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    Report highlights technology driving next generation supply chains that are digital

    April 20, 2017
    Newswire

    MHI announced the release of the fourth in a series of MHI Annual Industry Reports developed in collaboration with Deloitte Consulting. The 2017 MHI Annual Industry Report, titled “Next-Generation Supply Chains: Digital, On-Demand and Always-On,” provides new insights into trends and technologies that are having a dramatic impact on supply chains and the people who run them.

    According to the report, nine technologies are working together to create next-generation supply chains that are digital, on-demand and always-on. These supply chain models will soon become the new supply chain reality. Eighty percent of survey respondents believe digital supply chains will be the predominant model within 5 years. Sixteen percent say they already are.

    This year’s report provides updates on the eight innovative technologies MHI predicted would have the most potential to transform supply chains. The 2017 report also covers the potential of these technologies to disrupt the industry as well as their adoption rates and barriers to adoption. The eight technologies are:

    • Inventory and network optimization
    • Sensors and automatic identification
    • Cloud computing and storage
    • Robotics and automation
    • Predictive analytics
    • Wearable and mobile technology
    • Autonomous vehicles and drones
    • 3D printing

    This year’s survey revealed the emergence of a ninth innovation, the Internet of Things (IoT) that has growing importance in the digital economy.

    A full 92 percent of respondents (up from 83 percent last year) believe at least one of the nine technologies could be a source of competitive advantage or disruption in their industry in the next 10 years. The top technologies respondents say can be a source of either disruption or competitive advantage are:

    • Robotics and automation (61%, up from 39% in 2015)
    • Predictive analytics (57%, up from 38% in 2015)
    • The Internet-of-Things (55%, new category in 2017)
    • Sensors and automatic identification (53%, up from 42% in 2015)
    • Driverless vehicles & drones (54%, up from 30% in 2015)

    Download the complete report at www.mhi.org/publications/report.