The supply chain is a complex network of interconnected products, materials and activities spanning several organizations, systems and geographical areas. A considerable amount of data must be disseminated for the supply chain to function effectively.
In Canada, the supply chain is currently in crisis. Many experts agree that supply chain shortages could last for at least another two years, if not longer. In response to this crisis, the National Supply Chain Task Force is proposing several government recommendations. One of these is to improve data visibility through digitization.
“Canada is lagging behind in using technology to improve and modernize its transportation and supply chain processes. A focus on digitization is urgently needed to compete internationally and become a global leader.” – National Supply Chain Task Force 2022 Final Report
Data visibility therefore plays a crucial role.
Indeed, it is in implementing this recommendation that the government has introduced various forms of financial assistance. For example, small and medium-sized businesses can now access the ESSOR and CDAP programs. This financial assistance democratizes access to technologies such as ERP software.
In this article, we’ll explore why data visibility is so important in supply chain planning, and how Bluebee ERP software can help organizations achieve this goal.
Forecasting plays a key role in supply chain planning. Better data visibility improves forecast accuracy, leading to better production planning. With greater visibility across the entire supply chain, companies can identify bottlenecks and potential delays. They can adjust production plans accordingly, and ensure that the right materials are available at the right time. This contributes to customer satisfaction by guaranteeing product availability.
Real-time tracking of shipments and inventory levels is essential for effective supply chain planning. Data visibility enables companies to track shipments and manage inventory in real time, making it easier to optimize the flow of goods through the chain.
By minimizing out-of-stocks and reducing safety stocks, companies can optimize their operating costs. What’s more, real-time information helps minimize excess inventory, which in turn contributes to overall profitability.
Data visibility promotes collaboration between different supply chain organizations. With access to real-time data, companies can work together to identify and resolve potential problems before they become major ones. Improved communication and collaboration are essential for effective supply chain planning, helping to optimize processes and reduce costs.
Increased data visibility enables organizations to identify supply chain inefficiencies. By analyzing data, companies can cut costs by optimizing transport routes, reducing lead times and consolidating shipments. The result is a more profitable supply chain. What’s more, data visibility helps improve customer service by enabling rapid identification and proactive resolution of problems such as shipping delays or stock-outs. This ensures customer satisfaction and strengthens the company’s reputation.
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software such as Bluebee offers a number of features that contribute to greater visibility of data in the supply chain. Here’s how ERP software can facilitate this visibility:
Data centralization: ERP software centralizes all relevant supply chain data, including information on inventories, orders, suppliers, delivery times, demand forecasts, and so on. This provides a single source of reliable, up-to-date data, accessible to all players in the chain.
Process integration: ERP integrates and synchronizes the various stages of the supply chain, from initial order to final delivery. This enables real-time tracking of goods movements and automatic updating of relevant information. As a result, all stakeholders have a clear and consistent view of the status of the supply chain.
Inventory and shipment tracking: ERP offers real-time inventory tracking capabilities, enabling precise knowledge of available stock levels at all times. In addition, it tracks shipments from the supplier to the end customer, providing regular updates on the status of deliveries. This helps to avoid stock-outs and effectively plan production and distribution activities.
Demand forecasting: ERP software often integrates advanced demand forecasting functionalities. By analyzing historical data, market trends and other variables, demand forecasts can then be created in the system. These forecasts will be used by the system to plan procurement, production and distribution activities more efficiently.
Reporting, analysis and business intelligence: ERP generates detailed reports and analyses on various aspects of the supply chain. This makes it possible to visualize performance, identify potential problems and make informed decisions. The dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs) provided by ERP offer an overview of the supply chain, enabling managers to monitor important indicators in real time. Thanks to integrated business intelligence, companies can extract valuable information from the data collected by ERP, enabling them to discover trends, identify opportunities and continuously improve their supply chain processes.
By investing in an ERP solution like Bluebee, organizations can benefit from increased data visibility, giving them a significant competitive edge in today’s business environment. With Bluebee, you can transform your supply chain into an engine of efficiency and success.
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