DIGITALISATION
The COVID pandemic has impacted and continues to impact every aspect of our lives . Across industry , widespread factory closures and drastically restricted logistics globally , meant that downstream manufacturers soon found they had major supply chain disruptions . Many had to shift swiftly to using predominantly online sourcing and procurement services . Suppliers had to fast-track the expansion of their online sales and services . Transportation and logistics became a major challenge for everyone .
In essence , to tackle the challenges , virtually every aspect of the business , and throughout industry globally , required some form of additional digital , often disruptive technology . Clearly businesses that had embraced digital transformation were better positioned to adapt . Since the start , we have seen , and continue to see , a significant increase in B2B and B2C business , including eCommerce , not only from existing clients but also from new and occasional customers .
“ The key drivers are changing customer expectations , the need for greater efficiency , and the realisation that data can be used to spot trends .”
In our case , RS was ready to respond quickly and decisively to the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 , and was able to provide continued support to customers worldwide , initially prioritising health and allied services and those working on supplying critical and essential equipment and infrastructure . Supply chain continuity was
94 DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine