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What is supply chain efficiency and why does it matter?

Supply chain efficiency may be an unglamorous concept to some business leaders, but it is a major underlying factor impacting an organisation’s competitiveness. Those that optimise their operations can expect to see direct benefits such as reduced costs, faster delivery times, and improved customer satisfaction. Those that don't could see challenges start to mount – delayed shipments, inventory imbalances and lost revenue and market share, among others. The stakes are higher than many organisations realise. Poor supply chain performance often compounds across the business and can everything from working capital to customer retention.

What is supply chain efficiency?

Supply chain efficiency describes how effectively a business delivers goods and services whilst minimising resource use. This involves reducing waste, shortening lead times and making optimal use of time, capital, materials and labour. 

But efficiency isn't just about speed. Modern supply chains need to be intelligent. They need to spot potential disruptions early and adapt when circumstances change. Data plays a central role here. Consider Amazon's inventory …

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