The everyday consumer world of 2020 will look radically different from today's. Most ordinary devices in the home - heating systems, televisions, cars, watches, toys, light bulbs, sporting goods, home appliances - will have gone digital. They will no longer be islands unto themselves: they will be connected to the internet and to each other in altogether new ways.
In the midst of a slow U.S. recovery, the prospects for expanding roles, widespread employment opportunities, and solid salary growth seems incomprehensible in most fields. Yet, this is the reality for today's supply chain professionals.
U.S. business executives involved with business development and corporate strategy expect their companies will invest in geographic expansion, particularly in high-growth and emerging markets, according to a recent survey by KPMG LLP, the audit, tax, and advisory firm.
The development of new, disruptive and innovative technologies is one thing. Commercializing them and getting them flying off the shelves is another. In the current supersaturated market of innovations, from wearable technology to big data, the role of the technology evangelist can make all the difference to the business of a technology provider. But individual organizations can, and should, have such an evangelist too. Yet there can be a darker side.
Each day, another 10,000 Baby Boomers turn retirement age. Their eventual retirement will have an impact on the job market, candidate pool and economy. While past predictions had the mass exodus underway by now, that's not happening. In fact, a significant percentage of Baby Boomers are not leaving the workforce just yet.
3D printing is being hailed as a breakthrough technology that will revolutionize manufacturing and supply chain management. This may be the case, but we should avoid repeating the mistake of relying on hype to judge its value.
For most companies, growth has slowed. Profits are sluggish. Complexity reigns and cycles are longer. The challenges and opportunities of business are greater. Supply chain excellence helps a company to better balance demand and supply. It also helps companies to be more resilient: weathering demand and supply volatility while maximizing opportunities and mitigating risks.
By now it is almost gospel that investing in innovative new products and services helps a company's long-term success. That doesn't mean it's easy. A new study from Accenture, "Why 'Low Risk' Innovation Is Costly," found that fewer than one in five chief executives believes his strategic investments in innovation are paying off, and that this poor track record is starting to discourage companies from taking risks.
In the past year, there have been numerous articles debating whether "reshoring" is a myth or really happening. For example, the cover article of the April 22, 2013 issue of Time magazine was "Made in USA - Manufacturing is Back - But Where are the Jobs?"
CFOs remain optimistic about financial prospects and are focused on growth, as indicated by increased hiring, capital and R&D investments, according to buying consortium Prime Advantage's fifth annual Group CFO Survey.