One challenge with having an annual event is the need to keep the content
fresh. There is always the danger of repeating yourself. The themes of the
last few years—headwinds, uncertainty, turmoil—all begin to blur
together.
Taking a bird’s-eye view, however, it’s easier to spot an overarching shift
that has occurred as the world has become more globalized, more
interdependent. There will always be obstacles in the way of doing business. We are simply too connected for it to be otherwise.
This year’s Fall Summit, the “Super Bowl of Sourcing,” taking place on
Sept. 25 in New York City, distills this idea in its title: “Countering Chaos.”
It does little good to bemoan the state of affairs, or to try and wishful think
ourselves back to some misremembered, halcyon “good ole’ days.” An
environment that often has us feeling as if the ground is shifting below our
feet is here to stay. So, we will do what we have always done: adapt.
Geopolitics and trade will be top of mind at the event this year, as it’s simply
not possible to separate policy from practice when it comes to running your
enterprise. We’ll explore how to stay nimble and protect margins—even as
formerly stable metrics—like the cost of goods sold—become harder to
predict.
We will look at the effect this uncertainty has had on sustainability
initiatives and the potentially perilous times ahead for workers in many
garment-producing nations.
Artificial intelligence is another hot-button issue we will address, from use
cases to justifying the capital expenditures when the ROI might be further down the road than one might hope.
I often describe our events at SJ as educational, and there is a reason
for this. With so many complex issues facing our industry, it is hardly
possible to fully understand the nuances of them all. That’s why getting
together and sharing our expertise is invaluable. I am constantly queried by
colleagues and fellow industry professionals as to what policy changes mean
to them, how tech will reshape the future and what strategies are most
applicable. Let’s all take a day to sit in a room together, find out the
answers, do some networking and chart the course ahead.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Peter Sadera
Editor in Chief
Sourcing Journal
