Back when COVID-19 had taken the world by storm, I dubbed the year 2020 as the Year of Upended Supply Chains. Then, I dubbed 2021 as the Year of Mended Supply Chains. Although supply chains started to heal, the damage was done, marking 2022 as the State of Grim Supply Chains.
2023 became the Year of Bottlenecks, leaving 2024 to be the Year of the Rabbit, which according to Chinese culture, is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity.
This leaves 2025 with being the Year of the Snake.
Yes, I know snakes are slimy, sneaky, slithery and sometimes poisonous. But according to Chinese culture, the snake is said to be the luckiest of the Chinese zodiac signs.
It resembles success and financial luck, both terms the supply chain industry is holding out hopes for after a year of economical uncertainty, geopolitical strife and supply chain disruptions beyond repair.
What's more, the Lunar New Year 2025 brings with the arrival of the Wood Snake, a combination that occurs once every 60 years. This unique pairing of the snake, known for its wisdom and transformative energy, with the wood element, symbolizes growth, stability, and creativity.
Animals and Zodiac signs aside, success and financial luck are really in the eye of the beholder. Some industry experts blame inflation and the rise in tariffs as a means to the end, while others continue to optimize their supply chains, implement new technologies and strive to be more sustainably sound.
Some industry experts say dockworker strikes and the Teamster Union strikes will launch an array of attacks against the labor market, while others say stricter regulations pertaining to environmental, social, governance (ESG), worker safety and more will significantly improve output and better safeguard global supply chains.
However the Year of the Snake slithers, the hopes for success and financial luck should not be lost on you.
Every year will be laden with supply chain disruptions. Every year will experience an up-and-down supply/demand effect. And, every year will be filled with some form of strife, whether it be domestically or globally. But these same years will also be occupied with growth, innovation, enhanced regulation, improved efficiencies, a smarter workforce, a better product, a safer way of doing business. That's the key to success.
