In an article published the magazine of the French media Supply Chain Village, Lionel Bousquet, Principal at EFESO Management Consultants, explores the profound transformation underway in global supply chains.
Driven by mounting disruptions, this shift emphasizes flexibility, visibility, and collaboration—powered by AI and advanced digital tools—as essential pillars of resilience. Yet despite widespread acknowledgment of these needs, many companies continue to struggle with strategic ambiguity, regulatory challenges, and talent gaps that slow meaningful progress.
Transformation is key
The transformation of supply chains has become a top priority for companies. Successive crises—from the pandemic to geopolitical tensions—have exposed their vulnerability to global disruptions. Long seen as merely an operational component, the supply chain is now at the heart of companies' strategic decision-making. Does this represent the early signs of widespread disengagement—or, conversely, the emergence of a more mature and pragmatic approach?
The study conducted by EFESO and Supply Chain Media at the end of 2024, E2E Supply Chain Ecosystem Transformation, highlights the challenges companies must face, while identifying key levers for building more resilient and agile supply chains. Greater flexibility and enhanced visibility through the use of advanced digital tools emerge as critical success factors. In this complex environment, supply chain transformation can no longer be seen as a one-time optimization project. It has now become a vital strategic focus, requiring a clear vision, advanced technological integration, and a strengthened collaborative approach with all players in the ecosystem.
From the Pandemic to Grey Swans: Supply Chains Facing Uncertainty
The 2020 health crisis revealed just how vulnerable supply chains are to disruptions. Far from being an isolated incident, it was followed by a series of events—geopolitical conflicts, rising raw material prices, new environmental regulations—that have further increased uncertainty. Companies must now contend with “grey swans”: those unpredictable yet plausible events that make supply chain management more challenging than ever.
According to a study, 79% of decision-makers believe that in this context, companies’ business strategies remain a key factor in supply chain transformation. Regardless of visibility or the ability to forecast future crises, the principle of “business as usual” must be abandoned. It is now essential to align with commercial strategies. Supply chains must strengthen their adaptability, diversify supply sources, and adopt decentralization strategies.
But how can the unpredictable be anticipated? One approach is to reinforce redundancy and logistical flexibility. However, adapting a supply chain to all potential crises without precisely knowing the nature of those crises is a real challenge. As outlined in the study, visibility and agility are now key to responding quickly to disruptions and ensuring better risk management. To achieve these objectives, , companies must double down on cross-functional collaboration and the seamless integration of advanced technologies.
Collaboration and AI-based technologies: a winning combo
Confronted with unprecedented uncertainty, collaboration has become a necessity. The study shows that 81% of companies consider it a key success factor. This approach enables better crisis anticipation, resource pooling, and ecosystem-wide optimization.
Supplier relationships are also evolving. Companies are moving toward more integrated models where transparency and data sharing are essential. Collaborative platforms help better coordinate flows, reduce delays and costs, and limit potential failures. These platforms enable more agile and resilient supply chains.
At the same time, digital transformation and the integration of AI-based technologies play a central role. Digital twins, real-time end-to-end control towers, and predictive AI are now essential tools to improve supply chain visibility and responsiveness. Thanks to these technologies, companies can simulate different scenarios, improve forecast accuracy, and optimize real-time decisions.
However, adoption of these solutions is not uniform. Some companies struggle to justify the necessary investments, while others face organizational or cultural barriers. Cultivating a culture of continuous learning—and equipping teams with the skills to harness new technologies—is therefore just as vital as the technologies themselves.
Obstacles to transformation remain: vague commercial strategies, environmental norms, and leadership
If transforming supply chains is now a consensus, many barriers persist. The first is the lack of clarity around strategy. According to 43% of respondents, this slows transformation efforts.
The second barrier is regulatory pressure, especially regarding sustainability. 65% of respondents indicated that reducing CO₂ emissions is a priority but remains a challenge. To meet new expectations, companies must act on several levers: improving supply chain resilience, transport fluidity, and decarbonization. However, achieving these goals requires financial and operational resources, which slow down or limit action.
The third challenge lies in attracting and retaining the necessary talent to drive and sustain this transformation.
