The Quantum Advantage in Future Technologies for Supply Chain Optimization

Abstract

Globalization, fluctuating demand, and the need for real-time responses have stretched global supply chains to their limits, which the traditional systems cannot handle. Quantum computing, through superposition, entanglement, and parallelism, offers transformational solutions to route optimization, inventory balancing, demand forecasting, and risk mitigation. Advanced quantum algorithms unlock unprecedented processing of vast datasets, predictive precision, and unparalleled efficiency in decision-making. However, high costs, limited access, and integration issues hamper this adoption. This chapter, therefore, focuses on how these challenges can be overcome through collaboration among technology providers, logistics experts, and academia. It follows with a proposed roadmap for integrating quantum computing into supply chain systems, followed by practical use cases and future research directions.