SCDigest admits to being confused on what digitizing the supply chain - much the rage these days - really means.

Most often, it is described not as holistic thing, but rather as a collection of individual technologies such as 3D printing, sensors, analytics, maybe now a bit of blockchain, etc.

Our confusion was not eased by a new report on "digital supply networks" from Deloitte. The report says a DSN " is a flexible, interconnected matrix that allows data and information to move non-linearly to maximize efficiency to meet changing consumer and market demands."

Well.

The report includes the graphic below, which shows surveys results on top corporate DSN intiatives.

Topping the list is "demand and supply planning" - sounds a lot like S&OP type programs that have been around for three decades.

Number 2 is "technology infrastructure improvements" - we're not quite sure what that means, but technology infrastructure enhancements are a long time, never ending journey.

"Risk assessment" comes in number 3 - well cyber security is a huge issue for sure, but we're not sure that is what is meant. Supply chain risk management is also big, but not exactly a connected to the hip with digital supply chains.

Sort of ditto for most of the rest of the list, which with few exceptions read like iniatives that might be cited without any reference to digital supply chains.

So we remain confused.

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