Just two months into the coronavirus pandemic, shelves run empty. There was a dire scarcity of toilet paper, food, cleaning supplies, and household items. This resulted from disruptions in the supply chain due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the wake of these disruptions, various supply chain professionals have stressed the need to resolve issues that have emerged from the pandemic. This was informed by the concerns among players that things might not come back to normal after the pandemic. One of the reasons for this is the need to ensure safety while providing services and supplies for families, students, and everybody else.

This year has been challenging for almost every industry. The supply chain is one of those who have suffered significantly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  While the industry seems to be coming to terms with the coronavirus's challenges, some companies are still struggling to cope with the after-effects. Other supply chain companies have shut down entirely because they can no longer sustain operations and maintain a profitable balance. Although things have not worked out as many anticipated this year, there are various steps that can help ensure your success in 2021 and beyond.

Holiday planning is underway as many businesses grapple with supply chain logistics due to the Covid-19. Experts predict that a majority of purchases will be made online as opposed to in stores – leading retail stores to rethink how they hire seasonal employees and stock their shelves.

 The ever-rising customer demand is disrupting all sectors of the economy, leading to innovation among those who are in the supply chain and manufacturing sectors. Unlike a decade ago when customers would place an order and wait for a week or even a month, customers today are impatient. They place an order that should be delivered as fast as possible. This has been occasioned by the increased competition in the manufacturing industry and supply chain, as well as increased customer awareness. For example, with the rising number of companies such as Alibaba and Amazon, customers have become choosy and tend to purchase their products based on the time it takes for them to receive their item. For these customers to be satisfied and stay competitive in the current marketplace, companies are now investing in 3D printing technologies to come up with products fast and ship it to the customer at an acceptable time.