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The Future of the Fashion Supply Chain Is Fully Connected
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RETAIL INNOVATION REPORT
hile many fashion retailers had initially expected to digitize their supply chains over a five- to 10-year period, Paul Magel, president of business applications and technology outsourcing division at CGS, estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these timelines to as short as five to 10 weeks. In an interview with Fairchild Media Group, Magel shares why the fashion supply chain must move away from analog processes and blend together offshore, onshore and nearshore manufacturing. Fairchild Media Group: Given your perspective, what’s the top issue that will shape the industry in the next year? Paul Magel: For the fashion industry, the pandemic has been more of an acceleration event than an innovation one. Forward-thinking companies had already launched the initiatives needed to sustain and grow their businesses before the pandemic hit. What is most needed today is agility
in all operations—especially in getting goods into the marketplace. Consumers want products that are more customized, personalized, sustainable, ethical and delivered rapidly. Greater agility and visibility are needed to operate faster and more efficiently in meeting these demands and get closer to the consumer. FMG: What is the lack of visibility into analog supply chains costing apparel brands? P.M.: The speed and accuracy required in fashion leaves little room for errors or delays. Everyone in the supply chain must always have access to up-to-date information to make faster and better-informed business decisions. This can only be accomplished when all supply chain processes and teams are fully and digitally connected. From our perspective, analog supply chains simply cannot effectively and sustainably compete in 2021. FMG: Assuming the elevated eCommerce levels continue, how can fashion firms meet the demand while delivering on quality and accuracy?