Past, present and future perspectives of supply chains

Global supply chains have undergone substantial changes over the history. Different ways of exchanging materials, information and money shaped the nature of supply chains, with profound implications on the people involved. The innovations that radically changed the nature of supply chains range from new transportation means like ocean vessels to containerisation and computerisation. In parallel with these technological innovation, societal changes and macro-economic transformations also had profound implications on the nature of supply chains. This chapter will provide an overview of the history of supply chains, from ancient times to modern times, and will discuss some trends that will determine the nature of supply chains of the future.