Meet the Supply Chain Worker of the Future

The supply chain profession is at an inflection point.  

Leaders feel growing pressure to translate their vision of radically reinvented end-to-end operations into real results – and meet the expectations of the board, their consumers, and the communities within which they operate. Meanwhile, digitalization, AI, and disruptive tech are fundamentally changing “classic” supply chain processes at a torrid pace.  

What many fail to internalize is that the velocity of operational change must match the velocity of change in how we lead. Because, ultimately, people make it happen. Steven Cahillane, CEO of Kellanova (recently acquired by Mars), is at the helm of a massive organizational transformation. In his words: 

It’s not going to just happen on its own. It’s going to happen because we bring together the best people, those people have the courage to challenge the status quo, and they work together to execute with distinction."

So, how can you bridge this gap between a grand vision and tangible results? The answer lies in your workforce.  

Meet Andi, the supply chain worker of the future.  

You might recognize her from the shop floor, the halls of a corporate office, or a Zoom meeting. She’s a sourcing product manager, an engineer, a logistics director, and a senior planner. But her skills profile is anything but familiar. 

Andi is an AI team leader, working with the tech as a team member, not a tool. She embodies a growth mindset and is often in transition, building bridges to new ways of working. She doesn't need a box; she works beyond siloed functions that limit her influence on customer outcomes. 

We believe that Andi and the high-performing employees of the future “new-collar” workforce will possess a balance of domain, digital, and business skills.  

Let's have a look at the new fundamentals. 

Domain Skills

The integration of what were once siloed functions, as defined at Zero100 by The Loop, will be a hallmark of the supply chains of the future.  

Through the analysis of 1.4 million supply chain job posts from 256 companies for the supply side of The Loop and conversations with our network of global supply chain leaders, we identified the seven most critical domain skills for the future. We believe everyone across global operations should understand these at a 101 level. Requiring literacy in these domain skills across end-to-end operations will also build more systems thinkers who understand the interconnected nature of the supply ecosystem. 

1. Forecasting Techniques 

2. Supplier Relationship Management 

3. Continuous Improvement Practices 

4. Inventory Flow Management 

5. Customer Service 

6. Product Lifecycle Management 

7. Circularity in Product Design 

Digital Skills

With the rise of genAI, the programming language of the future is the spoken word, which means that not everyone needs to learn how to code and become a software engineer.  

Instead, we believe that the Andis of the future will fit one of three primary personas, each with different digital skills. 

1. Andi the Wizard builds technology products and models using digital skills, such as engineering, computer science, and deep learning. 

2. Andi the Translator translates business needs into tech requirements and transfers tech knowledge across the enterprise. She uses skills like prompt engineering, product management, and simulation.  

3. Andi the Citizen uses technology products and accesses data inputs and outputs to execute processes and drive decisions. She uses skills such as AI/ML literacy, analytics, and data management. 

Business Skills

The global operations leaders of the future will need more than soft skills like communication and teamwork to succeed, and Andi knows it. Instead, she’d focused on five key business skills that allow her to leverage her digital expertise and domain experience to drive customer outcomes at a faster rate across the organization:  

1. Systems Thinking: the ability to solve complex problems by examining them as a whole rather than as isolated parts. 

2. Financial Acumen: the ability to assess risk and budget, determine resource allocations, and understand basic financial concepts and statements. 

3. Customer Intelligence: the ability to gather and analyze data about customers to gain insights into their behaviors, preferences, and future actions, which can be used as an input for business decisions.  

4. Adaptability: the ability to mold one’s mindset, actions, and reactions to the changing environment, meeting obstacles with curiosity and resilience. 

5. Storytelling: the art of communicating complex ideas using a narrative structure to engage, influence, teach, or inspire an audience. 

The full report takes a granular look at each of these three skill sets. It also provides practical tips for blending human talent with machine precision and proposes a new suite of programs to help you build a future-ready talent ecosystem.  

To access the full report, visit members.zero100.com.  

If you are not a Zero100 member, please email hello@zero100.com to inquire about membership and report access.