Studies & Paper

Ecological responsibility and the use of digital technologies are currently among the key trends in supply chain management. According to the 18th Hermes Barometer "Trends in Supply Chain Management "*, this view is held by around two-thirds of a total of 150 logistics managers from German companies surveyed. For greater supply chain resilience, the respondents also rely on stable supplier relationships and the establishment of an efficient risk management. The basis for the latter is a detailed and transparent data overview – however, companies still see potential for optimization in this context.

An increasing number of companies is developing strategies in order to proactively avoid disruptions or failures along the supply chain. The study "Supply chains: Security under pressure – cost-optimized supply chain management for increased resilience" surveyed 320 logistics decision-makers from various countries on the risk assessment and security of their supply chain – with interesting results, also with regard to the effectiveness of preventive measures that had been used.

This spring, companies worldwide continue to be affected by disruptions in their supply chains and need to protect against a wide range of risks. The international consulting firm Deloitte surveyed 121 supply chain managers on the current challenges and risks in their supply chain management – with interesting results, also about Germany as a business location. We have summarized the most important findings for you.

Where do German companies stand in the digital transformation of their supply chains? Which technologies are already being increasingly used and what are the main drivers? Also – what are the obstacles that logistics managers are facing on their way to the logistics of the future? The comprehensive online study "Digitalization of Supply Chains" conducted by the German Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics (BME) and Fulda University of Applied Sciences, provides valuable information on this topic.
We have summarized the most important findings.

Collaboration and data exchange within the supply chain is a decisive factor for German companies that aim to increase the efficiency of procurement processes. This view is held by two-thirds of the total of 150 logistics and supply chain managers surveyed for the 17th Hermes-Barometer on "Collaboration in the Supply Chain". Factors that promise a better overview within the supply chain, a higher degree of efficiency and more precise coordination of processes are rated as particularly critical to success. However, when it comes to implementation, companies face technological and personnel obstacles. Our recent blog post provides a detailed insight into the results of the survey.

The threat that is presented to supply chains by cybercrime has increased in recent years. As a result, a growing number of companies are addressing the potential risks and taking security measures. The focus has shifted in particular to the security of customer and employee data. This shift is reflected in the results of the 16th Hermes-Barometer titled "IT and Data Security in the Supply Chain" by Hermes Germany.

The number of companies documenting their CO₂ footprint has increased sharply in recent months. However, for many, the road to a sustainable supply chain is still quite long…

Although every second logistics manager believes that the corona pandemic is significantly driving the digitalisation of the supply chain…

According to a recent study conducted by SAP and market researcher Oxford Economics, manual procurement…

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