The Supply Chain world is continuously evolving as each link of the chain develops and adapts to meet the needs of society. Best practices are often established only to be improved upon and refined over time. Technology is an essential component that is not only driven by new expectations and demand, but also serves as a driving force in the progression of the industry.
One of the most significant tools available to help you navigate the technology landscape is Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies. The hype cycle serves as an in-depth guide to various technologies from their inception, to maturity and widespread adoption.
Noting many companies have different rates at which they accept and adopt new technology (e.g. some organizations are more aggressive and willing to take risk for potential return ahead of the curve, some organizations are willing to adopt once technology is becoming more mainstream accepting moderate risk, while other companies are more conservative and deliberately wait until the technology is generally accepted before adopting), as technologies move along the hype cycle, they are analyzed and tested by actual companies in the industry. The further a technology is along the hype cycle, the closer it is to acceptance and widespread adoption.
Technologies that have traveled across the hype cycle and have reached the point in which they have progressed to no longer being on the hype cycle have reached the point of general acceptance by the industry. Technologies in this phase of the product lifecycle are now referred to as Mature Technologies.
A Mature Technology is a technology that has been in use for long enough that most of its initial faults and inherent problems have been removed or reduced by further development. In some contexts, it may also refer to technology that has not seen widespread use, but whose scientific background is well understood. It is a technology that has been proven and accepted by the industry to deliver results based on various use cases.
This is when widespread adoption of the technology occurs.
Of the technologies that have officially moved into the mature stage this year, slotting optimization is one that has immense potential to deliver value to the warehousing link of the Supply Chain.
Gartner states in the Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies report the following regarding slotting optimization:
"Slotting Optimization — This technology remains important and demand remains strong, but it is largely a mature technology and has moved off the Hype Cycle."
- Gartner, Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies, 2020, Dwight Klappich, 7 July 2020.
Noting the acceptance of slotting optimization in the Supply Chain and, specifically, within the warehouse space, if you haven’t adopted warehouse slotting optimization technology yet, now is the prime time to consider adoption.
But, as most know, the majority of warehouse operations are not average, and results will depend on various factors, including whether or not any slotting initiatives have taken place within the warehouse, the team’s dedication to the initiative and what goals and objectives are targeted for the project.
