Supply Chain Trends and Issues: Our Weekly Feature Article on Important Trends and Developments in Supply Chain Strategy, Research, Best Practices, Technology and Other Supply Chain and Logistics Issues  
 
 
  - Nov. 9, 2015 -  

Ninth Annual Gartner-SCDigest Study to See if Supply Chain Technology Investment Drives Competitive Advantage, More

This Research Effort has Arguably Become the Most Important Study in the Supply Chain Discipline; As Always, Complimentary Gartner Reports Available to Respondents

 
     
     
  by SCDigest Editorial Staff  
     
 

For the ninth consecutive year, SCDigest has partnered with the researchers at Gartner to take a deep look at supply chain practice and technology, surveying SCDigest readers to form the basis for what has become arguably the supply chain industry's most important and influential research projects.

SCDigest Says:
"Since the vast majority of respondents in previous years stated clearly that the role of technology in SCM is now strategic and a notable source of competitive advantage, this increases the importance of a study like this that delves deeply into these issues," Klappich says.

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"A few years ago we noticed that there appeared to be a cultural shift in SCM users' view of technology," said Gartner vice president Dwight Klappich, who is leading the research effort again along with Chad Eschinger. "Originally when we started the study we focused more on broad goals, priorities and business challenges, but as we saw this cultural shift manifest we have since adapted the study to focus more on the role technology plays in supply chain, how supply chain organization leverage technology for competitive advantage, and their changing views on how best to exploit technology in their SCM organizations."

 

Klappich says that in an effort to delve deeper into these issues, this year's survey includes some simple stratification questions in such areas as supply chain maturity, technology adoption profile, and supply chain performance, in addition to acquiring traditional data points such as industry sector and size of the organization, to use in cross tabbing the other data.

 

"This allows us to do things like look at technology adoption by maturity level, where we find more mature organizations also being most likely to be early adopters of new technology," Klappich noted. "We also delve into technology investment plans and strategies, looking at things like plans by application type or preference for mega-suite versus best of breed vendors or adoption of cloud and other emerging technologies."

 

While there are other studies that dig into the business conditions of supply chain organizations, the Gartner -SCDigest study continues to take the most comprehensive look at the role of technology in SCM, Klappich adds.

 

Please Respond to Study

 

"Since the vast majority of respondents in previous years stated clearly that the role of technology in SCM is now strategic and a notable source of competitive advantage, this increases the importance of a study like this that delves deeply into these issues," Klappich says.

(Supply Chain Trends and Issues Article - Continued Below)


 

 
 
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Below is an interesting chart from last year's report, based on asking respondents about where they spend money on supply chain. As shown below, the share of IT spend going to different types of projects differs by how respondents classified their companies along Gartner's Demand Driven Value Network (DDVN) maturity model.

 

 


As can be seen above, higher maturity companies spend far greater share of their IT money on programs related to growing the company and transformational efforts than do less mature ones, which spend much higher percentages on just maintaining/running the business and traditional cost focused projects.

 

Add your thoughts to the 2015 data set by participating in this year's survey. We look forward to your help again this year:

 

 

As usual, study participants will receive complimentary Gartner research for spending 10 minutes or so to complete the survey. They will have the option for a free download of one of the following reports, each with a value of several hundred dollars.

 

The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2015
   
Supply Chain Management Vendor Guide



SCigest recommends respondents select the very comprehensive SCM Vendor Guide.

 

This year's research will again explore many interesting and valuable trends and practices for the supply chain. We hope you can offer your support by taking the survey.

 

"While there are other studies that look at SCM business drivers, goals and obstacles, this study looks at these as well but with a lens focused on the role technology plays in helping SCM organizations meet their obligations." Klappich concluded. "I believe this is one of if not the most comprehensive study focused on the role of IT in SCM."

Any comments on this year's Gartner-SCDigest study? Also use the Feedback button below to contact us if you have any problems taking the survey.

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