Driving telecom supply chain resilience | EY

4. Digital transformation

According to an EY survey, 64% of supply chain executives in the US are planning more significant investments in digital transformation to improve supply chain resilience. Increasing automation and investments in AI and machine learning were among the top methods cited in the survey, with 37% already adopting these technologies and another 36% expecting to do so soon.

AI and machine learning tools can help with predictive maintenance, detecting likely issues in equipment before they occur and giving a longer lead time in ordering parts. The use of connected IoT sensors facilitates monitoring and control of operational assets, such as fleet vehicles and control meters, surfaces opportunities for efficiencies — and in turn, helps enable round-the-clock tracking of goods and vehicles for greater visibility. Adopting these technologies is enabling supply chain leaders’ confidence, with 23% of the leaders expecting to have a digital ecosystem by 2025, up from only 1% in 2021, according to Gartner.²

Using advanced analytics, AI modeling and optimization algorithms, telecom supply chain teams can analyze complex data, evaluate complex scenarios and make data-driven decisions to optimize supply chain networks. This approach will help supply chain teams optimize network design, resource allocation and operational processes, leading to improved customer service, reduced costs, enhanced agility and increased competitiveness in the market.