Yui-yip Lau, Ranjith P.V., Chan Eve Man Hin, Maneerat Kanrak, A. Varma
{"title":"A new shape of the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic","authors":"Yui-yip Lau, Ranjith P.V., Chan Eve Man Hin, Maneerat Kanrak, A. Varma","doi":"10.1108/FS-04-2022-0035","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"\nPurpose\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal for international business (IB) activities, leaving them pondering their next steps. The decreasing effectiveness of current vaccines to protect individuals against new variants have created uncertainty on how to respond to the new waves of the COVID-19 infection. This study aims to empirically assesses how IBs perceive the unfolding challenges in the supply chain due to the pandemic and the solutions.\n\n\nDesign/methodology/approach\nThe survey data is obtained from 166 logistics professionals in Hong Kong and India.\n\n\nFindings\nThe results reveal that returns on investment, logistics, delays and imports are the most affected areas. The most often recommended solutions for supply chain management (SCM) include using local manufacturing capabilities, analytics and automation, offering better customer service, providing more effective transportation means, ensuring diligence around optimization and focusing on sustainability.\n\n\nOriginality/value\nThe findings of this study help to improve supply chain operations. This study also provides recommendations for changes to SCM in response to the new normal.\n","PeriodicalId":51620,"journal":{"name":"Foresight","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2022-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Foresight","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-04-2022-0035","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"REGIONAL & URBAN PLANNING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal for international business (IB) activities, leaving them pondering their next steps. The decreasing effectiveness of current vaccines to protect individuals against new variants have created uncertainty on how to respond to the new waves of the COVID-19 infection. This study aims to empirically assesses how IBs perceive the unfolding challenges in the supply chain due to the pandemic and the solutions.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey data is obtained from 166 logistics professionals in Hong Kong and India.
Findings
The results reveal that returns on investment, logistics, delays and imports are the most affected areas. The most often recommended solutions for supply chain management (SCM) include using local manufacturing capabilities, analytics and automation, offering better customer service, providing more effective transportation means, ensuring diligence around optimization and focusing on sustainability.
Originality/value
The findings of this study help to improve supply chain operations. This study also provides recommendations for changes to SCM in response to the new normal.
期刊介绍:
■Social, political and economic science ■Sustainable development ■Horizon scanning ■Scientific and Technological Change and its implications for society and policy ■Management of Uncertainty, Complexity and Risk ■Foresight methodology, tools and techniques