Over the last decade, the world has changed dramatically for manufacturers. But so has technology, with a host of new tools for streamlining operations, automating tasks and saving on costs.

Like it or not, spreadsheets are still the go-to planning software in the supply chain industry. 

Tracking inventory solely within the four walls of a warehouse isn’t enough to stop shrinkage, says Eddie Misicka, vice president of product and solutions at OneRail.

A study by the IHL Group found that retailers miss out on nearly $1 trillion in sales per year because of out-of-stock items.

In a collaboration with Tive Inc., a tracking and software provider, Maersk designed a proof of concept for a means of keeping tabs on thousands of shipments without having to view each one individually. The higher-level view yielded surprising insights, and confirmed the value of tracking general cargo, not just time-sensitive, high-value shipments.

Supply chain disruption continues to be a challenge for retailers across the globe. Nevertheless, there are some proactive measures that retailers can take to mitigate risk.

Inventory distortion isn't just a problem for supply chain teams; it results in missed sales, dissatisfied customers, excess wastage and capital tied up in stocks.

The new system — launched as collaboration with beverage company Diageo — expands Asda's selection of liquor from up to 26 products to 50.