Supply chain blues: Will disruptions finally ease in 2024.

In recent years global supply chain has gone through constant disruption including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, natural disasters, and various other factors that have caused delays, container shortages, and rising shipping prices where businesses have struggled with the supply chain blues. The pandemic exposed danger in the system, disrupting production, transportation, and distribution networks worldwide. Geopolitical tensions caused delays and uncertainties. Natural Disasters such as hurricanes to wildfires left businesses and consumers facing delays and shortages.

Challenges that could disrupt the supply chain in 2024.

Supply Chain Stability is still under threat because of the geopolitical tension in key manufacturing hubs like China and Taiwan. The Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war are continuously hampering critical raw material flows affecting the trade routes resulting in delays in shipping and the threat of new COVID variants can again restrict the supply chain due to restrictions and lockdowns.

The other reasons would be the shortage of skilled labour, and rising energy costs will hamper the flow. The rising inflationary pressures could lead to higher production and transportation costs which will result in reducing the margins of the businesses.

The reasons to be idealistic about the future of the supply chain are:

• The Covid pandemic is now under control in many parts of the world, also the Russia-Ukraine war is not having a major impact on global trade leading to smoother operations of production and movement.

• Businesses are going automated and adopting new technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve forecasting and logistics.

• Consumer preference is shifting, people are buying less stuff, so there is less pressure on the supply chain.

• Ports are working harder to clear backlogs of cargo containers.

• Many companies are diversifying their supply chain strategies and Investment in alternative shipping routes decreasing their dependence on congested hubs such as the countries are now not solely dependent on China which offers some relief from geopolitical tensions.

So, will disruptions finally ease in 2024?

The supply chain blues won’t easily fade in 2024, the threat of covid pandemic, geopolitical tensions, inflation, and labour shortages remains. There will be some ease in 2024, businesses need to be flexible and adaptive to the new changes and complexities in the modern supply chain. They should prepare themselves and be ready for uncertainties also should invest in technology that can help them track their inventories and make sure the things they need.

Overall, the supply chain blues will remain as its future is uncertain and the prepared businesses will sail through this.

Thank you.

Regards,

Rituja Khobragade,

Kautilya, IBS Mumbai.