Blue Ridge Report Reveals that Wholesalers View Complex Demand Patterns As Their Greatest Challenge

Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 14, 2018 -- A Blue Ridge Global supply chain survey has revealed that a majority of wholesale distributors cite complex demand patterns as their greatest challenge. This and other wholesale insights will be part of a live webinar to be held on Feb. 21 at 2 PM ET (register here) revealing the results of the story and featuring a discussion of the true state of supply chain planning and inventory optimization for wholesalers and distributors.

All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the 2018 State of Wholesale Distribution Supply Chain Report.

“Inventory management continues to be a multifaceted topic for supply chain managers, particularly when it comes to meeting demand,” said Jim Byrnes, Blue Ridge CEO. “With this report, we’ve looked to explore how modern wholesalers and distributors are adapting their inventory and supply chain-planning operations to compete with Amazon and the other ecommerce giants.”

Blue Ridge launched the wholesale survey in Sept. 2017, asking wholesalers and distributors about the key initiatives that have been put in place to support inventory and supply chain-planning operations.

Inventory management continues to be a multifaceted topic for supply chain managers, particularly when it comes to meeting demand:

• 37.3 percent of survey respondents named ‘complex demand patterns’ as their biggest challenge in the next three years
  
  
• 30.6 percent of survey respondents indicated that ‘demand volatility from new competitors, customers and digital ecommerce’ would be their biggest challenge in the coming years

“The supply chain industry is rapidly changing and new advances for 2018 mean managers and executives need to be nimble in order to grow their businesses,” said Byrnes. “The Wholesale Distribution Report reveals that, as large online wholesalers continue to gain share, supply chain executives need to enhance their use of technology to better predict demand and respond accordingly.”

Blue Ridge was a leader in the most recent Gartner Magic Quadrant for Supply Chain Planning, due to its track record of translating customer data into precise and economically-driven demand and supply plans.

Blue Ridge will host BLUEPrint 2018 in Atlanta on April 22 – April 24, 2018 at the Omni Hotel at The Battery Atlanta™.  BLUEPrint is a hands-on annual conference for supply chain leaders, managers and users of Blue Ridge solutions.  

About Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge supply chain solutions are the most accurate way for retailers and distributors to spot changes in customer demand before they happen. Traditional forecasting and planning solutions weren’t designed to keep up with today’s increasingly unpredictable consumer behavior. In a world where the only constant is change, Blue Ridge provides more certainty, more speed, and more assurance – so companies can see the why behind the buy and respond faster to the unexpected. That’s why Blue Ridge is recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Supply Chain Planning. And its why major retailers and distributors rely on Blue Ridge for a more foreseeable future. For more information, go to www.blueridgeglobal.com.

Will Haraway
Backbeat Marketing
[email protected]
404.593.8320
www.backbeatmarketing.com