A recent ransomware attack targeting Blue Yonder, a significant provider of supply chain management software, has caused major disruptions for international retailers, including Starbucks and the British grocery chain, Morrisons. This incident has severely affected payroll and scheduling services, leading to a temporary return to manual processes for managing employee schedules.
Blue Yonder, headquartered in Arizona, offers software solutions for over 3,000 clients, assisting in various operational aspects from fulfillment to payroll management. The company issued a statement confirming that they had encountered service disruptions due to a ransomware incident which necessitated the involvement of external cybersecurity firms. They are still working diligently to restore their systems but have not provided a specific timeline for recovery.
According to reports, around 11,000 Starbucks locations in North America are dealing with the aftereffects of the attack. A spokesperson for Starbucks confirmed that despite the system outage, all employees would be compensated for their hours worked, and customer service remained unaffected. The company reverted to traditional scheduling methods, requiring staff to use pen and paper.
Morrisons also fell victim to the cyberattack, which disrupted their warehouse management for fresh produce. This incident has highlighted the vulnerabilities in supply chain operations, affecting not just Starbucks and Morrisons, but potentially other large retailers using Blue Yonder's software, including Sainsbury's in the UK.
As the investigation proceeds, Blue Yonder continues to communicate developments, but clients are left navigating the uncertainties brought on by the cyberattack.
