Dive Brief:

• Reducing operating and support costs and a need for enhanced decision making are at the top of Gartner's prediction chart, Supply Chain Digest reported Thursday.
• Last on the list was "technical obsolescence of existing technologies," indicating that replacing old with new technology is least important when it comes to supply chain investment.
• One possibility for companies ignoring obsolescence is that instead, they are seeking new and better ways to collaborate with partners across the supply chain instead of rebuilding past era solutions with newer tech.

Dive Insight:

While the main areas for supply chain investment address economics and partnership, the absence of addressing the industry's shortage of skilled staff is a glaring omission, given the impact of the high number of unfilled positions on the chain.

The supply chain field faces many of the same issues as manufacturing, in that the technical demands of the job have increased the need for higher education, yet the industry is not often considered viable, let alone exceptional, place for employment. Despite median salaries approaching six figures, the supply chain exists behind the scenes in a way that fails to draw new talent, despite efforts on the part of the industry to appeal to those nearing college graduation in STEM fields. 

The supply chain is also a valuable option for professionals making a career change, as skills from one discipline can transfer easily to another, including marketing, management, human resources and data analysis.