Singapore Supply Chain Connect 2024: “Everyone loves Excel” – and other supply chain challenges to innovation
4 Oct 20244 min read
Summary
- At Singapore Supply Chain Connect 2024, industry leaders reflected on the tension between tradition and transformation in global logistics. Dyson’s Michelle Shi-Verdaasdonk humorously observed that “everyone loves Excel,” highlighting the sector’s continued reliance on legacy tools that limit innovation. Speakers agreed that the industry is entering a critical phase where digitization, regionalization, and talent development must accelerate to meet new demands.
- McKinsey’s Dr. Knut Alicke described the past few years as a “flock of black swans,” citing repeated disruptions and warning that many supply chains show a “false sense of confidence.” He and other experts identified four priorities for resilience—redesigning networks, advancing digital tools, developing end-to-end talent, and elevating risk management to the executive level.
- Executives from Henkel, TE Connectivity, Mondelez, and BD emphasized the need for connected ecosystems, data-driven decision-making, and sustainability integration. As Singapore positions itself as a hub for innovation and skills development, the event underscored that the future of supply chains will depend on bold thinking, modern tools, and cross-sector collaboration.
At the Singapore Supply Chain Connect 2024 event, organized by the Economic Development Board (EDB) and held Thursday at Marina Bay Sands, industry experts gathered to discuss the state of the global supply chain sector and the enduring challenge of driving innovation in logistics.
Amid the discussions, Michelle Shi-Verdaasdonk, chief supply chain officer at Dyson, noted with a chuckle, “Everyone loves Excel” — a nod to the industry's reliance on traditional methods, which often hinder deeper innovation.
According to Dr. Knut Alicke of McKinsey, the global supply chain has faced a “flock of black swans” since 2020, from the pandemic to the recent port strike on the East Coast of the U.S., which is expected to reduce global container availability by 15%.
The global logistics industry, especially in Southeast Asia, is undergoing significant transformation as businesses grapple with a new era of supply chain challenges and make investments to serve customers better. Companies are relocating critical operations closer to customers, and Asia’s governments are actively investing in creating ecosystems — including startups and talent-skills upgrades — to foster innovation and industry growth.
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