Executive Summary


This core statement of the current GEXSO study is also the conclusion of an article by the GEXSO partner LOGISTIK HEUTE titled “Technology as a catalyst” (cf. LOGISTIK HEUTE, issue 10/2014).
Accordingly, technology change is experienced more strongly by companies that search for production sites and suppliers in different regions of the world. Nearly 72 per cent of the GEXSO study participants notice a strong technology change in their company in one form or another. Almost a third of these companies have revenues of more than EUR 1 billion.
The strongest change is noticed in the usage of new materials and electronic components. These two areas are vastly affected by innovation and technological developments. At the same time, new production methods are most frequently mentioned as process technology-related innovation. In most cases, technological alterations are based on internal innovations. Partly, changes are also driven by customers. Government institutions and suppliers are rarely seen as drivers for general technological change.
Companies most frequently stated that they have implemented a general strategy for the identification and research of new technologies as well as an open business culture in order to successfully implement technical innovations. On the contrary, flexible and fast decision-making procedures are seen as deficiencies. Sufficient budgets are also mentioned less frequently.
The primary effects of technological change are an adjusted production infrastructure and new suppliers. Moreover, supply chain processes are also adjusted to a great extent. Therefore, innovations in process and product technologies have direct impact on supply chains. In addition, companies that experience an exceptionally strong technology change, also globalize their supply chain to a greater extent. Thus, companies that notice a significant technology change, also expect a stronger shift in the global distribution of their production sites within the next five years.
Executive Summary: Challenges of globalized supply chains in times of technological change
Companies that experience an exceptionally strong technology change also globalize their supply chain to a greater extent. If you want to read this executive summary offline or send it to colleagues, you can download it here.