Not long ago, supply chain was seen as a back-office, low priority function. Even before the COVID pandemic, that perception was starting to shift – but the pandemic made clear just how vital supply chain management really is.
Across Australia, supply chain management now holds equal weight with finance, marketing and customer service. No longer simply an operational discipline, it is recognised as a driver of competitiveness and resilience. This evolution has elevated the Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) to the boardroom, shaping corporate strategy – balancing cost efficiency with risk management, ensuring supply continuity in volatile markets, and enabling growth by supporting expansion plans and capturing peak demand opportunities.
The Expanding Role of the CSCO
The remit of the CSCO is multi-dimensional. Intelligent demand planning and inventory optimisation are essential for profitability. Agile fulfilment strategies safeguard customer loyalty. Sustainability initiatives in sourcing and transport have become central to meeting ESG commitments. Increasingly, CSCOs are ensuring that advanced systems, automation, AI, and warehousing capabilities are not just operational tools but tightly aligned with enterprise strategy. What were once tactical decisions are now strategic imperatives for driving efficiency, revenue and resilience.
“To deliver on these imperatives, companies need agile solutions that can anticipate and react to disruption, meet the needs of increasingly sophisticated customers, address labour shortages, continually improve productivity and scale to support growth,” says Tim Moylan, Chief Growth Officer at Infios.
Rising Volatility, Rising Expectations
Never before have CSCOs faced such volatility and unpredictability – making it essential to re-examine how inventory is positioned to balance service levels with profitability. The data reflects this shift: according to RELEX Solutions’ 2025 State of Supply Chain Report, 52% of retailers now identify demand volatility as their primary operational challenge, while strategic inventory buffers have increased 14% year-on-year.
Australia’s geographic isolation has amplified these challenges. Businesses must optimise simultaneously for dense metropolitan hubs and remote regional connectivity – making Australia a proving ground for advanced inventory strategies and adaptable technologies. Success increasingly depends on technology that can perform under diverse, unpredictable conditions.
“The key lies in having access to intelligent supply chain execution capabilities that transform warehousing, transportation and order management into a unified network powered by shared visibility, orchestration and AI-driven decision-making,” says Tim. “Such a supply chain execution ecosystem offers tailored solutions to meet customers where are at a particular point in their journey – thinking, learning and acting along the way to create lasting value for customers, their customers and the planet.”
The Hidden ROI of Adaptable, Intelligent Supply Chain Execution Technology
Unlike traditional ROI models that focus narrowly on cost savings, adaptable supply chain execution technology pays dividends through speed, resilience and scalable growth. Crucially, transformation cannot compromise the customer compromise at any stage. Rapidly growing businesses cannot afford downtime for major technology overhauls.
Adaptable systems allowing scaling without disruption. When demand patterns change or new warehouses and sales channels come online, modular OMS and composable TMS platforms enable immediate response – adding functionality without re-platforming, onboarding new carriers or distribution centres quickly and deploying updates without interrupting day-to-day operations. McKinsey research shows manufacturers using modular digital platforms shave up to 40% off their time-to-market, a particularly significant advantage for many Australian businesses with more distributed supply chains.
Simplicity is another hidden value driver. Adaptable systems reduce friction with pre-built APIs, shared dashboards across OMS, WMS TMS and ERP, and standardised workflows that eliminate manual workarounds. As Gartner’s iPaaS Market Guide notes, this “composable connectivity” is essential for modern supply chains.
The human element is just as critical. Intelligent tools reduce stress by automating repetitive tasks and providing clear visibility into priorities. Gallup research shows engaged employees are 18% more productive and 23% less likely to leave. For Australian businesses facing labour shortages and skills gaps, technology that reduces complexity while empowering people represents ROI far beyond immediate cost savings.
“The ROI of adaptable, intelligent tech isn’t always about big one-off savings,” explains Moylan. “It shows up in fewer fires to fight, faster time to value when needs shift, lower turnover in overstretched teams, and scalable growth without chaos.”
Where Australian Businesses Stand
The elevation of the supply chain – and the CSCO – from back office to boardroom marks a fundamental shift in how Australian businesses create competitive advantage.
The organisations thriving in this environment understand that supply chain transformation delivers value well beyond traditional metrics. Businesses embracing agile, intelligent execution solutions achieve operational flexibility that competitors struggle to match. Those investing in adaptable technologies build platforms for sustained growth rather than point solutions that become constraints.
There is broader recognition now that supply chain excellence isn’t about cost minimisation – it’s about building the capabilities that enable sustainable growth, customer satisfaction, and market leadership.
“The future is better when supply chains work better,” says Moylan. “We’re not just optimising operations, we’re enabling businesses to scale seamlessly, make intelligent decisions under uncertainty, and build resilience for long-term growth in an unpredictable world.”
Tim Moylan - Chief Growth Officer, Infios
Tim is an experienced Software executive with a demonstrated history of leading in all major global regions. Passionate about growing people to maximise their potential, he has a strong track record of consistent performance in both publicly listed and privately held businesses. At Infios, Tim leads and scales Software’s global sales and demand generation, bringing more than 30 years of experience in leading, building, and growing high-performing sales and marketing teams.
