The Supply Chain Is Still Broken. Now What?

Most people think the supply chain issues ended in 2021. Think again.
See, if you are running a business today, you know the problems have not gone away.
Delays still happen. Costs still jump. Some routes still feel uncertain.
And every time you think things are back to normal, something changes again.

At Ergode, we realised early that building a strong supply chain is not about controlling everything.
It is about being ready when things do not go as planned.

Prepare for What Might Happen

We do not assume that what worked last month will work again this month.
Shipping routes change. Raw material prices swing. A small local issue can affect deliveries worldwide.

So we always have backup plans.
Sometimes more than one.

Can we shift from sea to air if timelines shrink?
Do we have another packaging supplier?
Are we ready to reroute products to a different warehouse if needed?

This is not being negative. It is being responsible.

Spread the Risk

We do not depend on one vendor or one country.
We work with multiple suppliers wherever possible.
Even if it costs a little more, the peace of mind is worth it.

We once worked with a brand that relied fully on a single overseas factory.
When that country changed its export rules, they were stuck.
No product. No sales. For SIX WEEKS!

That experience shaped how we approach sourcing now.
We always ask what could break. Then we fix it early.

Make Faster Decisions

Another lesson we learned is that speed is not just about delivery.
It is also about how quickly you decide.

When a supplier becomes slow or inconsistent, you cannot wait for weeks of reports.
You need to trust your gut and act quickly.
Sometimes you will be wrong. But fixing a small mistake is better than waiting and watching things fall apart.

Do Not Wait for Things to Settle

If you are waiting for stability, you may be waiting a long time.
The world is moving fast. Rules change. Costs shift. Nothing stays the same for long.

That is why we stopped chasing perfect control.
Instead, we built a system that can move and adapt.
We designed it to flex when needed.

Because in this space, the winners are not the ones with the safest plans.
They are the ones who stay ready to change without losing momentum.

Regards,
Rupesh S.