Deepak Singhvi: Covid-19 & the Disruption in Supply Chain Management

The outbreak of pandemic Covid-19 has disrupted global supply chains and international trade. Social Distancing norms and restrictions on cross-border travel have made supply chain management extremely difficult. This has set off a chain reaction where many small and medium industries have been hit.

To discuss the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the supply chain and how technology can help create better supply chain flow during and post-pandemic, we interviewed Mr. Deepak Singhvi from SAP.

Mr. Deepak Singhvi is a Software Architect for SAP Ariba; where he steers designs and solutions for B2B E-procurement marketplace. Deepak has more than 15 years of experience in Big Data, Analytics, and platform development for various industries like e-commerce, banking, and semiconductor.

Connect with Mr. Deepak Singhvi – LinkedIn

Excerpt from the interview-

SCM Challenges

What are some of the challenges organizations are facing due to disruption in global supply chains?

Mr. Deepak: We can gauge from the current situation how this pandemic is different from the outbreak of SARS in 2002. That time, China was contributing around 4% of the world’s total GDP and now China contributes somewhere between 18%- 20%. China is like the world’s factory which is present in every aspect of the business and production process. China is manufacturing for the world.

In the post-pandemic world, we will have to adapt to the volatile environment. Especially, the continuous change in consumer behavior is creating a Bullwhip effect which is troubling the manufacturers. This effect makes it difficult for them to estimate inventories, plan production, set logistics in place, etc. The impact is going to be huge mainly because of China’s major contribution towards world GDP.

Is money also a challenge for the organizations in the supply chain?

Mr. Deepak: Money is an issue, maybe not for big companies. However, for SMEs and startups, who are also contributing to the supply chain, cash liquidity has been a concern. They need to maintain cash liquidity by reducing their operating costs and plan for short-term needs.

Many governments have introduced provisions for SMEs and start-ups like the Government of India through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), France has announced a 4 billion euros package, Germany has introduced a 2 billion euros package and so on.

Small scale industries need working capital/short-term capital/short-term cash liquidity. Manufacturing units will have to ensure that they have enough supplies because they are somehow surviving this quarter. But, in the next quarter, they’ll have difficulty putting together everything in place.

Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management

As per a March survey conducted by the ‘Institute For Supply Chain Management’, nearly 75 percent of companies reported supply chain disruptions due to coronavirus-related transportation restrictions — how is technology going to address these concerns moving forward?

Mr. Deepak: Technology will play a very important role in Supply Chain Management. We need to understand the kinds of problems that are there and how technology can solve it. There are three dimensions to it.

First is Cost. The USA and many other countries moved their manufacturing units to China three decades ago. That time, Supply Chain was mostly about Cost — how to reduce cost and improve operational efficiency.

Second is Risk. In the past 5-10 years, another factor has come into place — Risk. Government tariffs and restrictions had a huge impact on the supply chain. It is difficult to import goods from China as there was a lot of opposition to it.

Third is Resilience. The outbreak of pandemic COVID-19 tested the resilience of organizations to the disruption.

It if was only about cost, a single human could have managed the cost by taking the assistance of tools and technology. But with increasing dimensions, humans alone cannot manage it. Therefore, technology is helping humans in holistic and better decision making. The supply chain dimensions will keep on increasing and will get more complex. Hence, technology will be important to adapt to the dynamic environment.

AR and VR in Supply Chain

Do you see technologies like AR & VR playing a greater role in the procurement process?

Mr. Deepak: Technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality will help enhance the User Experience. Social Distancing will be in practice for a long time. People might not get the same in-person experience as before. Therefore, AR and VR can help provide a similar experience to their customers. Moreover, these technologies will help significantly in the Customer Support function. VR can help in employee training and real-time assistance in manufacturing plants or offices. There will be a wider application of these technologies in various business units across different industries.

[Also read – 25 Disruptive AR Use Cases]

AI and Automation in Supply Chain Management

How does AI-based technologies like Machine Learning, Automation play a role in supply chain management? Is the investment in AI still relevant for enterprises during this Pandemic crisis?

Mr. Deepak: Artificial Intelligence will be needed more than ever. As the dimensions — apart from Cost, risk and Resilience will increase, it will create a need for an Intelligence System which can use rule-based computing. The system should be able to handle the effects of the bullwhip and enable automatic stock verification. AI will have a bigger role in developing Supply Chain solutions in the New Normal to automate manual operations and increase operational efficiency for Business Continuity.

What are the main pain points in supply chain management which AI technologies or automation can address?

Mr. Deepak: Today, most of the systems and processes are in place. Suppliers and Buyers can collaborate on a system. Even SAP Ariba has a Supplier Collaboration platform. Everything works seamlessly under normal circumstances and there are intelligent solutions that make the Supply Chain a bit more flexible.

Technology can automate manual collaborations. Normal rule-based decision making works most of the time but now we need more complex decision making. Systems need to consider external factors of COVID-19 such as disruption in any specific country or manufacturing plants. These factors can act as inputs to enable better decision-making.

Supply Chain in the New Normal

What lessons can you share for buyers and suppliers operating in the New Normal?

Mr. Deepak: One of the important lessons we learn here is to keep innovating. We need to introduce technologies like AI, AR, VR, RPA, etc. to automate manual processes wherever possible.

Employees need to be trained in new technologies. Stakeholders need to get ready for the change. Those collaborating on systems should make their systems more agile. Also, businesses need to plan their cash flows to survive in the long term.

The Future of Personalization

The growth of ‘web content management systems’ is driven by the demand of organizations to deliver personalized content and increase the interactions with customers present online — what does the future of personalization look like?

Mr. Deepak: We have been seeing personalized content for the past couple of years now. There are two aspects to this.

First, in the current situation, we need some kind of personalization. Companies that are ready to deliver personalized content will make a mark for themselves. Whereas, those who were not ready for it will be left behind.

Second, in the post-pandemic world, many new people will be using digital platforms for the first time. They need better experiences that go beyond the traditional way of buying and selling. The companies that will add personalization into their products and services will have an edge over those who don’t.

Start-ups in the Post-Pandemic World

It will be a survival issue for the start-ups for the next 1-2 years. Which sectors should start-ups focus their technological innovations which could add value not just to them but society at large?

Mr. Deepak: Many start-ups have been hit due to this pandemic. But now they need to evaluate whether to continue in the existing line of business or make a shift to an area where there’s opportunity in the post-pandemic world.

The technology-led business model will be critical. It will have a key role in defining strategies. Start-ups have opportunities in the area of security and performance engineering as more people are working from home creating gaps in the data security. We are learning many lessons from this pandemic. They are reinforcing and validating our current model of getting out of the global crisis. There is a scope of growth as long as we keep building innovative solutions.

In a nutshell

In this session, Mr. Deepa Singhvi shared his insights on technology innovations needed in the time of this crisis for start-ups and how supply chains can be improved through a new set of technologies like AI, AR, VR, and automation in the post-pandemic world.

Podcasts in this series:

In the world of product design, consistency is the cornerstone of delivering a seamless user experience. As digital products evolve and scale, the challenge of maintaining design consistency across multiple platforms, teams, and touchpoints becomes more complex. This is where design systems come in. A design system is a comprehensive set of guidelines, components, and tools that help designers and developers create a consistent and cohesive user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). From a designer’s perspective, building and maintaining a design system requires a strategic approach to ensure scalability, flexibility, and alignment with business goals.

Source: https://www.toptal.com/designers/ux/design-system)

Why Design Systems Matter?

Design systems are more than just style guides or pattern libraries. They offer a unified language for design and development, bridging the gap between creativity and functionality. Here are a few reasons why they are critical:

Consistency Across Products

One of the primary goals of a design system is to ensure uniformity across different platforms and devices. When users interact with a product, whether on a website or a mobile app, they expect a consistent experience. A well-implemented design system ensures that visual elements, interactions, and behaviors are aligned, offering a familiar and intuitive experience for users.

2. Faster Iteration

With a design system in place, teams can reuse components and patterns rather than reinventing the wheel for each new feature. This speeds up the design and development process, allowing teams to focus on solving new problems instead of reworking existing designs. For designers, it means less time spent on repetitive tasks and more time dedicated to innovation.

3. Scalability

As products grow and new features are added, maintaining a coherent UI/UX without a design system can become chaotic. A design system provides a scalable framework, enabling teams to add new elements or modules without compromising the overall consistency of the product.

4. Improved Collaboration

A design system fosters collaboration between designers, developers, and other stakeholders by providing a shared language and reference point. This ensures that design decisions are communicated effectively, reducing friction and misunderstandings between teams.

Building a Design System: A Designer’s Perspective

Designing a system from scratch can seem like a daunting task, but with a clear roadmap and understanding of core principles, it becomes a powerful tool for creating scalable and user-centered products.

1. Define the Core Principles

Before diving into visual components, it’s essential to establish the core principles of your design system. These principles serve as the foundation and guide decision-making throughout the process. Ask yourself:

• What are the key values of your brand?

• How should the design reflect the needs and emotions of users?

• What goals are you trying to achieve with your design system (e.g., accessibility, flexibility, innovation)?

For instance, if accessibility is a top priority, you’ll need to ensure that your design system accommodates users with different abilities, by providing color contrast guidelines, clear typographic hierarchies, and accessible components.

2. Create a Unified Visual Language

Once the principles are established, the next step is creating a cohesive visual language. This includes defining elements such as:

• Color Palette: A well-structured color palette ensures harmony across different UI components. It’s crucial to include primary, secondary, and accent colors, along with usage guidelines to avoid inconsistency.

• Typography: Define a typography system that establishes hierarchies and clarity, including font styles, sizes, line heights, and spacing. Consistent typography helps users navigate content effortlessly.

• Spacing and Grids: An established grid system ensures a balanced layout and harmony between different UI elements. Proper spacing guidelines prevent crowded or misaligned components.

• Iconography and Illustrations: Design guidelines for icons and illustrations help maintain visual consistency. Icons should follow a standard style (outlined, filled) and size, ensuring they align with the overall visual language.

Iconography and Illustrations: Design guidelines for icons and illustrations help maintain visual consistency. Icons should follow a standard style (outlined, filled) and size, ensuring they align with the overall visual language.

Image Source: https://designerup.co/blog/10-best-design-systems-and-how-to-learn-and-steal-from-them/)

3. Design Reusable Components

A design system is incomplete without reusable UI components. These components include buttons, forms, modals, and navigation elements that can be used across various features and pages. Each component should be:

• Modular: Components should be flexible and adaptable for different contexts. For example, a button should have variations for different states (hover, active, disabled) and types (primary, secondary, destructive).

• Documented: Each component needs comprehensive documentation that explains how it should be used, its variants, and the rules governing its application. This ensures consistency when different team members use the same component.

4. Implement Accessibility Guidelines

Accessibility should be at the forefront of every design system. As a designer, consider:

• Color Contrast: Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background for readability.

• Keyboard Navigation: Ensure that interactive components are navigable via keyboard for users who rely on keyboard shortcuts.

• Responsive Design: Components should be responsive, adapting seamlessly across different screen sizes and devices.

• Assistive Technologies: Design components should be compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies to provide an inclusive experience.

Maintaining a Design System: Evolving with the Product

Once a design system is in place, the work doesn’t stop there. Maintaining it requires ongoing effort as the product evolves and new design challenges emerge. Here’s how designers can ensure the design system remains relevant and effective:

1. Regular Audits and Updates

A design system should be treated as a living document that evolves with the product. Regular audits are necessary to identify outdated or unused components. Designers should collaborate with developers to ensure new features are aligned with the existing design system, and updates should be documented to avoid fragmentation.

2. Version Control and Documentation

Version control is essential for keeping track of changes in the design system. Documenting why and how changes are made ensures that the design system grows in an organized manner. It also helps onboard new team members quickly, as they can reference updated guidelines.

3. Foster Collaboration Across Teams

Designers need to maintain an open line of communication with developers and other teams using the design system. Tools like Figma, Sketch, and Zeplin allow designers to share components and guidelines in real-time, fostering collaboration and ensuring that everyone is aligned.

Some well-known examples of design systems that have set benchmarks in the industry:

1. Google Material Design

URL: Material Design
Overview: Google’s Material Design is one of the most comprehensive design systems available. It provides guidelines on how to create visual, motion, and interaction design across platforms and devices. Material Design is known for its grid-based layouts, responsive animations, and depth effects like shadows and lighting.
Features:
- Comprehensive color palettes, typography, and iconography.
- Extensive component library (buttons, cards, etc.).
- Customizable UI components for both web and mobile applications.

2. Salesforce Lightning Design System

URL: Salesforce Lightning
Overview: Salesforce’s Lightning Design System provides a comprehensive library of UI components and resources to help build applications on the Salesforce platform. It ensures a consistent experience across Salesforce products and enables developers to create custom apps easily.
Features:
- Ready-to-use components, design tokens, and code snippets.
- Comprehensive accessibility guidelines to ensure inclusivity.
- Detailed documentation for developers to integrate components into Salesforce applications.

3. Microsoft Fluent Design System

URL: Fluent Design
Overview: Fluent Design is Microsoft’s design system, created to provide an engaging and scalable UI across all Microsoft products. It is heavily focused on interaction, animation, and motion while ensuring accessibility across various device ecosystems.
Features:
- Focus on depth, motion, and light to create modern and interactive UIs.
- Cross-platform components supporting web, desktop, and mobile applications.
- Accessible components with detailed guidelines for developers.

Conclusion

Building and maintaining a design system is an investment that pays off in the long run. It ensures consistency across your product, improves collaboration between teams, and allows for faster iteration and scalability. For designers, a design system is more than a collection of reusable components — it’s a framework that enables you to create user-centric products with confidence and clarity. By embracing modularity, documentation, and accessibility, you’ll ensure that your design system remains a valuable asset as your product grows.

About the Author:

Shristi is a creative professional with a passion for visual storytelling. She recently transitioned from the world of video and motion graphics to the exciting field of product design at Mantra Labs. When she’s not designing, she enjoys watching movies, traveling, and sharing her experiences through vlogs.

InsurTalks Podcast with Deepak Singhvi: Covid-19 & the Disruption in Supply Chain Management

SCM Challenges