For many years across a large swath of technology areas. Gartner has published annual "Hype Cycle" graphics that track various "solutions" based on a model Gartner developed for a technology's adoption lifecycle.
Supply Chain Digest Says... |
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The Hype Cycles are meant to place various technologies in a given area on a sort of oddly shaped maturity curve.
Just recently, Gartner published a Hype Cycle graphic for "supply chain execution technologies,” which primarily means those potentially impacting distribution and transportation processes.
As with all Hype Cycles, this one tracks technologies/solutions from their rise up from introduction to maximum hype, after which comes the dreaded "Trough of Disillusionment," as reality meets the hype and users are disappointed at the results.
For some ultimately beneficial technologies, progress is then made during the "Slope of Enlightenment" phase, and for some subset of those eventual widespread adoption as they reach the "Plateau of Productivity."
The 2020 SCE Hype Cycle chart is published below, and as always it is interesting and sure to stir some debate.
SCDigest will note a few points:
• A few core SCE software solutions, notably Warehouse Management (WMS) and Transportation Management (TMS) systems, are not on the chart, presumably because they are so mature that they are well established somewhere out on the Plateau of Productivity.
• SCDigest is not quite sure what "indoor location for assets" means, but it would seem to refer to so-called real-time locator systems (RTLS). While RTLS has been around for a while, adoption is still low, so it is surprising to see it placec on the verge of the Plateau of Productively.
Gartner Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies 2020
![](../images/Gartner_SCE_Hypecyle_2020.gif)
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CATEGORY SPONSOR: SOFTEON |
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• Mobile robots for distribution seem to be hot, though we've heard some comments that not all that many have really been bought or leased. Regardless has autonomous mobile robots headed towards the Trough of Disillusionment.
• Delivery drones have a way to go to reach maximum hype, followed by the inevitable fall in perception.
• Supply chain convergence, Gartner's term for many years for a suite of applications on a common platform, such as WMS, TMS, labor management, slotting optimization, etc., still has some time to go before starting up the Slope of Enlightenment. SCDigest agrees few companies have really bought into that model from the vendors that can offer it.
How to use the Hype Cycle? Gartner says "When considering new supply chain execution (SCE) initiatives and investments, users should align their risk tolerance to the positioning of various technologies in this research."
Any reaction to this technology Hype Cycle? Let us know your thoughts at the Feedback section below.
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