The Art of Controlled Velocity: Zara’s Supply Chain Symphony

Focussing on customer needs
rather than
(internal) stakeholders.

The Paradox of Innovation:
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲

We all know that when it comes to innovation,
speed is key, right?
Actually, sometimes going slow
can be just as effective – if not more so!

Take the example of Zara, a popular clothing retailer.
They’ve found a way to bring new products to market in just a few weeks,
thanks to a unique supply chain strategy.
They hold onto materials in their raw, undyed form and
regularly get feedback from customers about what they want.
That way, they can quickly react to changing demand patterns and
create new products that people will love.

But here’s the catch:
Zara doesn’t try to do everything all at once.
They don’t source all their materials from faraway countries with low costs.
Instead, they focus on finding suppliers closer to their stores,
so they can respond to changes in demand even more quickly.

The lesson here is that no matter where you are in the supply chain,
you need to be in tune with what your customers want.
And that means creating a feedback loop between the end customer and
everyone else involved in the process.

When you’re all working together towards a common goal,
you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve – even if it means
taking things a little slower.