Hernan Saenz, the Global Head of Bain & Company’s Performance Improvement Practice, recently shared new strategic insights aimed at helping global executives revamp their supply chains to address current challenges and seize emerging opportunities.
Saenz emphasized the critical need for CEOs to manage the intricate balance between economics, resilience, sustainability, and customer responsiveness in their supply chains. This need is especially pressing given today’s complex economic and geopolitical climate, where innovative and adaptable supply chain strategies are vital to maintaining a competitive edge.
“In the face of evolving global circumstances, businesses must fundamentally reassess their supply chain strategies,” Hernan Saenz remarked. “Our clients in the Middle East are in a particularly advantageous position to implement these innovative practices, thanks to their strategic geographic location and superior infrastructure.”
Saenz is set to lead a series of meetings and workshops in the Middle East, focusing on digital technology integration and the critical role of strong partnerships in building resilient, sustainable, and profitable supply chains. These sessions equip regional leaders with the tools to deploy strategies that adhere to global best practices.
“As the complexity of supply chain trade-offs increases, the insights we derive from various regions, including the Middle East, become indispensable,” Saenz added. “These perspectives are crucial as they help us fine-tune our methodologies, ensuring our clients are well-prepared to navigate the complex dynamics of the current market.”
Saenz also discussed “split-shoring” as a strategic manoeuvre in response to geopolitical and economic pressures. He noted, “Over half of the companies we surveyed intend to increase their ‘near-shoring’ activities by 2025 to lessen their dependence on remote manufacturing locations.”
This move towards regional manufacturing bolsters supply chain resilience and contributes to reduced carbon emissions, aligning with global sustainability objectives.
Furthermore, Saenz highlighted the transformative role of digital technologies in managing supply chains. “Technologies that allow real-time, end-to-end traceability and advanced analytics have become essential in today’s operational environments,” he explained. These technological advancements enable companies to adapt to disruptions swiftly, customize operations to meet customer needs, and make well-informed decisions that optimise cost, speed, and quality.”
He pointed out that initiatives like the digital ID for garments not only help fight to counterfeit but also open new revenue channels and provide deep insights into consumer behaviour, underscoring the comprehensive advantages of digital integration.
