The Barloworld Logistics’ 2014 supply chain foresight survey has gone live and hundreds of business executives in South Africa are expected to participate.

Kate Stubbs Executive Head of Marketing at Barloworld Logistics says this is our eleventh survey of the South African market and the theme this year is The rise and fall of customers and companies.”

Executives countrywide are invited to participate in the survey online at http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/p1579423096.aspx which is being conducted by Frost and Sulivan, on Barloworld Logistics’ behalf over the next two months.

“We are also asking participants to encourage their clients, suppliers, business partners and other contacts to participate in the survey.”

Stubbs adds that all individual responses will be kept confidential and will remain anonymous and only aggregated results will be reported. In return for their time and effort, participants will receive a free copy of the report.

The 2014 supply chain foresight survey explores the perceptions of customer centricity, the impact it has on companies, how they are adapting to the shift in consumer power and how they are re-aligning their supply chain strategies and business models to meet customer expectations.

These factors will be analysed during this year’s survey, which is segmented into four sections focusing respectively on perceptions of customer centricity, customer centricity in the organisation, customer centricity and the supply chain, and strategic business and supply chain objectives.

Stubbs says, “The rise in the power of the consumer in a globalised and technology driven world is creating complexity and greater competition for all companies and supply chains. Change, and the fast pace at which it is accelerating, is forcing companies to come up with a new game plan.”

“Many companies are facing the challenge of how to transform their traditional business and distribution models into to those that deliver what customers want.  Success and growth is being achieved by those companies that recognise, respond to and manage the ever changing demands of markets and customers.”

“Companies and brands easily and speedily fall away when a customer centric approach is not adopted.”

The supply chain foresight survey was conceptualised by Barloworld Logistics in 2003 and has been conducted on its behalf annually since then by top international management consulting firms such as Frost and Sulivan.

Each year the survey tracks the objectives and constraints experienced by South African businesses and supply chains. “This enables us to gain an accurate view of market conditions and the opportunities and challenges businesses expect to encounter,” says Stubbs.

Those who participate in this survey will also stand a chance of winning one of four prizes, ranging from a Samsung Smart 3D TV, a Bang & Olufsen Sound System, a Portable infrared Bluetooth keyboard, and a Nespresso Latissimo Expresso & Cappuccino maker.