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Leading the way with innovative technologies beats competition sitting on the sidelines waiting to change. There’s no better time than the present to invest in your organization’s future.
Why reacting to costs is already too late.
In challenging economic times, businesses inevitably scrutinize costs. But by the time you’re reviewing expenses, your competitors have already taken action. The companies that consistently win don’t just cut costs in response to market conditions—they continuously innovate to manage them proactively.
As Marshall Goldsmith famously said, “What got you here won’t get you there.” Keeping to the status quo and expecting radically different results is not a strategy for success. A healthy dissatisfaction with the present is essential for maintaining a competitive edge.
The innovation gap: how your competitors are evolving.
Gone are the days when demand planning relied solely on historical data in spreadsheets or when SharePoint was the primary tool for scheduling logistics. Leading companies have abandoned outdated methods like tracking yard movements in Excel or relying on QuickBooks for accounting. Instead, they are embracing innovation—especially in volatile commodity markets.
Consider the volatility of the past five years:
- Crude oil futures surged 60% from their 2020 COVID low, only to drop 30% from their 2022 peak.
- Corn and soybean futures have fluctuated 20-30%, with current prices hovering near 2020 lows.
These fluctuations affect everything—from fuel prices at the pump to shipping costs for Amazon and major retailers. Even consumer-packaged goods feel the impact, whether due to rising raw material costs or transportation expenses. Meanwhile, the aging truck driver workforce and declining farm revenues create additional economic pressure. While lower commodity prices might benefit manufacturers, they spell trouble for American farmers, limiting their ability to invest in new equipment, sustainable practices, and local economies.
The real cost of inaction.
While market volatility is inevitable, it isn’t the root cause of cost mismanagement. The real issue? A lack of innovation.
When inefficiencies become glaringly obvious, it’s already too late. Your team is left scrambling to react rather than proactively positioning the organization for success. True leadership fosters an owner’s mindset at every level—where employees not only understand company strategy but actively contribute ideas for process improvements, new technologies, and smarter workflows.
Too often, I’ve seen organizations settle for maintaining the status quo, sidestepping the responsibility of continuous innovation. But stagnation is a choice—and in today’s market, it’s a losing one.
Innovation isn’t just technology — it’s a mindset.
Innovation takes many forms: refining business processes, improving organizational communication, and implementing new technologies. But none of these efforts succeed in isolation.
According to Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Behaviors of Highly Effective Teams, the highest-performing teams excel in trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, and results. Successful organizations don’t ignore opportunities—they leverage every tool at their disposal.
Think about it: Do you believe the Kansas City Chiefs won three Super Bowls in five years by leaving key players on the sidelines? Of course not. Businesses should apply the same philosophy—maximizing every resource to drive proactive change.
Game-Changing technologies in 2025.
Technology has evolved significantly, offering solutions that help organizations shift from reactive to proactive. SAP, one of the leaders, has developed and enhanced cutting-edge solutions to catalyze growth and innovation in the ERP space – some examples include:
Business Network for Logistics: Seamlessly connects you with carriers, optimizing distribution processes.
Transportation Management (TM): Enables real-time tracking of freight orders, streamlining supply chain operations.
SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP): Transforms demand and production planning with modern, data-driven strategies.
Success Factors (HCM): Helps recruit, retain, and develop top talent, ensuring your most valuable resource—people—remains a competitive advantage.
When paired with strong change in leadership, these solutions can revolutionize business operations. Instead of compiling endless wish lists of “nice-to-haves,” industry leaders are actively shaping the future.
Lead the way, don’t play catch-up.
At Westernacher, we’re not just solution providers—we’re business experts committed to solving real-world challenges. If you’re ready to break free from outdated processes and embrace the future of innovation, let’s talk. The companies that thrive tomorrow are the ones that take action today.
