Economy
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Updated on 14th November 2025, 2:49 PM
Author
Simar Singh | Whalesbook News Team
A new report from PwC India reveals that supply chains, critical for business growth and profitability, are largely overlooked at the highest levels, with 32% of leaders not integrating supply chain functions into boardroom decision-making. The study calls for strategic investment in supply chain resilience, sustainability, and digital tools like AI/GenAI to foster agility and sustainable growth in India's volatile business landscape.
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PwC India's report, "Backroom to Boardroom: Securing Supply Chains at the Table," highlights a critical disconnect in Indian businesses. Despite supply chains being central to enterprise reinvention, profitability, and customer value, a significant 32% of business leaders admit they have not integrated supply chain leadership into boardroom-level decision-making. This leaves a crucial function underleveraged, impacting cost, trust, and customer experience. The report emphasizes that supply chains are evolving into strategic enablers for business growth and resilience. Key factors shaping future supply chains are responsiveness, resilience, and sustainability. However, the findings are concerning: only 16% of organizations feel fully prepared for large-scale disruptions, while 35% describe their supply chains as fragile. PwC recommends enhancing continuity and risk management through strategies like embedding digital twins, scenario modelling, and developing diversified supplier ecosystems. Technology adoption, particularly AI and GenAI, remains limited, urging companies to move beyond pilot projects and leverage these tools for predictive, intelligent decision-making. Furthermore, sustainability is identified as a major growth driver, with 60% of consumers preferring low-impact products and 29% of CXOs reporting income increases from sustainability-led projects. PwC advocates for a transition to circular and regenerative economies.
Impact This report's findings are highly relevant to Indian businesses and investors. Companies that fail to elevate their supply chain strategies to the executive level risk becoming less competitive, more vulnerable to disruptions, and missing out on growth opportunities. Investors are likely to scrutinize companies with weak supply chain management. The strategic integration of supply chains can lead to improved operational efficiency and profitability, potentially driving stock market performance. Rating: 8/10
Difficult Terms: Digital Twins: A virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system used for simulation, analysis, and prediction. Scenario Modelling: A technique used to explore potential future outcomes by creating and analyzing various plausible scenarios. Circular Economy: An economic model designed to eliminate waste and pollution, and the continual use of resources and products. Regenerative Economies: Economic systems that aim to restore and renew natural capital, going beyond sustainability to actively improve environmental and social systems. CXOs: Refers to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs), and other top-level executives.