French corporates continue to experience pandemic disruption as 54% develop more agile and collaborative solutions

Kyu Associates, together with french risk association Amrae, Les Arts et Métiers and Association France Supply Chain, has released the results of its latest study into supply chain risks.

Among the main findings of the 3rd edition of the Supply Chain Risk Barometer is that the COVID-crisis severely disrupted global supply chains.

There is a risk that economic recovery could be hindered by further trade disruption, including shortages and bottlenecks at all levels of value chains and logistics flows.

Supply chain could therefore be the “weak link” as companies seek to resume their longer-term growth priorities, it warned.

Seventy-percent of the 600-odd respondents said they experienced over five major crises in 2021, while 54% said they were responding by developing more agile and collaborative supply chain systems.

The COVID impact inevitably differed from one sector to another, with some markets significantly disrupted while others have been more able to adapt.

More attention on environmental, social impact

Further, growing scrutiny of supply chains from an ESG standpoint is expected to continue.

Risk management has an important role to play, not just in limiting the impact of disruption on the day-to-day operations of the business, but in acting as a differentiator and offering a competitive advantage. 

Supply chain risk management, says the report, “is at the heart of challenges facing companies, which must improve their control of this complex web of interdependencies in which they operate and develop their activites.”

“It is urgent for companies to have concrete insights into the means of accurately assessing their vulnerabilities and strengthening their control strategies,” concludes the report.