In a world where disruptions have become the new normal: from global pandemics to geopolitical tensions, Africa’s supply chains are under mounting pressure. Businesses are grappling with rising costs, unpredictable delays, and the urgent need for technological transformation. Against this backdrop, on March 20, 2025, Verraki convened leading industry voices for a thought-provoking webinar themed: “Revolutionising Supply Chain in Africa: Building Resilience and Adaptability in a Disrupted World.”
The high-powered panel featured Boye Olusanya, GMD/CEO of Flour Mills of Nigeria; Deepankar Rustangi, Founder/CEO, OmniRetail Technology; Abayomi Olarinmoye, Senior Partner, Verraki; and Niyi Yusuf, Managing Partner, Verraki. Together, they unpacked the realities, opportunities, and future pathways for African supply chains. From technology adoption to stakeholder collaboration and sustainability, the conversation revealed practical, forward-thinking strategies that every business leader can act on today.
Here are the Top 10 Takeaways from the session; insights designed to help African businesses not just survive but thrive in a fast-changing world.
Supply chain frictions are real and impact businesses in multidimensional ways
Supply chain frictions manifest as disruptions that impede the smooth flow of goods and information, ultimately hindering business operations and customer satisfaction. These frictions can arise from various factors, including outdated systems, lack of visibility, poor data quality, long transit times, theft and vandalism, delays at borders due to human errors, rigid regulation, etc. Poor mode and channel of integration do limit real-time collaboration amongst stakeholders involved in supply chain management. Manual processes due to low technological adoption leads to high operating cost, poor end-to-end visibility and tracking of supply chain channels and events. Ultimately, persistent supply chain frictions negatively impact market share and profitability of African businesses.
Businesses need to embrace existing solutions to improve supply chain management
There are various solutions that organisations can implement to improve supply chain management in Africa. A good starting point is the localisation of raw materials and domestic production of major inputs. Businesses could invest in educating farmers on ways to improve yield, especially in wheat and maize; as well as explore local digital solutions that deliver operational efficiencies. Similarly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can also be adopted for demand forecasting, inventory optimisation, transportation planning, and risk management. At the macro level, investment in transportation infrastructure and collaboration of all stakeholders will improve supply chain management in Africa.
African businesses must build resilience and adaptability in their supply chain
Supply chain in Africa can be revolutionised by having an adaptable and resilient supply chain to respond quickly to disruptions. An adaptable supply chain can be achieved by implementing agile practices, leveraging real time data, promoting collaboration and communication, developing adequate workforce skills and focusing on sustainability. Similarly, businesses can achieve resilient supply chain by diversifying supply sources, investing in infrastructure, in addition to building strategic relationships with retailers, customers, and distributors. Businesses must also have a robust risk management plan, good technological integration to achieve resilience and adaptability.
Technology is a game changer for building supply chain resilience and adaptability
Technology is needed in the growth of supply chain and adapting technology to businesses enhances their chances of growth. Technology platforms can be used to enable automation, improve visibility, enhance communication, and facilitate data-driven decision-making. These help businesses to manage their inventory efficiently and spot weaknesses within the supply chain. According to Deepankar of OmniRetail Technology, there are existing solutions to help African businesses digitise and streamline traditional trade supply chain, connecting and empowering manufacturers, distributors, and retailers with digital tools.
Stakeholder collaboration is Key to strengthening Africa’s supply chain ecosystem
Stakeholder engagement in supply chain is critical to success. This can be achieved by working with private sector players such as the manufacturers, IT companies, Banks, etc., working with industry associates and chambers of commerce, working with civil society organisations, multilateral and international bodies, as well as the government and regulatory agencies. Such robust collaboration helps create effective regulatory reforms, boost existing infrastructure and localisation of raw materials not just in Nigeria but also among neighbouring countries.
Sustainability is a catalyst for long-term growth and competitiveness in supply chains
Sustainability in supply chain management involves integrating environmental, social, and economic factors into all stages of a product's journey, from sourcing raw materials to delivering the final product. Sustainability could have a multiplier effect on supply chain: it positions organisations for growth, it gives prestige to the brand, it also makes the business stay in the market for a long time. An increasing number of customers and partners are looking for businesses that adopt sustainable practices in their supply chain management.
Localisation is Essential to Building Efficient and Resilient African Supply Chains
Localisation is a key enabler in transforming Africa’s supply chain landscape, particularly through enhanced digital integration, local raw material sourcing, and domestic production of goods and services. Despite its potential, inadequate localisation remains a persistent challenge, often driven by cultural and institutional gaps such as limited accountability, weak performance standards, and low prioritisation of innovation and operational efficiency. Embracing localisation can yield significant benefits, including reduced costs, stronger economic growth, and more responsive and resilient supply chains.
Incentive alignment is imperative for efficient and sustainable supply chains in Africa
Incentive alignment plays a huge role in improving supply chain in Africa as it creates an environment for goals to be achieved faster. In the webinar, one of the alignments highlighted was behavioural alignments for improved supply chain performance in Africa, which requires competency and thorough training in supply chain management tools. Another major alignment needed is cost- incentive alignment. When major stakeholders and businesses are aligned on cost dynamics, then inputs can be produced or sourced in most efficient ways. Also, supply chain visibility and breaking down processes help businesses and stakeholders know where most of the cost inefficiencies are.
What must businesses consider when choosing a supply chain management tool?
There are several factors (functional and/or non-functional) to consider when choosing a SCM tool. Functional considerations include seamless blending with core IT infrastructure, automation and advanced analytics tools when helps to generate real-time, operational and inventory data for visibility and planning. Cloud-native mobility, inventory and warehouse management and supply chain visibility are also key functional considerations when choosing a SCM tool. Some non-functional considerations include industry reputation of product and client feedback, credibility and reputation of the software owner, the level of customer support offered by the software owner, ongoing enhancements and upgrade of the SCM tool and seamless integration with existing systems.
Data-driven decision-making is vital for proactive supply chain management
In today’s dynamic environment, African businesses must harness data and analytics to gain visibility, anticipate disruptions, and make informed, timely decisions. From demand forecasting to inventory optimisation, data empowers supply chain managers to respond proactively rather than reactively. Embracing data-driven tools improves efficiency, reduces operational costs, and enhances agility. It is a crucial step toward building smarter, more resilient supply chains that can adapt to both local challenges and global disruptions.
The key message from this rich conversation is clear: Africa’s supply chains are at a pivotal moment. Businesses that embrace localisation, invest in technology, foster stakeholder collaboration, and adopt data-driven decision-making will be the ones to lead the continent into a future of resilience and adaptability. The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities for innovation and growth.
At Verraki, we believe that these conversations are not just necessary; they are urgent. By working together across industries, geographies, and technologies, African businesses can turn today’s disruptions into tomorrow’s competitive advantage.
Want to dive deeper into these insights?
Watch the full recap of “Revolutionizing Supply Chain in Africa on our YouTube channel