As the global economy continues to evolve, businesses across Australia and New Zealand face increasing pressure to adapt their supply chains to a rapidly changing landscape. Trace Consultants, a boutique supply chain and procurement advisory firm based in Australia, is at the forefront of these shifts, helping organisations navigate the complexities of modern supply chain management. Below, we explore seven key supply chain trends poised to shape the industry in 2025 and beyond.

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1. Cost Out Programs and Cost to Serve Optimisation

In an increasingly competitive market, reducing costs without compromising service levels is a key focus for organisations. Cost out programs and cost to serve optimisation are essential strategies for achieving this balance, enabling businesses to streamline operations, improve profitability, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Cost out programs involve identifying inefficiencies across the supply chain and implementing targeted initiatives to reduce expenses. Cost to serve optimisation focuses on understanding the true cost of delivering products or services to specific customer segments and making informed decisions to improve margins.

Key Actions for Cost Optimisation:

• Conduct spend analysis to identify high-cost areas and opportunities for rationalisation.
• Leverage advanced analytics to assess cost-to-serve metrics and prioritise profitable customer segments.
• Optimise logistics networks, including warehouse locations and transportation routes, to minimise costs.
• Negotiate supplier contracts to achieve better pricing and terms.

Trace Consultants has helped organisations implement effective cost out programs, delivering measurable savings and improved service levels. By combining data-driven insights with practical strategies, we enable businesses to achieve sustainable cost reductions while maintaining operational excellence.

2. Sustainability Takes Centre Stage

Sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern but a core strategic priority for supply chains. With heightened regulations, consumer demand for eco-friendly products, and organisational ESG commitments, businesses are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprints and ensure ethical sourcing practices.

Consumers and regulatory bodies alike are holding companies accountable for their environmental impact, making sustainability an integral part of business strategy. Supply chains are key enablers of these efforts, as they represent significant opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving resource efficiency. Organisations that fail to prioritise sustainability risk falling behind competitors and alienating stakeholders.

Opportunities for Action:

• Implement circular economy principles, such as recycling and reusing materials to minimise waste.
• Conduct sustainability benchmarking to identify areas of improvement and measure progress against industry standards.
• Leverage technology to track and report on Scope 3 emissions, which include indirect emissions from supply chain activities.

Trace Consultants has supported organisations in adopting sustainable supply chain practices, unlocking both environmental benefits and competitive advantages. By combining strategic insight with practical solutions, we help businesses meet their sustainability goals while improving operational efficiency.

3. Digitalisation and Automation Acceleration

The push toward digitalisation and automation continues to redefine supply chain operations. Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and Internet of Things (IoT) are driving efficiencies and improving decision-making capabilities.

Organisations are investing in digital solutions to enhance agility, reduce costs, and improve service levels. The ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions and make data-driven decisions is becoming a competitive differentiator in the supply chain sector.

Emerging Technologies to Watch:

• Low-code/no-code platforms for workflow automation, enabling businesses to streamline processes without heavy IT involvement.
• AI-powered demand planning and forecasting tools to enhance accuracy and responsiveness.
• Robotics and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in warehousing to optimise inventory management and reduce labour costs.

Trace Consultants has delivered significant results for clients by deploying Microsoft Power Apps-based solutions and Smart Excel tools, helping organisations achieve immediate operational improvements. These technologies enable clients to automate manual tasks, reduce errors, and improve productivity across supply chain functions.

4. Resilience in the Face of Disruption

The frequency and scale of supply chain disruptions continue to grow, driven by factors such as geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and cyber threats. Resilient supply chains are now a necessity rather than a luxury. Businesses that fail to anticipate and respond to disruptions risk significant financial and reputational damage.

Building resilience involves not only mitigating risks but also creating systems that can recover quickly and adapt to new challenges. This requires a proactive approach to supply chain design and management.

Key Resilience Strategies:

• Diversify supplier bases to mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on specific regions or vendors.
• Build buffer inventories and safety stocks to cushion against supply shocks.
• Invest in real-time visibility tools to anticipate disruptions and respond swiftly.

Trace Consultants specialises in supply chain risk management, helping businesses design robust systems that withstand external shocks. Our comprehensive approach includes scenario planning, risk assessment, and the implementation of resilience-enhancing technologies.

5. End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility

End-to-end visibility is critical for optimising supply chain performance and ensuring compliance. Modern businesses demand transparency from procurement through to last-mile delivery, enabling faster and smarter decision-making.

Visibility tools allow organisations to monitor the flow of goods and information across the supply chain, identify bottlenecks, and implement corrective actions in real time. This level of transparency is essential for meeting customer expectations and achieving operational excellence.

Steps to Achieve Visibility:

• Integrate advanced planning systems to connect upstream and downstream activities.
• Use IoT-enabled sensors to track goods in transit and monitor environmental conditions.
• Implement dashboards for real-time reporting and analytics, providing stakeholders with actionable insights.

Trace Consultants assists clients in deploying visibility tools that enhance connectivity and improve operational outcomes. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, we help businesses gain a competitive edge through improved efficiency and responsiveness.

6. Labour Challenges and Workforce Optimisation

Labour shortages and rising wage pressures are pushing organisations to rethink workforce strategies. Optimising workforce planning, scheduling, and productivity is more critical than ever. Businesses must balance the need for cost control with the imperative to maintain high levels of service.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of having a flexible and resilient workforce. As labour markets evolve, organisations must adopt innovative approaches to workforce management to stay competitive.

Workforce Optimisation Tactics:

• Use AI and ML for accurate demand forecasting, ensuring the right staffing levels across operations.
• Optimise workforce composition by balancing full-time, part-time, and contingent labour to meet fluctuating demand.
• Invest in employee upskilling and training programs to enhance workforce capabilities and reduce turnover.

Trace Consultants leverages its expertise in workforce planning and scheduling to help organisations address these challenges while driving cost efficiency and service excellence. Our tailored solutions enable businesses to align workforce strategies with broader organisational goals.

7. Collaborative Ecosystems and Partnerships

The complexity of modern supply chains necessitates collaboration across stakeholders. Building strong partnerships with suppliers, logistics providers, and even competitors can unlock shared value and drive innovation.

Collaboration enables organisations to pool resources, share risks, and improve supply chain performance. It also fosters a culture of trust and transparency, which is essential for navigating today’s dynamic business environment.

Best Practices for Collaboration:

• Develop joint KPIs and performance metrics to align objectives and measure success.
• Share data securely to improve forecasting, demand planning, and inventory management.
• Engage in collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR) initiatives to synchronise activities across the supply chain.

Trace Consultants has a proven track record of fostering collaborative ecosystems, enabling clients to create more agile and interconnected supply chains. Our approach focuses on building long-term relationships that deliver mutual benefits for all stakeholders.

Preparing for the Future

The supply chain landscape in 2025 will be defined by cost efficiency, sustainability, technology, resilience, visibility, workforce optimisation, and collaboration. Organisations that proactively embrace these trends will not only stay ahead of the curve but also drive meaningful value for their stakeholders.

Trace Consultants, as a trusted advisor, is uniquely positioned to help businesses navigate these changes. By combining deep industry expertise with innovative solutions, we empower organisations to build supply chains that are resilient, efficient, and future-ready. How prepared is your organisation for the supply chain of 2025? Let Trace Consultants guide you through these transformative trends and ensure your success in an ever-evolving marketplace.

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Supply chain management in the healthcare network

Australia’s healthcare supply chains are primarily managed on the State level. In some States, a public institution is delegated with the responsibility of providing supply chain functions to service the healthcare network. As examples, HealthShare Victoria (HSV) and HealthShare NSW (HSN) are the respective entities in Victoria and NSW that manage supply chain surety, procurement and logistics on behalf of their States’ public health system. A crucial aspect of their roles lie in the supply and distribution of PPE, pharmaceuticals and other medical inventory to public hospitals, clinics and other health providers.

Art and science of balancing inventory levels

State health supply chains necessitate a delicate balancing act to support the healthcare system. Pandemics like COVID-19 exposed vulnerabilities in an underequipped supply chain, with essential medical supplies seeing supply shocks and highlighting the need for greater resilience. On the other hand, holding too much medical stock will lead to waste, as many perishable items have limited shelf lives. Excessive stockpiling may also divert resources away from other essential healthcare services in supply chain management.  

Resilience in complex supply chains

With a recent pandemic in mind and the costs of carrying inventory at an all-time high, it is now more pertinent than ever for centralised health institutions such as HSV and HSN to proactively transform their capabilities in people, processes and technology to build stronger and more flexible State healthcare supply chains. The rapidly evolving and complex nature of medical supply chains – which involve many stakeholders, stringent regulations and critical delivery timelines, call for a level of adaptation that institutions must be prepared for.

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The Role of Technology

In the highly volatile landscape of the public healthcare system, it is crucial that centralised providers begin to adopt leading technologies to bolster planning and inventory management processes. Advanced tools such as AI (artificial intelligence) powered forecasting, dynamic inventory planning and logistic networks optimisation can work in harmony to support a resilient and responsive supply chain.

Enhanced Demand Forecasting

AI and advanced analytics have transformed demand forecasting by enabling highly accurate predictions based on real-time data. Machine Learning frameworks, predictive analytics platforms, and cloud-based AI tools help to automate data analysis, detect trends and forecast future demand with precision.

For centralised health service providers, enhanced demand forecasting is essential to ensure the timely availability of critical medical supplies and equipment to each State’s healthcare network. When considering the application of these tools, the key will lie in establishing clear objectives and leveraging scalable solutions to gradually build up data-driven forecasting capabilities. External variables such as public health trends and regulatory changes could also be incorporated to support a comprehensive implementation.

Dynamic Inventory Management

Dynamic inventory management tools leverage advanced technologies to optimise inventory levels, ensuring that in times of change or disruption, distributors of essential medical supplies can avoid stockouts and gain real-time inventory visibility over the supply chain.  

At the same time, these tools help to minimise holding costs and wasted stock. AI modelling can aid in inventory management for medical products with varying shelf lives or batch requirements by factoring in expiration dates, regulatory changes and more. This technology can also segment inventory based on product types, enhancing accuracy when planning inventory levels for items in high-demand or with complex storage requirements.  

Logistics Network Optimisation

Logistics network optimisation technology is crucial for centralised health service providers aiming to reduce transportation costs, improve delivery times and streamline health supply chain efficiency.

Key solutions including transportation management systems, route optimisation tools and AI-powered logistics platforms enable dynamic adjustments to delivery schedules and account for unforeseen factors such as traffic, weather and demand surges. In times of emergency, AI algorithms can also reroute shipments in response to real-time data and prioritise deliveries for urgent medical supplies.  

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How Trace Consultants Can Assist State Health Institutions

Trace Consultants’ expertise in healthcare supply chains, along with being an approved seller on the federal BuyICT panel, positions us as a strategic partner for State health institutions.

Enhanced Demand Forecasting

trace. can provide AI-driven forecasting tools that deliver precise demand predictions for critical medical supplies. These solutions help centralised health service providers ensure timely delivery and make data-driven decisions by integrating real-time insights and public health trends.

Dynamic Inventory Management

Our consultants can implement inventory management systems to optimise stock levels, reduce waste, and prevent shortages. Using AI-driven modelling, these tools handle diverse product requirements, enabling real-time adaptability and efficient inventory control.

Logistics Network Optimisation

We can enhance your logistics efficiency with AI-powered tools that optimise routes, reduce costs, and respond dynamically to disruptions. In emergencies, these systems prioritise and reroute shipments, ensuring critical supplies are delivered promptly.

Next Steps

Public health entities are a key line of defence for States to protect the lives of Australians. To do so, modernising supply chain capabilities and technologies is the key to ensure a resilient and flexible healthcare network that can adapt to future health events. trace. is positioned well to support the State governments in carrying out this objective.  

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Justin Chan

Consultant

In today’s dynamic business environment, where efficiency, agility, and scalability are paramount, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is transforming the way companies function. RPA refers to software robots, or “bots", that can handle repetitive, rule-based tasks traditionally managed by humans. By leveraging RPA, businesses can improve productivity, reduce costs, and enable employees to focus on strategic, high-value activities. As RPA technology continues to develop, it offers significant opportunities for organisations to streamline workflows, minimise errors, and drive sustainable growth.

This article explores the fundamentals of RPA, the advantages it brings to businesses, emerging trends in the field, leading RPA vendors, and how the trace. team can help your organisation fully capitalise on RPA’s potential.

A Quick Overview of Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

RPA enables bots to mimic human actions within digital systems, performing tasks such as data entry, invoice processing, and responding to customer queries. Unlike traditional automation that requires extensive programming, RPA is designed to integrate with existing systems, making it accessible and adaptable across various business functions. These bots can operate 24/7, executing tasks faster and with greater accuracy than human counterparts, helping organisations increase speed, accuracy, and scalability in operations.

The Benefits of RPA for Businesses

Implementing RPA delivers multiple advantages that can drive significant improvements across business functions:

1. Increased Efficiency: RPA automates repetitive, high-volume tasks, resulting in faster and more precise outcomes. This efficiency enhancement frees employees from mundane work, enabling them to focus on complex, value-driven tasks.

2. Cost Savings: By reducing labour-intensive processes, RPA lowers staffing costs and minimises expenses related to human error. Many companies experience substantial cost savings, often achieving rapid returns on their RPA investments.

3. Enhanced Accuracy and Compliance: RPA bots execute tasks with consistent accuracy, minimising the risk of errors and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. This compliance is especially valuable in sectors with strict regulations.

4. Scalability and Flexibility: RPA enables businesses to scale automation efforts up or down as needed, providing flexibility to handle seasonal spikes or fluctuating workloads.

5. Improved Employee Satisfaction: Automating repetitive tasks allows employees to focus on more rewarding work, boosting morale and allowing organisations to deploy their workforce in roles that drive innovation and growth.

Emerging Trends in RPA

As RPA technology advances, it incorporates new capabilities that extend its impact across industries. Key trends currently shaping the RPA landscape include:

1. Intelligent Automation (IA): RPA combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) enables Intelligent Automation (IA), which goes beyond simple task automation. IA bots can interpret unstructured data (such as emails or documents), recognise patterns, and make decisions, adding a cognitive element to traditional RPA.

2. AI-Led Opportunity Identification: AI-powered tools are increasingly used to identify automation opportunities by analysing operational data, such as timestamps or communications. By understanding the frequency and volume of tasks, AI can make recommendations for automation, helping companies prioritise projects for maximum impact.

3. Hyper automation: Hyper automation is the integration of multiple technologies—RPA, AI, ML, and analytics—to automate complex, end-to-end workflows. This holistic approach enables organisations to achieve complete operational transformation, accelerating digital transformation.

4. Process Mining and Task Mining: Process mining and task mining tools analyse workflows to uncover inefficiencies and automation opportunities. These tools enable companies to ensure that RPA implementations target the most impactful areas, enhancing overall operational efficiency.

5. Low-Code/No-Code RPA: As low-code and no-code platforms become more popular, RPA solutions like Microsoft Power Automate are becoming accessible to non-technical users. These platforms allow business users to design and deploy automation workflows without extensive coding knowledge, encouraging cross-functional collaboration and democratising automation.

Leading RPA Vendors

The RPA market is highly competitive, offering diverse solutions for various business needs. Some of the top RPA vendors include:

• Microsoft Power Automate: Part of Microsoft’s Power Platform, Power Automate integrates seamlessly with Microsoft applications, making it a strong choice for organisations already using Microsoft products.

• UiPath: Known for its ease of use and extensive capabilities, UiPath is a leading RPA provider offering AI and analytics solutions that suit enterprise-grade automation needs.

• Automation Anywhere: A major player in cloud-native RPA, Automation Anywhere supports intelligent automation and is widely used in finance, healthcare, and retail.

How trace. Can Help You Leverage RPA

trace. understands that effective RPA implementation is more than just adopting new software; it requires a strategic approach customised to your organisation’s unique needs and objectives. Our team has a wealth of experience in supply chain management and operational optimisation, making us well-equipped to support your RPA journey.

How trace. Can Help:

1. Process Assessment and Strategy Development: We conduct an in-depth analysis of your existing workflows to identify where RPA can provide the greatest value. By understanding your business processes, we design an RPA strategy that aligns with your goals and maximises efficiency gains.

2. Solution Design and Implementation: Our experts collaborate with your team to create RPA solutions that integrate smoothly with your workflows. From data entry automation to reporting, we deliver scalable, secure solutions that are easy for your team to adopt.

3. Vendor Selection and Customisation: We help you evaluate RPA platforms based on features, scalability, and cost, recommending the best fit for your business. We then customise the solution to ensure it meets your specific requirements.

4. Training and Change Management: Successful RPA adoption relies on a supportive work environment. We offer training to help your team adapt, along with change management services to ensure smooth implementation with minimal disruption.

5. Continuous Improvement and Support: Our team provides ongoing support, monitoring RPA performance, identifying new automation opportunities, and adjusting as needed to keep your RPA solutions optimised.

Final Thoughts

Robotic Process Automation is a transformative technology that streamlines operations, reduces costs, and boosts productivity. However, to unlock its full potential, companies need an experienced partner. trace. brings a track record of delivering results-oriented automation solutions, helping businesses drive efficiency and achieve sustainable growth. Whether you’re just starting with RPA or expanding existing automation, our team can guide your business to success in an increasingly automated world.

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Tim Fagan

Senior Manager

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