The supply chain management function is still operating in a world of digital potential. Organizations are incorporating social media, mobile technology, and cloud-based services as an entry point but will require more time to add technologies such as blockchain, simulation software, real-time big data and analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. Embracing these digital disruptors will enable organizations to stay competitive and boast an optimized, agile supply chain. -Vicki Powers, Supply Chain Writer, APQC

Getting from point A to point B in today's supply chain is no longer as simple as a straight line. Instead, in today's global environment businesses are adapting their supply chains in order to compete profitably. Rates, capacity, competition, warehousing and other supply chain components are evolving while the pace of business moves faster than ever before. As a result, ongoing supply chain analysis is critical in order for a business to adapt and compete. -Brian Broadhurst, Vice President of Transportation Solutions, Spend Management Experts

Sales and operations planning. So important, yet success is so elusive. While many companies approach S&OP as a technology implementation, success requires a focus on 60 percent culture, 30 percent process and 10 percent technology. Companies cannot get to success without technology, but it cannot be the primary focus. A successful implementation can improve agility by 25 percent to 35 percent. -Lora Cecere, Founder, Supply Chain Insights

Over the past decade, businesses have accumulated a sea of data on their operations, customers and business practices. Businesses have attempted to consume this data to drive effective business solutions with limited success. We are at the precipice where solutions seamlessly consume traditional data and merge it with unstructured data to cohesively drive business planning and execution. -M. Scott Moon, Principal, Tompkins International

According to BI Intelligence, Internet of Things-connected devices will more than triple by 2020, from 10 billion to 34 billion. For small and medium-sized enterprises, which may not know where to begin or have the required time and expertise to implement IoT into their processes, surviving this age of digital transformation can seem like a tsunami of data and new processes crashing down. -Chuck Cimalore, CTO, Omnify Software

Quality product data can be a real competitive advantage for companies that get it right. However, despite more anticipated disruption across industries in the year ahead, many supply chain professionals who realize the long-term benefits of data accuracy still struggle to gain support for comprehensive and effective data quality programs. -Angela Fernandez, Vice President, Retail Grocery and Foodservice, GS1 US

With the emergence of new digital technologies such as Mobility, Big Data, Cloud, Business Intelligence/AI, the IoT, etc., new and more abundant sources of data are available to improve forecasting and demand management. Companies that embrace digital and transform their demand management processes will gain significant competitive advantage. While the traditional statistical forecast may serve a baseline, demand analyses must extend across functions (silos) and include many different sources of causal data. -Rich Sherman, Senior Fellow, Supply Chain Centre of Excellence, Tata Consultancy Services