The role of automation: building resilient supply chains in uncertain times
Over the past few years, global supply chains have experienced unprecedented levels of disruption, from the Covid pandemic and shifting geopolitical alliances to climate volatility and port congestion, exerting sustained pressure on the logistics sector. While many of these challenges lie beyond a company’s direct control, one powerful lever remains within the reach of logistics leaders: automation.
When applied across transportation management, demand planning and real-time visibility, automation has the potential to transform disruption into resilience. For companies operating in fast-moving, highly regulated industries such as food and beverage, this shift is not just strategic; it’s essential.
A new era of supply chain disruption
The pandemic served as a global stress test for supply chains, exposing deep fragilities in sourcing, labor, transportation, and cross-border trade. While much of the world has entered a post-pandemic recovery phase, the supply chain environment remains far from stable.
Consider the Suez Canal disruption in March 2021: even several months after the infamous blockage, its ripple effects continued to impact shipping schedules and inventory flows. Similarly, severe drought in Panama has restricted capacity in the Panama Canal, forcing shipping lines to reroute and increasing lead times.
In other critical chokepoints, such as the Strait of Hormuz, geopolitical tensions have introduced further uncertainty. Layer onto this the growing number of strikes at global ports, across both Europe and the Americas, as workers demand better conditions and wages, and it seems that volatility is becoming the new normal.
This turbulence is impacting shippers in terms of operational efficiency, service levels, and cost control. Rising demurrage and detention fees, driven by congested terminals, are eroding profit margins, while OTIF (On Time In Full) performance continues to suffer.
Automation as a strategic response
While supply chain disruption is a global and complex phenomenon, the industry has various solutions to mitigate its impact. One of the most promising and powerful responses to this challenge lies in automation, particularly in transportation management, demand forecasting and real-time tracking.
Transportation Management Systems (TMS) such as Project44, Transporeon and Shippeo are driving the shift, delivering real-time visibility across multimodal networks. These platforms enable logistics teams to make faster and data-driven decisions, such as rerouting shipments around blocked canals or rebooking them ahead of port closures.
With automated carrier selection, load optimization and tracking, TMS platforms reduce manual effort and enhance agility in case of disruption. This not only cuts costs but also helps maintain service levels amid constant volatility, equipping supply chains with the speed and resilience needed to adapt and thrive.
Smarter planning for smarter supply chains
Automation also plays a critical role upstream, particularly in demand planning. By integrating TMS data with advanced analytics and forecasting tools, companies can better anticipate shifts in supply and demand.
For food and beverage importers, where shelf life and regulatory compliance are critical, this foresight can mean the difference between success and spoilage.
In times of uncertainty, when static planning models often fail, AI-enabled planning systems that continuously process real-time data from TMS platforms and other sources enable companies to adjust production, sourcing, and distribution strategies on the fly, which, in turn, results in a more responsive and resilient supply chain. Together, TMS and AI-powered planning tools can truly transform reactivity into proactivity.
Navigating the ocean freight landscape
Ocean freight is also undergoing a transformation. While container costs have dropped in some routes, particularly from the Far East to the US, this trend reflects reduced demand and tariff uncertainty more than efficiency gains.
Ocean alliances, once heralded as a way to improve service and lower costs, have failed to deliver significant value to end customers. Analyses show that the primary beneficiaries have been the shipping lines themselves rather than the shippers. This imbalance highlights the need for companies to reclaim control through visibility, automation, and agility.
Food and beverage: a sector under pressure
For companies in the food and beverage industry, the stakes are particularly high. Disruptions in logistics don’t just result in delay; they can lead to product spoilage, missed seasonal windows, and regulatory non-compliance. In such a context, automation becomes a matter of continuity.
At Atlante, we’ve invested heavily in automation to future-proof our supply chain. From AI-powered forecasting tools to predictive analytics in our TMS, our goal is to ensure that our products move reliably from origin to shelf, regardless of external disruption. This includes building digital twin models of our supply network to simulate potential risks and proactively mitigate them.
Looking ahead: from fragile to agile
The past few years have highlighted that traditional and linear supply chains are no longer fit for purpose. What is needed is a shift toward agile, digitally enabled ecosystems that can sense, respond, and adapt in real time.
Automation will empower supply chain leaders with the tools and insights they need to navigate an increasingly unpredictable world. As the cost of inaction rises, the companies that invest in resilient, automated supply chains today will be the ones still standing tomorrow.
Ian Perotto
Ian Perotto is Chief Supply Chain Officer at Atlante. Atlante is a global sourcing partner for food products, founded in Bologna, Italy, in 1994 by Natasha Linhart, CEO. The company was born from Natasha’s passion for food and her vision to create a new model to connect producers and retailers across borders. Atlante is a trusted service provider offering a comprehensive suite of solutions, from brand distribution and private label development to supply chain management. In 2024, the company generated €265 million in annual turnover, with the goal of reaching €300 million in 2025. In addition to the UK, Atlante operates in multiple European and non-European countries, including Switzerland, Japan and South Korea.