Leader: A very British supply chain

Research out last week about the failings of global supply chains makes for some depressing reading.

Although automation has been widely embraced, it is riddled with inefficiencies. The study looked at organisations headquartered in four major economies, across five vertical industries, yet even those within the same sector have trouble talking to one another.

(The research summary even cites the old saying: "The great thing about standards is that there are so many of them.")

It seems automation is a must - after all, everyone else is doing it - but it is not a panacea for age-old problems.

Interestingly the analysts behind the study, Quocirca, found different areas of skills and shortcomings from country to country. The British appear to be more sensitive to customers demanding a certain type of transaction interface - mandating, as it is known - but with the "lowest level of loyalty" to big suppliers calling the shots.

And that's no bad thing.

When automated supply chains fall short, we aren't advocating ditching the tech. silicon.com is many things but in a no way a Luddite publication.

But cost inefficiencies such as manual emails, telephone calls and faxes can sometimes save the day. And if us Brits are being more customer focused than some others - not something that is often said - then let us ride out the current mish-mash of standards and protocols as best we can.

As the boys down in IT sort out your ASC X12 from the (UN) Edifact or the ebXML from the xCBL, pardon your customer service people making the odd call to key accounts.