Retail is a game of supply and demand. With so much ambiguity around this upcoming holiday season regarding trend forecasts, clogged port, and historically slow shipping delays (to name a few), supply chains must utilize all available resources to position themselves to not only survive the supply chain nightmare, but to surpass and transcend the volatile landscape.

Supply chain disruptions, port congestion, capacity crunches, and soaring shipping costs are on the forecast for the foreseeable future. As we round the corner of Q3 and move in the fourth quarter of 2021, retailers are bracing for impact as the peak holiday season nears.

Think of a credit line like a safety net. We understand that small business owners, especially in their early business years, are constantly looking over their shoulder concerned about outstanding expenses weighing them down. A credit line buys small business owners peace of mind which is an otherwise priceless commodity.

“Companies, however, must walk a fine line between pushing for better payment terms and imposing financial strain on their suppliers," said Andrew Schmidt, an accounting professor at North Carolina State University. “It’s a double-edged sword.”

Accounts receivable financing is a common tool that small businesses make use out of to help bridge the cash flow gap.

Among the current uncertainties within the global trade landscape, companies have even more reason to manage working capital as efficiently as possible.

The ability to act and operate with efficiency in mind is largely dependent on a company's ability to predict changes in demand as early as possible. There will always be a delicate balance between flexibility planning and cost.

A recipe for success for supply chain leaders and decision makers is to combine conventional supply chain operating models and nontraditional business models rooted in the customer experience and innovation.

New trends are taking shape in the supply chain with an emphasis on technology implementation as it has shown to be an asset and vital role to effective supply chain management. We have identified key supply chain trends to look out for and follow in 2021.