Update: Jul 15, 2024
Supply Chain Visibility remains a crucial focus for global businesses, reflecting efforts to ensure transparency and ethical compliance throughout their supply chains. Key developments in this area include:
Increased Ethical Compliance in China:
The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive adoption in May 2024 has elevated compliance standards.
A significant improvement in factory ethical compliance in China, with 59% of factories audited in H1 2024 receiving a “green” ranking, a five-year high.
Despite progress, persistent issues such as child labor and worker safety violations remain, with 6% of ethical audits identifying critical violations related to child and young labor, and 15% revealing critical Health & Safety violations (H1 2024).
Rising Demand for Ethical Audits:
A notable increase in demand for ethical audits, especially among Chinese businesses (+62% in H1 2024), indicating a heightened focus on transparency and ethical practices.
Ongoing ESG Challenges:
Global supply chains continue to face significant ESG challenges, necessitating continued vigilance and corrective actions to address issues like worker safety and child labor.
Critical violations from audits by category
Read the full report: Q3 2024 Barometer
Stay up to date with all the latest supply chain trends with our Supply Chain Insights.
At QIMA, we closely monitor supply chain visibility trends with our regular surveys of over 800 businesses worldwide and a robust data pool from audits and inspections of over 30,000 clients. Our longstanding industry presence in over 100 countries has honed our understanding of the global supply chain landscape, enabling us to deliver precise insights rooted in real-world dynamics.
Supply chain visibility is low across the board, with a mere 16% of global businesses fully aware of all their suppliers.
QIMA data indicates that only 52% of global businesses can name more than half of their sourcing network.
This lack of visibility is one reason behind a recent rise in the frequency of ethical violations, as observed by QIMA auditors in Southeast Asian factories.
Businesses that prioritize transparency mitigate risks, achieve ESG goals, strengthen trust, and gain a competitive edge by setting higher standards for oversight than their peers.
Supply chain visibility reported by businesses – by HQ location
Read the full report: Q2 2024 Barometer
In 2023, more than ever before, companies are naming supply chain visibility as a top reason to invest in digitization.
45% of respondents report implementing technological tools designed to improve supply chain visibility.
Traceability solutions are among the top three most popular supply chain technologies.
Cloud-based software is the most popular technology companies are implementing, with over half of respondents noting they have already implemented or are planning to implement the tool.
Survey of over 250 businesses: “Which of the following technologies has your company already implemented / is planning to implement in your supply chain?”
Read the full report: Q3 2023 Barometer
QIMA's supply chain visibility services help you to gain control and assurance over your supply chain. Through supply chain mapping and comprehensive self-assessment questionnaires (SAQs), we enable you to collect vital data across all tiers of your supply network. This proactive approach allows for tailored mitigation plans to address potential vulnerabilities, ensuring transparency, traceability, and progress toward ESG goals.
Contact us today to find out how our solutions can elevate your supply chain visibility.
Or, read our whitepaper to learn about what’s involved in mandatory due diligence, and how to achieve visibility for success: Mandatory Human Rights & Environmental Due Diligence: How to Get Prepared
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