JDA Survey Reveals: Manufacturers Becoming More Like Retailers

Manufacturers are embracing a new retail-like role and willing to cater to both consumer needs and the competitive direct-to-consumer space, according to findings from the 2018 Intelligent Manufacturing Survey conducted by Scottsdale-based JDA Software.

Responding to the “Amazon effect” and consumer demands, manufacturers are reprioritizing and focusing their technology investments on inventory optimization solutions (43 percent) and integrated planning and execution technologies (41 percent), according to the February responses from 271 U.S.-based professionals from manufacturing and wholesale/distribution industries.

Another critical component for manufacturers is supply chain maturity. Today, there are about as many “predigital” manufacturers (18 percent) as there are digitally mature manufacturers. However, while only 18 percent of respondents say they’ve reached digital supply chain maturity, nearly twice as many respondents (35 percent) expect to get there within two to three years.