Supply chain continued to be a key discussion topic in February, holding the No. 6 spot for the second month in a row on Big Valley’s Top Conversations in Tech list. In fact, the topic registered only a 1% increase in coverage volume from Jan’21 (from 121,721 stories to 123,475), while year-over-year volume was up 13% (from 109,700 stories to 123,475). 

The industry continued to struggle with fluctuations in freight capacity and demand that were further exacerbated by adverse weather conditions that hit different parts of the country in February. At the same time, the ongoing congestion at major US ports continued to create supply chain delays around the world and disrupt shipments, issues that are likely to persist.  

However, the biggest discussion driver dominating coverage in February and beyond was the vulnerabilities in worldwide supply chain caused by shortages in critical goods – specifically chipsets – that have impacted manufacturing production in the US and other global markets. A number of technology companies, automotive, telco and other global manufacturers publicly announced major disruptions in their supply chains impacting future production and revenues. As such, President Biden’s executive order to conduct a comprehensive review of US supply chains garnered positive headlines for its potential to shield US supply chains of critical goods from future risk. 

Looking ahead, as companies continue to innovate and digitally transform their operations in order to overcome the unprecedented supply chain challenges and disruptions of 2020, they should continue to tell these stories and offer expert commentary on how technology and innovation can help them optimize their operations and deliver greater customer service and value.