery, foodservice, healthcare, apparel and general merchandise industries.