Agility wins where resilience stops
How operational agility beats big budgets
Supply chain conversations often focus on resilience—understandably so.
However, in modern supply chain operations, resilience may keep you standing during a crisis, but agility is what enables you to move forward.
Global shocks, pandemics, and climate change have tested logistics systems everywhere.
But survival isn’t enough. What sets successful logistics and supply chain operations apart is agility. The ability to respond quickly, act locally, and adapt precisely.
This week’s newsletter highlights stories from DHL, Mondelez, and In-N-Out. And how they tackled disruptions with swift decisions and small, smart changes.
Their stories offer practical lessons for African supply chain professionals managing tight budgets and thin margins.
When size won’t save you, agility will.
DHL’s Robotics Rollout: Smarter Bots, Stronger Teams
In 2017, DHL began navigating a booming e-commerce landscape constrained by labor shortages by deploying over 2,000 autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in U.S. and European warehouses.
The result was a 100%+ increase in picking productivity and over 500 million robot-assisted picks by 2024.
However, the win wasn’t due to the robot count or its adaptation. It was how DHL used them:
Automated high-motion, low-skill tasks like walking and sorting
Used Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) to scale without heavy investment
Designed workflows where robots supported—not replaced—people
Lesson:
Don’t aim for full automation. Aim for impact.
One or two leased robots in a high-volume zone can transform an African warehouse more than a million-dollar overhaul.
Read the full article here: How DHL’s Warehouse Robotics Transformed Its Warehousing and Fulfilment.
Mondelez and the 2018 Trucking Crunch: Move Smarter, Not Harder
In 2018, new U.S. trucking rules created an overnight driver shortage, which spiked freight rates and stalled deliveries. It became so severe that factories were shutting down due to a lack of raw materials, and stores were running out of stock.
Snack giant Mondelez managed to overcome this HUGE hurdle. But unlike other affected companies and supply chains, it did not do so by spending more.
The company simply moved smarter:
Shifted loads to rail and intermodal
Avoided peak shipping days and filled every trailer
Shared trucks with other manufacturers to cut empty space
Lesson:
Efficiency beats expansion.
When routes get tight, reroute.
African logistics operations can adapt by forming freight alliances, using overlooked transport modes, and optimizing timing, not just volume.
Read the full article here: Learning From the Mondelez Trucking Crisis of 2018.
In-N-Out’s Onion Crisis: Local Action, Fast Fixes
In 2021, drought crushed California’s onion supply. For In-N-Out—known for fresh ingredients and daily deliveries, the poor harvest, which was a direct result of the drought, threatened both its menu integrity and reputation.
The company responded fast:
Rationed onions by customer request
Sourced from Arizona and New Mexico
Repurposed onion-ring stock for burgers
Lesson:
Agility starts on the ground.
Central plans help, but local action keeps shelves stocked.
African businesses must empower their local teams to tweak product offerings quickly
shift sourcing, and reroute shipments.
Read the full article here: How In-N-Out Navigated The Onion Shortage of 2021.
Precision Over Power
For each story, success came not from big budgets but from smart timing, tactical execution, and trusting local teams.
DHL automated the right task. Mondelez optimized freight. In-N-Out sourced fast and acted faster. For African supply chain leaders, the takeaway is clear: Agility is your edge.
Begin with one fast and focused move. You don’t need to go big. You need to go smart.
You can explore supplychainnuggets.com for more inspiring logistics and supply chain stories.
See you again next week.
Obi