The initial impact of pandemic COVID-19 is beginning to recede as many economies worldwide begin to recover and open up. Its significant impact on consumer demand and global supply chains has forced many companies worldwide to make substantial changes in the way they do business. Now that the global economy is returning to a more normal state and preparing for the future, many companies ask themselves the following questions.
What will be manufacturing look like after the pandemic?
Alternatives to Made in China
This pandemic has become an unusual factor in the fractured US-China relationship. Government-imposed closures and restrictions have severely disrupted manufacturing in China. Companies are now aggressively seeking alternatives for all types of manufacturing needs, including contract and turnkey manufacturing in Asia.
This responds to the fact that their over-reliance has negatively impacted many supply chains in China. Alternative production locations include India, Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). While there are challenges to abandoning production in China, show elsewhere has its advantages. Therefore the demand of procurement companies in the USA will increase drastically.
Travel restrictions and changes in local operations
Due to travel restrictions, health risks, and quarantine regulations, U.S. companies can no longer travel to China or other Asian countries to manage production and quality control. Therefore, it is necessary to use experts, such as Chinese sourcing agents, who can outsource production and perform local operations and quality assurance. Chinese sourcing agents also have the advantage of acting as a bridge and facilitating cooperation with overseas manufacturers. In the future, sourcing agents will be vital in reducing the manufacturing process until restrictions on travel to China are lifted.
How will the post-pandemic consumer affect consumer demand and supply chain conditions?
Changes in consumer demand.
The economic impact and social response to COVID-19 have changed consumer behavior, removing them from society and limiting their ability to stay indoors, among many other things. For example, consumers have become accustomed to buying online, and their entire consumer life has been digitized. In Amazon, there has been an increase in overall demand, particularly in specific categories, such as groceries and household items, which are becoming increasingly popular. Many consumers who are used to buying certain products online will not return to their old shopping habits in stores. Unstable economic conditions and shortages of certain products have led to a decline in brand loyalty and a change in consumer preferences. Consumer demand for products fell sharply after the pandemic, but there are now signs that it is beginning to recover. This bodes well for companies that can take advantage of the new consumer demand and adapt their supply chains to meet consumer demand.
A Stronger, Smarter Supply Chain
In a world where consumer behavior is changing, and the future is uncertain, more robust and more innovative supply chains are critical to sustaining long-term business growth. The COVID-19 pandemic showed the world how vulnerable global supply chains are in the face of an unprecedented crisis.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed how weak global supply chains are in the face of an unprecedented crisis. Now is the time for companies to identify the weaknesses in their supply chains and develop plans to mitigate the risks. This requires the help of experienced supply chain consultants who have the expertise to build supply chains that increase flexibility and avoid the costly burden of unforeseen events such as pandemics.
Professional Procurement Companies in the USA can also help develop Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and diversify a company’s supply chain not to be overly dependent on a particular source or country, such as China.
The long-term impact of the COVID-19 virus pandemic is not yet known and may not be understood for many years to come. Companies will be asking critical questions to understand how they will survive in a post-COVID world. Understanding overseas production and consumer demand trends is essential to building a resilient and modern supply chain that can withstand future challenges. A good procurement agency is backed by experts having years of knowledge in this domain; therefore, they can help you in streamlining your supply chain with maximum return on investment.