Navigate challenges and opportunities with a proactive business intelligence strategy and commitment to a sustainable future.
In the fast-paced world of business, disruption is inevitable. The past few years have presented unprecedented challenges, from geopolitical conflicts to economic pressures, and even unexpected weather and health events that disrupted supply chains and logistics globally.
At Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, we faced these disruptions head on. We leveraged a business intelligence strategy to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and resilience while keeping our commitment to a sustainable future.
Embracing the VUCA world
The Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA) world became our reality. But instead of succumbing to the chaos, we asked ourselves a crucial question: How can we turn this disruption into an opportunity? The journey has been tough, with issues ranging from logistics nightmares to supply shortages of critical components. However, our focus has been clear: building a more sustainable and resilient future.
As a global enterprise operating in over 50 countries, with a network of over 3000 partners and over a million customers, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise has had to navigate many of the known challenges of the past three years. The manufacturing cycle, usually four to six months, extended to 18 to 24 months, creating a significant challenge in synchronising with the sales cycle.
One remarkable achievement stands out: not cancelling a single customer order, even during the pandemic's peak disruptions. How did we manage this feat?
Proactive measures
Proactivity was our first line of defence. In 2020, as disruptions appeared, we initiated a proactive approach by working closely with our suppliers to secure long-lead components and creating buffer stocks. The formation of a cross-functional Tiger Team spanning competence sourcing, partners and customers ensured a coordinated response to the shortage reality.
Predictability became of paramount importance in a world characterised by unpredictability. With a manufacturing cycle longer than the sales cycle, we invested in automation, ensuring a more efficient use of our time. The demand and supply syncing process underwent a complete revamp, with a four-stage monthly cycle involving reassessing demand, checking supply, addressing anomalies and making swift executive decisions.
Rasheed Mohamad's sustainability keynote
Leveraging business intelligence and embracing ESG
In managing component shortages, we tapped into our treasure trove of data. Business intelligence became a powerful tool, helping us navigate through uncertainties. Our data-driven approach allowed us to look at alternative solutions, qualify multiple components and work closely with sales and partners to prioritise orders based on customer needs.
In the midst of disruptions, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise also recognised the growing importance of having an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework. Our sustainability efforts entered centre stage. Engaging our most talented employees, we undertook a comprehensive double materiality assessment and began the transformation of our existing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme into a more defined ESG strategy.
Towards a sustainable future
As we move forwards, the mission is clear: ensure sustainability and leadership continue to operate hand in hand. Speed, agility, customer-centricity and reliability are not just our ALE business values; they are the pillars that will help us build a resilient and sustainable future. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is committed to contributing to a greener planet through its ESG initiatives and a continual focus on process transformation and adaptability.
The last three years have been a testament to the resilience and adaptability required in today's business landscape. At Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, we have learned that embracing disruption as an opportunity requires a proactive mindset, a data-driven approach and a commitment to sustainability. As we navigate the unpredictable, our journey towards a more sustainable future is guided by a dedication to leadership, innovation and making a positive impact on the world.
Read part two of the blog series Understanding the VUCA world
Rasheed Mohamad
EVP, Global Operations, Business Technology and QualityRasheed is an expert international executive with global leadership experience in business transformation at both strategic and operational levels. He currently leads the Global Operations, Business Technology and Quality teams at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise. Rasheed’s success in transforming operations by delivering the highest level of efficiency and excellent customer satisfaction has been recognised by international awards. A clear vision and a results-oriented approach drive Rasheed as he implements key cross-functional initiatives within the company.
As sponsor of the ALE #GoGreen programme, Rasheed is committed to finding new technologies that contribute to protecting our natural capital, building sustainable cities, and limiting global climate change. Rasheed has more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and held various management roles in project management, process and budget management, R&D, supply chain, IT/IS and business operations.
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