One of the mantras of modern management, ‘you can’t manage it if you don’t measure it’, certainly applies to supply chain sustainability. However, sustainability is often a moving target since everyone's supply chain is different. A good way to find some commonality as a basis for understanding the term is to take a look at how businesses measure it.

As a retailer or etailer, you know what I mean when I say “the consumer is driving the bus”. Your customers are always connected, they buy through multiple channels, price shopping has become a competitive sport, and they want their stuff immediately. In fact, if they could have their products magically pop out of their laptop after placing their order, they’d want that, too (I think Google is working on it). Oh yeah, they also want to be able to track their order from the moment they place it until it’s delivered.

As a retailer or etailer, you know what I mean when I say “the consumer is driving the bus”. Your customers are always connected, they buy through multiple channels, price shopping has become a competitive sport, and they want their stuff immediately. In fact, if they could have their products magically pop out of their laptop after placing their order, they’d want that, too (I think Google is working on it). Oh yeah, they also want to be able to track their order from the moment they place it until it’s delivered.