Creating Your Digital Supply Chain on Cloud

In a rapidly digitising marketplace, businesses must stay agile to maintain their competitive edge. The pervasive qualities offered by Cloud computing are improving management, performance and eco-sustainability at every level whilst reducing operational cost.

Meanwhile, new and improved Cloud services flow from intensive supplier development that is enabling businesses to derive new value every day.

Adapting to Change

Cloud technologies are changing the way that computing power is sourced, located and managed.

This is forcing businesses to reconsider the value of ownership in relation to their individual, core strengths. And businesses are now able to prioritise higher supplier quality, forecasting accuracy and inventory optimisation. All while shortening the overall manufacturing cycle.

Our familiarity with smart devices has influenced our approach to information management. We expect our interaction with these devices to be intuitive, immediate and, increasingly, automated.

Cloud deployment is enabling supplier networks that would not have been possible just a few years ago. It would have been unlikely for a small business to consider multiple international suppliers, or for larger enterprises to work with many individual businesses.

In fact, Supply Chain Digest’s Benchmark Study found that 35.8% of respondents saw Cloud as the future direction for all supply chain software. So, let’s have a look at some of the most influential drivers bringing supply chains to Cloud.

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Massive investment in SCM applications on Cloud continue to drive innovation.

With this investment comes new features, greater control, less risk and improved productivity. The effective management of supply chain processes provides an excellent opportunity for organisational learning. One where more geographical expansive Supply Chains appear benefit from increased productivity and innovation.

Warehouse Control

Orchestrate activity flow and remain in control.

IIoT uses Cloud data to inform Warehouse Control and Execution Systems (WCS/WES). These real time, pinpoint accurate tracking systems provide the necessary transparency to meet sky-rocketing market demand. Download our Industrial IoT whitepaper to learn more.

Closing the Skill Gap

IT teams have to remain vigilant to stay ahead of developing technologies.

As Industry 4.0 rapidly develops new manufacturing processes, some companies are finding that they are in need of colleague support when deploying new technologies. Why not allow the expert teams that provide Cloud services to shoulder some of the burden? By doing so, you’ll be able to focus your expertise on achieving your goals. For more on this topic, visit our recent blog.

Global Agility

Further innovation through global collaboration.

Cloud based applications can process data input automatically and make the results instantly, globally available. Automating industry and government compliance is also supported by Cloud’s ability to provide a common data collection process in real-time from any location.

Connect global teams including multiple suppliers in a controlled, secure manner. Break down digital barriers to collaboration, communication and order fulfilment by providing an open integration environment.

Cloud offers improved Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity and also allows for the rapid deployment of a common, preconfigured interface for communication and collaboration.

Single Source of Truth

Cloud inventory systems work to prevent delays due to miscommunication.

Ensure that efficiencies and cost savings are maintained at a single reference point. Create clarity around opportunities to innovate by connecting demand-forecasting and supplier quality management systems. Apply business analytics and take advantage of advanced PLM functionality that can track product progress through the design and development process.

Demand visibility of your business to a level of detail that you could not have even imagined a few years ago.

Final thoughts

Making the complex, clear and simple.

Cloud computing enables supply chain executives to re-invent their operation in a way that just was not possible with networked, on premise computing. It has the potential to make the management of your supply chain a significant competitive advantage in your market.

Supply chain operations have a history of success when it comes to taking on new technology.

Cloud looks set to be the clear continuation of that trend.