Supply chains: coming to a supermarket near you

As we navigate these uncertain times, something on everyone’s mind is keeping the family fed. Not as easy today as it was a few weeks ago. This focus goes hand in hand with figuring out how we run the gauntlet of the supermarket whilst respecting the concept of social distancing and finding what we need on the shelves.

The scenes in the supermarkets these last few weeks are unprecedented and mightily unsettling. It has never been more important to spread the word about the robustness of the modern day supply chain and present a clear and unified message to the public:

• supply chains will keep moving
• shelves will get refilled
• there are supplies enough for everyone

Heroism is happening daily within the grocery, pharmaceutical and healthcare markets. Whilst many of us have retreated to working from home in glorious isolation, the employees in these verticals are in stores, in warehouses and in lorries, getting goods from A to B, so that we can feed our families and get our medication on time.

Nobody could have predicted the unexpected peak demands we are experiencing during this crisis and it may take a moment for supply to catch up with demand, but 21st century supply chains can and will cope with the demands they’re currently being placed under.

My message today is:

“Be patient, the lorries are coming.”

Behind the scenes the wheels are literally in motion. Increased demand to replenish stores is activating fulfilment initiatives within warehouses across the country. Lorries and drivers are mobilising. The shelves are being replenished.

These back-end processes, the technology driving this responsiveness and the people keeping us all on the move are today’s heroes one and all.

Efficient and effective supply chains run on great warehouse management systems with reliable transportation management systems keeping vital inventory in motion to ensure we get the right products to the right place, at the right time…

Supply chains are the keystone of global economies & arguably civilised society as a whole. They will continue to function, so just bear this in mind the next time you go to a supermarket and see an empty aisle, ‘be patient, the lorries are coming!’ 

First published to LinkedIn Pulse on March 18, 2020 - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/supply-chains-coming-supermarket-near-you-georgia-leybourne/