Tech-Aided Fashion Supply Chain: A Need Or Necessity?

The fashion industry had hit a halt during the pandemic. There was a realization of incompatibility within the supply chain and huge losses were incurred. The UK retailers had sustained a loss of $2.66 billion each week during Christmas. Although the hassles of the traditional supply chain have been adhered to for over decades. The pandemic was a real-time deal for retailers and brands.

Learn The Potential With Tech

Do you remember how a huge container had recently blocked the Suez Canal and brought a standstill in trade?  Well, the revenue hit was marking up to a loss of $14 to $15 million each day. Yet, there was no one to blame for. Around 12% of the worldwide trade was affected. So what we can infer from this incident is the loopholes in one of the major trade channels of the world. Around 8% of natural gas and barrels of oil are recorded to pass through the Suez Canal every day. Yet, there was a setback.

Similarly, it’s high time we address the limitations of the traditional fashion supply chain and move towards digitalization. When we say digitalization, we do not mean eCommerce alone. eCommerce is a part of digitalization which many brands have adapted over time. However, the need of the hour is to adopt a technology-aided mechanism that adds value to our existing supply chain. But, how do we do that? That’s the actual hurdle most brands and retailers are met with.

Save Time, Money, & Resources With Value Chain

Harindar Keer tells us to focus more on the value chain of fashion industry rather than the supply chain of fashion industry. His fashion-tech company, FlixStock, is bringing in solutions to contribute to the value chain and enhance the supply chain experience for other businesses. While many fashion businesses are trying to make the change, there are many still unaware of their potential. They still need to recognize the gaps in their working process. With eCommerce emerging, brands have understood the potential of selling online. About 69% of the consumers in the USA have switched to online shopping. Thus they’ve considered making user experiences more convenient and have opted for M-commerce design solutions as well.x

However, what this doesn’t cover is the aspect of working within. From sourcing raw material to get a product to the consumer, there’s a lot more involved than seen. This is where we must let technology play its part. Tech-driven solutions are not only efficient but also cost-effective. They let you skip the trivial processes and help you build a sustainable supply chain. To get a better understanding of how technology helps build a value chain, we need to dig deeper into some of the recurrent obstacles and their technological counterparts.  

AI-Product Imagery & Cataloging

Producing images for your online portals is an essential step you can’t skip. It helps you increase your conversion rates and enables your audience to connect with the product more easily. This is because a majority of people voted for the lack of physical visibility of products as a drawback of online shopping. Thus, the better the product imagery, the better you connect with your target audience. However, preparations for a photoshoot each time you want to launch a collection online can wear you down. From selecting models to booking makeup artists, there’s a lot involved in the process. Be it studio rentals or post-production, a photoshoot can make you expend over budget.

This is where AI-generated imagery can be very helpful. The process uses Artificial Intelligence to conduct photo shoots and helps you convert tech packs into on-model imagery. This simple process requires minimal inputs such as tech packs or even garment sketches. Using AI technology, you can generate 3D garments and put them on mannequins or models as per your requirements. Further, you can use those images on your eCommerce platforms as well as social media platforms for marketing. This was a general overview of AI product imagery. Now let’s talk about other benefits that come along using AI product imagery.

AI imagery gives you the advantage of choosing unique faces for your brand. It includes models of different ethnicities, sizes, and body types. This feature enables you to market your product to a wider audience. With a single tech pack or AI-generated imagery, you can put virtual clothing on models of different age groups and sizes. Many brands use this technology to draw in more customers to their products. Brands have also opted for Spin Photography to make their catalog images more interactive. Spin photography refers to the style of imagery that produces an illusion of a rotating object. You can use this technology to eliminate the gap of physical touch and ensure your consumer can view the product from all possible dimensions.

The Concept Of Virtual Sampling

Sampling is an eminent aspect of product manufacturing. However, the challenges of getting to that one right sample are not unknown. There’s so much time and effort involved in the process. Sample over samples are manufactured again and again over minute details. This not only delays the production but also ends up amounting to the waste produced. Thus, the value chain providers need to intervene in the supply chain to make it more sustainable and eco-friendly.

One such technology that has recently been embraced by top retailers across the globe is virtual or 3D sampling. This process has changed the whole idea of sampling. It really feels light on your pocket and makes the process a lot faster than the conventional one. It enables you to make multiple changes and quick follow-ups. Thus, leading to fast-paced results. You can use a suitable virtual sampling software and skip the need of going through several sampling stages.

All you need is a tech pack or a sketch that can be converted into a 3D sample using Ai technology. It prohibits the need to manufacture a physical sample before production. It is one of the leading value chain solutions and helps you cap your overall costs.

Personalize User Experience

Personalizing your brand experience makes your consumer aware of the fact that you are concerned about their choices. In the retail industry, one needs to keep their consumer’s needs above everything if they wish to sell the products they manufacture. This is the very reason why trend reports are researched and worked around the year by brands. It is very important to understand the requirements of your audience to satisfy them. Here is when personalization has helped businesses procure their value among their consumers. Selling them the right thing at the right time can be a game-changer for you.

The Bigger Picture

We’ve talked about the limitations of the current fashion supply chain and also discussed the tech-aided solutions that can help you fill the gaps. However, the question that still remains unanswered is how do we adapt? Or are we ready to adopt yet? Yes, the loss and damage that the retail industry has gone through over the last year should be enough to suffice your answer. We shouldn’t wait for another wake-up call. It’s time we adapt to technology for the betterment of our supply chain. To provide the consumers with the value they seek, we must take on ourselves to switch to digitalization. It will help us become more efficient and cut our overall expenditures too.

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