How to Maximize Efficiency with Supply Chain Planning Systems?

Rishika Patel | April 26, 2023 | 452 views | Read Time : 05:06 min

how-to-maximize-efficiency-with-supply-chain
Automated supply chain planning maximizes efficiency and helps achieve long-term success by addressing challenges, highlighting the benefits, and offering insights to optimize business performance.

Contents
1 Supply Chain Planning System Efficiency Maximization
2 Key Steps of Supply Chain Planning to Boost Efficiency
3 Overcoming Major Challenges in the Process to Maximize Efficiency 4 Conclusion


1 Supply Chain Planning System Efficiency Maximization

To compete and succeed in an ongoing complex and dynamic global market, companies must maximize the efficiency of their supply chain planning systems, which help manage the flow of goods and services from suppliers to customers, optimize resources and information to meet customer demands and minimize costs and risks. An adequate supply chain planning system can increase customer satisfaction, profitability, agility, and risk management. Moreover, by reducing costs, increasing productivity, and enhancing responsiveness to market demands, maximizing efficiency can help businesses remain competitive. As a result, businesses can gain a substantial competitive edge and position the organization for long-term success by optimizing their supply chain planning systems.


2 Key Steps of Supply Chain Planning to Boost Efficiency

Businesses can significantly boost efficiency in their supply chain planning by implementing advanced analytics tools, streamlining communication and collaboration, automating processes, and ensuring consistency in performance improvement.


2.1 Implement Advanced Analytics Tools

Implementing advanced analytics in supply chain planning is key to improve supply chain efficiency. Advanced analytics tools, including demand forecasting, production planning and inventory management, can help organizations leverage large volumes of data to extract insights that enable better decision-making. The insights can be used to optimize production planning, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. In addition, it also enables businesses to detect and respond to supply chain disruptions on operations.


2.2 Streamline Communication and Collaboration

Managing and streamlining communication becomes essential for supply chain businesses, as it leads to greater agility and enables pipelines to adapt to changes in organizational structures. Leveraging cloud-based communication platforms, video conferencing, and collaboration tools enable real-time information sharing and collaboration across different teams and stakeholders. By enhancing communication and collaboration, businesses can better align their supply chain objectives, reduce communication gaps, and enhance decision-making.


2.3 Automate Processes

The integration of technologies such as order processing, inventory management, and shipment tracking under warehouse automation and logistics automation produces a vast amount of data, making it challenging for businesses to process data manually. To enhance efficiency, automating supply chain planning processes has become essential. Automating the process has eliminated multitasking, including managing goods flow, tracking road progress, and ensuring safe delivery, which was previously required in the manual process. By automating processes, supply chain management can be streamlined, leading to reduced lead times, minimized costs, and improved efficiency.


2.4 Consistency in Performance Improvement

Improving the supply chain is not a one-time fix, but a process that must be reviewed and optimized frequently. By implementing technology, businesses can continuously collect and analyze warehouse inventory management performance to identify areas for further efficiency gains and improved order accuracy. In addition, establishing a framework for continuous optimization involves regular performance reviews, feedback mechanisms, and benchmarking against industry best practices to help identify and address inefficiencies.


3 Overcoming Major Challenges in the Process to Maximize Efficiency


3.1 Resistance to Change

Supply chain planning systems are hindered by change resistance. Employees may resist change who are comfortable with the status quo and adopt new technologies and processes less often. Organizations need a comprehensive change management plan to address stakeholder engagement, communication, and training. Implementing a change management plan starts with identifying the key stakeholders and involving them in planning to gain their buy-in and support for the changes, implementing the process of the changes using different channels to reach all stakeholders and in addition, developing training programs to prepare employees for the changes and enable them to use new technologies and processes effectively.


3.2 Legacy Systems and Silos Data

Data silos and a lack of supply chain visibility are two problems that can arise when legacy systems and data are used. It also adds roadblocks in maximizing efficiency through supply chain planning software. Investing in older systems makes it challenging to gain a comprehensive view of the supply chain and informed decisions making. In addition, the systems are non-compatible with modern technology and data is stored in disconnected systems. With the help of an integrated system, all relevant information can be collected in one place, streamlining monitoring and decision-making. A data governance policy should be implemented to guarantee data quality and uniformity across all platforms. Data management, data storage, data sharing, regular monitoring and reporting on data quality are all essential components of this policy.


3.3 Inadequate Funding

Insufficient funding can affect supply chain planning system efficiency; with budget constraints, organizations may struggle to invest in new technologies, hire skilled workers, or improve processes. Thus, the supply chain planning system may become obsolete, increasing costs, lead times, and customer dissatisfaction. To overcome the challenge of inadequate funding in supply chain planning, organizations must prioritize funding and strategically allocate resources by identifying the areas that require the most investment. Exploring alternative funding sources, such as grants and partnerships, can supplement existing funding and enable organizations to invest in vital initiatives that may not have been possible with limited resources. In addition, cost-cutting measures, such as process optimization and automation, can help to stretch existing funds and boost productivity.


4 Conclusion

The supply chain planning system will continue to play a critical role in maximizing efficiency to revolutionize the supply chain professionals leverage emerging technologies such as AI, ML, and blockchain; understanding the process, identifying the challenges and overcoming them using the right strategies helps businesses in effective supply chain planning systems, gain a competitive advantage, improve supply chain performance and position themselves for long-term success. Furthermore, adopting a data-driven approach and a culture of continuous improvement in supply chain management planning can help organizations plan according to the future of supply chain and compete in the ever-changing global market.

Spotlight

thyssenkrupp Industrial Services NA

thyssenkrupp Industrial Services is a full-service provider of customized product management solutions, including third party logistics and supply chain management, engineering, quality control, returnable container program and industrial facility maintenance. Our goal is to provide a "One Supplier, One Source" solution for all of our Customers. We are thyssenkrupp – The Technology & Materials Company. Competence and diversity, global reach, and tradition form the basis of our worldwide market leadership. We create value for customers, employees and shareholders.

OTHER ARTICLES
Supply Chain

Inventory Management Best Practices for Supply Chain Distribution

Article | March 22, 2022

Improve supply chain operations with innovative inventory management best practices. Uncover the techniques for achieving exceptional supply chain performance in the B2B competitive marketplace. Effective inventory management is critical for businesses seeking to optimize their supply chain operations and improve their warehousing & supply chain distribution efficiency. By employing demand optimization techniques, inventory management aims to strike the right balance between meeting current and anticipated future demand while minimizing unnecessary inventory costs. Organizations that maintain optimal inventory levels can mitigate challenges associated with inventory, such as overstocking and stockouts. In supply chain management, inventory optimization is vital, as it directly impacts organization’s ability to thrive. For any enterprise selling products, the effective management of goods is essential. Without adequate stock levels for sales or fulfilling customer orders, revenue generation and overall income can be severely hindered. Inefficient inventory management, leading to stock shortages, can create stumbling blocks for businesses. Conversely, improper stock tracking resulting in excess inventory can strain financial resources. As these issues compound, it further contributes to inventory imbalances, eventually leading to bottom-line losses from expired or redundant stock. According to a recent Statista survey, 40% of the supply chain industry has already adopted advanced technologies to optimize its inventory and using networking tools. The above data signifies the importance of optimizing and managing inventory for improved supply chain performance. Inventory analytics, typically overseen by an inventory manager, offer valuable insights that aid in understanding and enhancing inventory performance. Inventory management best practices help achieve effective inventory optimization, crucial data points encompassing products, suppliers, procurement, purchases, and sales that are meticulously tracked within the inventory management system. These data, in turn, serve as the foundation for formulating inventory metrics aimed at demand optimization. This article explains the techniques to optimize and manage inventory with the inventory management best practices that helps overcoming challenges, addressing procedural considerations, and highlighting the significance of implementing these methods. Additionally, it explores the benefits of adopting solution for improved supply chain distribution network. 1. Implementing Standard Inventory Review Systems To enhance supply chain operations, adopting standard inventory review system is essential, which can significantly contribute to inventory optimization efforts. Two effective methods to review systems include the continuous review system and periodic review system. In the continuous review system, fixed quantities of items are ordered in each cycle, providing a steady and consistent approach to inventory management. On the other hand, the periodic review system involves collecting products at predetermined intervals, considering the inventory levels at that specific moment. Embracing these standardized review systems empowers businesses to streamline inventory processes, maintain optimal stock levels, and improve overall supply chain efficiency. 2. Streamline Stocktake Supply chain operations can be improved by streamlining the stocktaking process, which involves meticulously counting and managing inventory. A well-structured stocktake procedure ensures accuracy and prevents losses by keeping staff engaged and focused. To achieve accuracy and earn profits, businesses must: Schedule stocktakes strategically to minimize disruption in regular business operations. Prioritize cleaning and organizing the stockroom before the stocktake to facilitate efficient counting. Clearly define the item count and the counting methods to eliminate guesswork. Conduct comprehensive stock counts, leaving no room for assumptions. By implementing these measures, businesses can optimize inventory management, identify discrepancies promptly, and maintain precise stock records. The streamlined stocktake process contributes to smoother supply chain operations, reduces inventory-related errors, and enhances overall productivity and profitability. 3. Utilize Cloud-Based Inventory Management System Transitioning from Excel inventory management to a cloud-based inventory management system is critical to enhancing supply chain operations. It is considered one of the most used inventory control best practices. Unlike locally-installed applications, cloud-based software offers numerous advantages, enabling businesses to pay for essential features and effortlessly upgrade as needs evolve. Companies can efficiently manage costs with a predictable subscription fee tailored to feature requirements and team size. Seamless upgrades become hassle-free as business growth justifies a move to a more robust platform, ensuring scalability. Additionally, cloud technology provides continuous support, ensuring smooth operations and quick issue resolution. With a dedicated support team on standby, businesses can focus on optimizing inventory management, managing warehouse automation, and driving overall productivity. Embracing cloud-based inventory management is a business-changing decision that unlocks increased agility, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness for long-term success. 4. Implement Adequate Quality Control Practices Enhancing supply chain operations requires the implementation of robust quality control practices. Accurate quality control processes play a pivotal role in maintaining inventory quality, directly impacting customer satisfaction and business growth. Effective steps include developing comprehensive checklists, outlining stock-taking procedures, followed by standard operating procedures to qualify or disqualify products with effective warehouse management systems. By adhering to these protocols, businesses can prevent issues of overstocking or understocking, ensuring customers receive only appropriate merchandise. Companies can strengthen their reputation, increase operational efficiency, and cultivate lasting customer loyalty through this inventory optimization best practice. The seamless integration of quality control practices into the supply chain fosters a thriving business environment built on excellence and customer-centricity. 5. Preparing Well Planned Inventory Budget A well-structured inventory budget is one of the industry-used inventory management best practices to enhance logistics distribution and supply chain processes. Managers commonly utilize an annual inventory budget, meticulously prepared before procuring inventory. The budget is designed to encompass the total cost of ownership for the upcoming accounting period, encompassing materials cost, fixed operational expenses, transportation and logistics charges, redistribution costs, and other miscellaneous expenses impacting the inventory's total cost of ownership. By crafting a comprehensive inventory budget, businesses gain financial clarity, optimize resource allocation, and ensure efficient inventory management throughout the year. A well-planned budget empowers informed decision-making, minimizing financial risks and driving overall supply chain success. 6. Carrying Safety Stock Inventory Operations in the supply chain require safety stock inventory – a strategically maintained surplus of inventory to protect against market demand and lead time fluctuations. By implementing safety stock, businesses can avoid revenue loss, customer attrition, and declining market share that may arise in its absence. Safety stock is vital with the advantages it offers: Protection against sudden surges in demand. Prevention of stockouts, ensuring uninterrupted customer service. Compensation for inaccuracies in market forecasts. A buffer for longer-than-expected lead times, averting production delays. Incorporating safety stock as a fundamental inventory management best practice empowers companies to achieve operational supply chain resilience, optimize customer satisfaction, and maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic market landscape. 7. Optimize Inventory Turnover Rates Optimizing inventory turnover rates is a critical metric that frequently measures inventory sold or used within a specific timeframe, typically a year. Calculating turnover rates provides valuable insights into market demand, identifies obsolete stock, and guides inventory management decisions. Inventory turnover can be improved through various strategies, such as experimenting with pricing to attract more customers and boost sales, liquidating obsolete stock to free up capital and storage space, forecasting customer demand accurately to maintain optimal inventory levels, and redistributing inventory among warehouses for better stock availability. By optimizing inventory turnover rates, businesses can reduce carrying costs, minimize stock obsolescence, and enhance overall supply chain efficiency, as well as gaining competitive advantage in the market. “It’s been my observation that the business world has a weak understanding of inventory management and control. They are trained shallowly, and sometimes they apply only shallow experience to their practices. Sometimes, that works out great. In my 30 years of experience, however, I have seen that a lot of money can be saved by training and managing inventory control in-depth.” -Inventory Control Expert Dr. Pyke Final Thoughts Adopting advanced inventory management best practices is crucial for supply chain optimization in the competitive B2B environment. Standardized inventory review systems and streamlined stocktakes optimize control and accuracy, minimizing disruptions. Cloud-based inventory management offers scalability and continuous support, facilitating data-driven decisions. Adequate quality control ensures inventory quality, driving customer loyalty. Well-planned budgets lead to financial clarity and precise resource allocation. Safety stock inventory and optimized turnover rates fortify businesses against uncertainties, boosting efficiency and profitability. By embracing these practices, logistics professionals can enhance supply chain potential, achieve lasting success, and gain a competitive advantage in the market. With a data-focused approach, these strategies pave the way for streamlined operations, stronger customer relationships, and sustained growth.

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Supply Chain

Role of Warehouse Management Systems to Drive Productivity & Accuracy

Article | November 11, 2022

Unlock operational efficiency and deliver exceptional customer service with a WMS. Learn how cloud-based WMS improves control, enhances customer service, and prepares businesses to develop & succeed. Contents 1. Importance of Warehouse Management Systems 2. How Warehouse Management Systems Optimize Operations 2.1. Productivity Tracking 2.2. Inventory Control 2.3. Labor Management System 2.4. Slotting 2.5. Batching Logic 3. Essential Warehouse Operations Procedures 3.1. Inbound Logistics Process 3.2. Outbound Logistics Process 5. Conclusion 1. Importance of Warehouse Management Systems A warehouse management system (WMS) is essential for optimizing warehouse operations and delivering exceptional customer service. There are five compelling reasons to consider implementing a WMS. Firstly, it enhances inventory control and management by reducing inventory levels, improving order fulfillment, and increasing accuracy. Secondly, it improves customer service and tracking through improved picking accuracy and automated shipment organization. Thirdly, a WMS boosts company productivity by adding warehouse efficiency and quality control to the fulfillment process. Fourthly, it provides a significant return on investment by improving sales accuracy, reducing errors, providing safe warehouse and simplifying customer support. Lastly, a good WMS integrates seamlessly with existing business management systems and adapts to evolving needs. Additionally, WMS enables businesses to meet compliance regulations through real-time data recording, enhanced business intelligence, and process automation. 2. How Warehouse Management Systems Optimize Operations 2.1. Productivity Tracking Warehouse management systems (WMS) are crucial in optimizing operations by providing comprehensive productivity tracking tools. These systems capture and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as order fulfillment rates, picking accuracy, and labor productivity. Organizations can identify bottlenecks, allocate resources effectively, and implement process improvements by tracking these metrics in real-time and generating insightful reports. With WMS productivity tracking, businesses gain a clear understanding of their operational efficiency and can make data-driven decisions to enhance overall performance. 2.2. Inventory Control Efficient inventory control is essential for logistics warehouse management, and WMS solutions excel in this aspect. WMS provides real-time visibility into inventory levels, locations, and movements. Businesses can accurately track stock levels, monitor expiration dates, and implement automated replenishment warehouse processes. With advanced features like cycle counting and stock level alerts, WMS ensures inventory accuracy and reduces carrying costs. By optimizing inventory control, businesses can avoid stockouts, minimize excess stock, and improve order fulfillment rates, enhancing customer satisfaction. 2.3. Labor Management System WMS incorporates a robust labor management system that enables businesses to allocate and manage their workforce effectively. These systems provide tools for labor planning, task allocation, and performance tracking. WMS optimizes labor allocation by assigning tasks based on employee skills, availability, and workload. By monitoring labor productivity and efficiency, businesses can identify opportunities for improvement and implement training programs to enhance employee performance. With WMS labor management capabilities, organizations optimize labor costs, minimize overtime, and improve overall operational efficiency. 2.4. Slotting Strategic slotting is a critical component of warehouse optimization, and WMS offers advanced slotting capabilities. By analyzing data on product demand, turnover rates, and order frequency, WMS determines the optimal locations for different products within the warehouse. Efficient slotting reduces travel time, minimizes congestion, and streamlines order picking. WMS enables businesses to assign appropriate storage locations based on product size, weight, and velocity. By optimizing slotting strategies, organizations can significantly enhance picking efficiency, reduce errors, and improve overall warehouse productivity. 2.5. Batching Logic Batching logic is a key feature of WMS that enhances order-picking efficiency. WMS intelligently groups multiple orders with similar product requirements, locations, or delivery routes. By consolidating these orders into batches, the system enables batch picking, where a picker can fulfill multiple orders in a single trip through the warehouse. Batching logic reduces travel time, minimizes labor costs, and increases order picking speed. By maximizing picking efficiency, businesses can improve order fulfillment rates, reduce order cycle time, and meet customer expectations effectively. 3. Essential Warehouse Operations Procedures A robust distribution center network serves as the backbone of operations, transforming raw materials into finished products and ensuring their timely delivery to customers. To gain a comprehensive view of logistics network and improve supply chain visibility, it's crucial to understand the distinction between inbound and outbound logistics. 3.1. Inbound Logistics Process Inbound logistics encompasses the services required to bring materials and goods into businesses. This includes transportation, storage, and delivery processes. With the help of warehouse management systems (WMS), purchasing can be streamlined by synchronizing vendor details and inventory control levels. WMS allows efficient receipt scanning and guides warehouse staff to shelve items accurately. It also recommends optimal put-away, slotting, and storage space utilization techniques. Additionally, WMS facilitates reverse logistics by providing real-time information on product availability, enabling timely restocking and preventing stockouts. 3.2. Outbound Logistics Process Outbound logistics focuses on the storage, transportation, and delivery systems that ensures finished products reach their final destination. WMS plays a vital role in this process as well. It enables accurate order picking through barcode or RFID scanners, reducing errors and ensuring the right products are chosen. Warehouse management processes integrated with WMS can automate product packaging, allowing for differentiation across sizes and optimizing packaging channels. Moreover, WMS simplifies printing shipping labels, price tags, logos, and other necessary documentation, eliminating manual data input and reducing human errors. WMS enhances the overall customer experience and minimizes fulfillment errors by ensuring timely delivery and notifying customers. 4. Implementing Cloud Warehouse Management Systems to improve productivity Using a cloud-based warehouse management system offers several advantages for businesses looking to optimize their inventory control and streamline operations in complex distribution environments. Cloud supply chain management solutions provide benefits like multi-warehouse tracking, sales forecasting, and on-time delivery. Here are three key benefits of implementing a cloud WMS: Increased control over business growth: Cloud-based WMS provides real-time visibility into inventory, allowing businesses to manage operations and make informed decisions efficiently. With automatic updates and centralized access, stakeholders can access relevant information anytime, enabling better control over business growth and flexibility to adapt to changing market demands. Improved customer service: A cloud WMS empowers teams to track shipments, update arrival dates, and effectively manage the supply chain. It enables seamless communication and collaboration across the organization, ensuring timely deliveries and enhancing customer satisfaction. Efficiently conveying information leads to better customer service and a competitive edge. Preparedness for upcoming changes: Cloud WMS offers an affordable and scalable warehousing solution. With cloud computing, businesses can easily adjust resources to meet fluctuating demands and seasonal changes. The ‘self-service’ access to WMS applications in the cloud allows for increased agility and quick adaptation to evolving business needs. Unlike traditional self-hosted systems, cloud WMS eliminates the need for upfront hardware investments and provides seamless scalability. 5. Conclusion In the rapidly evolving business landscape, a warehouse management system (WMS) holds immense importance for organizations aiming to optimize their operations. As we look to the future, the role of WMS becomes even more crucial. With advancements in technology and the advent of new platforms, a cloud-based WMS offers unparalleled integration possibilities. By harnessing the power of cloud supply chain planning systems, businesses can gain better control over their inventory and navigate the complexities of modern distribution environments. The benefits are significant: increased control over business growth, improved customer service through real-time tracking, and preparedness for upcoming changes. By embracing cloud, WMS empowers businesses to stay agile, enhance productivity, and drive sustainable success in the dynamic business landscape of the future.

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Supply Chain

Top Certifications for Distribution & Warehousing Logistics Professionals

Article | June 29, 2022

Maintain a competitive advantage by effectively managing supply chain. Discover the potential opportunities and enhance the career in logistics with warehousing and distribution certificates. The rapidly changing and fiercely competitive business landscape necessitates that professionals must go an extra mile to maintain a leading edge and propel their careers forward. Taking the initiative to pursue warehousing and logistics certifications can significantly boost your career. By obtaining a recognized designation, you demonstrate a steadfast dedication to your profession, enhancing your appeal to potential employers. Furthermore, earning a respected certification can open doors to advancement opportunities and increase making potential within your current organization. Moreover, pursuing ongoing education offers rewards, keeping you engaged and ensuring you remain at the forefront of industry developments. 1. Supply Chain Warehousing Certificate Supply Chain Warehousing Certificate is a comprehensive program for individuals seeking expertise in warehousing and logistics. Developed by ASCM and Prologis, it covers essential topics such as inventory management, packaging, shipping, and sustainability in logistics. This self-paced course offers flexibility and can be accessed on mobile devices. Earning one of the exclusive warehousing and distribution certifications demonstrates your knowledge and expertise in managing inventory and helps you stand out in the competitive job market. Employers will recognize your ability to handle shipping processes, improve order fulfilment, and make informed transportation decisions. 2. SAP Extended Warehouse Management Training Enhance your expertise in warehousing management with this top-tier online certification course. Gain in-depth knowledge of extended warehouse management, including warehousing structures, expert data, and warehouse organization. This warehousing and distribution course includes techniques for processing received and shipping goods, slotting, replenishment methods, and physical inventory. Delivered through video and text-based modules, it provides comprehensive warehousing and distribution center operations training. In addition, this course will expand your career opportunities and help you excel in the dynamic field of warehousing management. 3. Storage and Distribution Certification Storage and Distribution Certification is a complete course that addresses the critical need for supply chain safety and integrity in today's complex logistics landscape. This supply chain warehousing certificate is focused on distribution and is designed for warehousing, logistics, and supply chain management professionals. The program covers supply chain visibility, risk management, and optimizing physical-flow networks. There are no specific eligibility criteria for this course, making it accessible to a wide range of individuals seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge. By obtaining this one amongst many warehousing certifications in this course , you'll be equipped with the expertise to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities, improve operational resilience, and meet the evolving demands of the modern marketplace. 4. Certified International Warehouse and Inventory Manager The Certified International Warehouse & Inventory Manager certification offered by Blue Ocean Academy in Dubai and Abu Dhabi provides professionals with comprehensive training in warehouse management. Blue Ocean Academy, recognized as an industry leader in this field, offers the best warehouse and inventory management training courses. The Warehouse Management Certification Program focuses on the strategic role of warehousing within the broader context of supply chain management and logistics. Participants will gain knowledge and skills in the latest methods for storing and safeguarding high-value inventories and best practices for modern warehousing. The program also covers techniques to achieve accurate record-keeping and successful cycle counting, methods for conducting warehouse audits, and the operational and financial performance aspects of warehousing. 5. Warehouse Excellence Certification (WAREX) Developed by the Institute of Supply Chain Management (IoSCM), Warehouse Excellence Certification (WAREX) helps to elevate your warehousing career. This logistics warehousing and distribution program offers a range of qualifications catering to professionals at various stages of their logistics, warehousing, and distribution journeys. WAREX covers a broad spectrum of skills and knowledge, from entry-level to strategic management positions. Whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned professional, this certification equips you with the expertise to optimize warehouse operations, enhance inventory management, and drive overall supply chain efficiency. 6. Six Sigma Certification in Warehousing: Overview & Career Options Six Sigma Certification in warehousing is a specialized program that equips professionals with the tools and methodologies to optimize warehouse operations, eliminate defects, and achieve near-perfect efficiency levels of 99.997%. By applying Six Sigma processes, businesses can identify and solve warehouse problems, resulting in improved customer satisfaction, increased revenue, reduced errors, efficient inventory management, and enhanced overall profitability. With this warehouse certification program, you'll stand out in the job market with higher employability, salary potential, and opportunities with renowned companies like Amazon, Samsung, Boeing, FedEx, DHL, and UPS. 7. Certified International Warehouse & Inventory Manager This certificate in warehousing management is specifically designed to equip professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the dynamic world of warehouse operations. This program covers a wide range of essential topics, from strategic warehouse management to inventory optimization and sustainable practices. Participants will learn about warehouse design, storage techniques, materials handling, inventory control, performance measurement, warehouse management systems, risk management, and sustainability. This warehousing and logistics certification is ideal for warehouse managers, logistics professionals, supply chain executives, and individuals seeking to enhance their expertise in warehouse operations. 8. WHSEOPSCERT - Warehouse Operations Certificate The Warehouse Operations Certificate program offers essential training to develop fundamental warehousing skills and gain certifications in material handling equipment. This program is crafted to enhance participants' employability within the warehousing and distribution industries. It covers various topics, including warehouse operations, supply chain fundamentals, order fulfillment, shipping concepts, and lift truck certification training. The courses provide a comprehensive understanding of warehouse functions, inventory management, storage procedures, supply chain principles, and problem-solving strategies. Upon completion, graduates will be equipped for entry-level positions such as Order Puller, Warehouse Technician, Logistics Analyst, and more. 9. JHSC Certification Part Two - Warehousing & Distribution The JHSC Certification Part Two - Warehousing & Distribution is an essential training program designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to recognize and control hazards within their warehousing and distribution workplaces. After completing both Part One and Part Two training, this certification is the final step in becoming a certified member of a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). Aligned with the Ministry of Labour's JHSC Certification Training Program Standard, this interactive 2-day course strengthens participants' understanding of the RACE process (Recognition, Assessment, Control, and Evaluation) for all workplace hazards. Delivered by experienced health and safety experts familiar with the industry, this training covers sector-specific risks such as MSDs, slips and falls, motor vehicle incidents, unguarded machinery, unsafe material handling, and hazardous chemicals. Completing this certification ensures compliance with legal requirements, empowers individuals to make informed decisions regarding workplace safety, and enhances overall hazard management in the warehousing and distribution sector. 10. Warehouse Distribution, Continuing Education Workforce Certificate Warehouse Distribution Continuing Education Workforce Certificate is a comprehensive training program to equip individuals with the necessary skills for higher-skilled, frontline material handling roles within the supply chain industry. Ideal for individuals seeking employment in various supply chain facilities, such as warehouses, distribution centers, and transporters, this program prepares students for different job positions, including forklift operators, logistics specialists, freight handlers, and customer support representatives. By completing this certificate, learners will not only gain essential knowledge in waste reduction, logistics security, and forklift safety, but they will also have the opportunity to obtain the Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) credential from the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and other relevant certificates. This certification provides a concrete foundation for entry-level careers in the logistics field and offers individuals a competitive edge in the job market. Conclusion Logistics and supply chain management professionals thrive on the exhilarating pace of constant change. Each day brings fresh challenges, opportunities, and innovative tools that enhance tracking, analysis, forecasting, and more. By actively pursuing a logistics or supply chain certification and diligently fulfilling the required continuing education hours, ensure that you remain at the forefront of these exciting industry advancements. This commitment positions you to leverage the latest insights and technologies, allowing you to optimize and streamline your supply chains for maximum efficiency. As a result, you stay ahead of the curve and empower your organization to achieve peak performance and drive continued success. Embrace the transformative power of certifications and embark on a journey of growth and excellence in logistics and supply chain management.

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Warehousing and Distribution

Top 10 Warehouse Automation Tools to Optimize Supply Chain Performance

Article | July 11, 2023

Transform the supply chain with cutting-edge warehouse automation tools. Enhance productivity, minimize costs, and deliver exceptional customer experiences to stay ahead in the competitive market. In the rapidly evolving world of manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain management, adopting automation has become imperative for businesses aiming to maintain a competitive edge. By minimizing costs, enhancing efficiency, and reducing downtime, automation delivers optimal value for manufacturers. However, selecting the right partner can be challenging with numerous warehouse automation companies available. This article explains the features and benefits of top ten warehouse automation tools that offer expertise in improving business operations. These data warehouse tools provide comprehensive solutions to meet diverse needs of the logistics and warehousing companies and improve the supply chain performance. 1. 3PL WMS Software Solution 3PL WMS Software Solution is one of the leading warehouse automation tools for supply chain operations. This software has comprehensive features that automate and streamline warehouse processes, offering unprecedented efficiency. The tool seamlessly integrates with existing systems and provides total transparency and control. 3PL warehouse automation software boosts order throughput, reduces pick time, and automates billing effortlessly. Gain unprecedented insights through accurate, real-time reporting, ensuring inventory accuracy and reducing lost-inventory costs. This warehouse automation tool, designed as the warehouse management backbone, revolutionizes operations, enhances customer satisfaction, and drives exponential growth. 2. Datex 3PL WMS Datex 3PL WMS offers the most innovative warehouse management tools that help implement warehouse automation in the supply chain process for transportation services. This software empowers transportation and logistics services, revolutionizing material handling, storage, trans-loading, cross-docking, and more. It supports diverse industries such as refineries, steel mills, and energy distribution facilities. Its flexibility makes it an optimal solution to handle any inventory type, including bulk materials, steel products, liquids, and hazardous materials. This automated warehouse software also enables multi-warehouse operations and accommodates various modes of transportation. Additionally, Datex 3PL WMS boasts a highly flexible billing system, allowing individualized billing strategies and capturing value-added services. Industry experts benefit from streamlined processes, improved efficiency, and accurate billing, ultimately enhancing their supply chain business and warehouse operations. 3. Deposco Deposco Bright Warehouse is a game-changing warehouse management software solution that offers advanced features and capabilities to businesses of all sizes. This data warehouse tool empowers companies to pick, pack, and ship orders efficiently, optimizing processes to further improve order fulfillment while reducing operational costs. It provides strategic order allocation, workgroup segmentation, and optimized picking strategies, to achieve accurate and speedy order fulfillment. The software offers network-wide inventory visibility through advanced tracking, barcoding, and management capabilities. This solution automates shipping processes by seamlessly integrating with carriers, ensuring maximum accuracy and speed. Leveraging its material handling technology for automation can lead to significant productivity improvements. Businesses can enhance their capabilities by accessing a unified view of operations, utilizing customization options, and benefiting from direct API integration with shipping carriers. 4. Softeon Softeon is a powerful warehouse management tools for supply chain automation. Its comprehensive WMS optimizes distribution operations, handling all essential tasks while offering unique functionality for a competitive edge. With a proven deployment success rate and flexible delivery options in the cloud or on-premise, Softeon empowers businesses to streamline inventory management and delivery processes. By integrating with their Warehouse Execution System (WES), warehouse and distribution companies can further enhance order fulfillment orchestration and optimization. Industry leaders like UPS Supply Chain Solutions and Sears Home Services rely on this warehouse automation software. 5. Logiwa WMS Logiwa WMS offers a cloud fulfillment platform that combines WMS software and order fulfillment capabilities, enabling companies to operate a digital fulfillment network and expand their direct-to-consumer operations without the need for additional staff. The data warehouse management tool offers comprehensive warehouse and inventory management functionality, billing, and seamless integrations with over 200 ecommerce, accounting, and shipping solutions; it empowers 3PL providers to optimize order fulfillment, enhance speed and accuracy, and drive customer satisfaction. 6. SnapFulfill SnapFulfill is one of the leading warehouse management technologies that empower companies across various industries, including B2C and B2B retail, third-party logistics, manufacturing, food and beverage, and electronics, to optimize their inventory, space, and resources. With SnapFulfill's class-leading warehouse management solutions, businesses can streamline operations and enhance efficiency. The software offers flexible deployment options and payment methods for diverse warehousing challenges. By utilizing SnapFulfill, industry experts gain access to advanced data warehouse tools that enable them to improve their supply chain business, enhance warehouse and distribution processes, and achieve optimal inventory management for increased productivity and profitability. 7. Indigo Software Indigo WMS is an award-winning warehouse management system tool designed to enhance supply chain operations. It offers real-time control, visibility, and functionality for all warehouse processes. It is one of the best supply chain tools to track inventory in real-time, enabling efficient cycle counting, forward pick replenishment, and improved inventory forecasting. With Indigo WMS warehouse automation software, these tasks are automated, and the software ensures greater picking accuracy, reduces returns, and enables on-time and complete deliveries. It seamlessly integrates with existing systems, whether from SAP, Microsoft, Oracle, Infor, Sage, or other ERP, TMS, or SCP vendors, providing live and up-to-date data visibility across the entire supply chain process. 8. OrderWise OrderWise is an order management system that empowers businesses in the consumer goods and retail sector to accelerate operations and deliver exceptional customer service. With its integrated features, OrderWise ensures seamless order processing and maximizes sales opportunities. By tracking orders from various sales channels, managing tight schedules, and making real-time adjustments, businesses can meet customer demands promptly. This is one of those supply chain management tools that provides valuable insights into customer purchase history and stock availability, enabling personalized recommendations and enhancing sales effectiveness. Whether for ecommerce, retail, or B2B sales, OrderWise streamlines order operations, making them smoother, faster, and more accurate. 9. Balloon One Balloon One provides supply chain management tools, offering tailored software solutions to distribution, manufacturing, and e-commerce businesses. Its expertise lies in streamlining processes, optimizing resource allocation, and enhancing operational efficiency. With a focus on minimal disruption, Balloon One seamlessly implements software solutions, ensuring uninterrupted business operations. As an impartial advisor, the software offers both SAP Business One and NetSuite, thus allowing to recommend the ideal ERP system for each company's unique requirements. In addition, this software provides wholesale and distribution businesses with the robust HighJump WMS, a real-time warehouse management system that delivers scalability and flexibility. 10. Foxfire Foxfire offers supply chain management tools specializing in Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). It offers WMS solutions, including features to optimize inventory, increase labor productivity, and enhance customer satisfaction. With over 20 years of industry experience, Foxfire has a proven track record of delivering measurable results to customers worldwide. This tool provides a comprehensive approach, including needs assessment, best practice recommendations, training, and ongoing support. Additionally, it is cost-effective by delivering low lifetime costs. Conclusion The warehouse automation market is experiencing significant growth, with a wide array of exceptional warehouse automation tools that offer high-quality solutions. Regardless of any special requirements, exploring the features of each warehouse automation tools is vital to identify the ideal fit for any business. Choosing the correct solution from the data warehouse tools list will help to improve inventory management and distribution efficiency through warehouse automation. Embrace the opportunity to streamline processes by leveraging supply chain management tools and warehouse automation solutions and experience the transformative power of automation to unlock the full potential of your business.

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Spotlight

thyssenkrupp Industrial Services NA

thyssenkrupp Industrial Services is a full-service provider of customized product management solutions, including third party logistics and supply chain management, engineering, quality control, returnable container program and industrial facility maintenance. Our goal is to provide a "One Supplier, One Source" solution for all of our Customers. We are thyssenkrupp – The Technology & Materials Company. Competence and diversity, global reach, and tradition form the basis of our worldwide market leadership. We create value for customers, employees and shareholders.

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Supply Chain

Cleo Enhances Ecosystem Integration Platform to Optimize Supply Chain Execution

Cleo | September 27, 2023

Cleo, the pioneer and global leader of the Ecosystem Integration software category and provider of the Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) platform, today announced availability of multiple new platform innovations designed to help organizations optimize supply chain execution through improved control, automation, and visibility of integrations between their ecosystem and their back-office systems. Cleo President and CEO Mahesh Rajasekharan said, “We’re charting a clear path to frictionless, intelligence-driven ecosystem integration, which will be a cornerstone of our customers’ ability to optimize supply chain execution. CIC 2023 will empower organizations with the insights they need to make better decisions and improve their ecosystem relationships. Our promise to our customers and the market is simple and straightforward: We will continue to push the innovation envelope, with the goal of providing more control to supply chain executives through real-time visibility, automation, AI, and orchestration solutions.” Cleo’s CIC 2023 platform is the company’s most powerful platform release to date and includes multiple enhancements and new functionality to support the design, operation, and management of these ecosystem integrations, including: Improved integration design and deployment capabilities for increased velocity in time to value Enhancements to all Accelerators, which are pre-built, out-of-the-box Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, Grocery, and Warehousing integrations for automating X12 EDI transactions between a company’s trading partner ecosystem straight into core business applications like Microsoft Dynamics 365 SCM and BC, Oracle NetSuite, SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Shopify, and Amazon Seller Central among others. Ease-of-use updates to several connectors including eBay, Shopify, and Amazon to rapidly build ecosystem integrations. Portfolio expansion for infrastructure and business connectivity with new and enhanced connectors including Amazon, Shopify, Microsoft SharePoint, Google Cloud Storage, and RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF). Increased visibility and control to improve supply chain operations Launched a workload prioritization solution that allows organizations to put business priority first through granular control over business-critical and time-sensitive transactions (by document type or trading partner) that ensure key customer commitments are never missed. Enabled stronger, more informed, and more confident decision-making through flexibly customizable reporting timeframes which promote tighter alignment between reporting needs and business operations Released advanced message search capability to discover messages faster. Enables operations to improve customer experience during troubleshooting and monitoring of ecosystem transactions. Enhanced exception management for faster issue handling and prevention More robust certificate management that translates to proactive measures to ensure seamless business continuity with key generation, certificate generation, and rollover Advanced troubleshooting and granular drill-down capabilities enabling operations teams to reduce error resolution time by up to 20% -- resulting in improved ecosystem relationships. Deeper automation and improved configurability allow integration operations personas to ensure timely delivery of transactions through automatic retries & concurrent sends of errored processes Reimaged integration development experience and usability provides a fresh approach for developers Refreshed user interface of the platform integration development environment, allowing a streamlined experience for self-service API and EDI integration. Redesigned business process development experience streamlines updating and orchestrating of integrations, allowing organizations to quickly implement new integrations and make changes as their business evolves. Extensible integration logic with a full range of custom actions that empowers users to drive efficiency through comprehensive local commands executed at the orchestration level Optimizing supply chain execution requires breaking down functional silos, automating critical, time-sensitive business processes, increasing visibility and insights to make better decisions, and providing every organizational persona with control they need to complete day-to-day operations. The key lies in deploying end-to-end ecosystem integrations that bring together different components of a supply chain into a cohesive and seamless digital backbone. CIC, long recognized as one of the industry’s most powerful cloud integration solutions, is currently used by more than 4,200 logistics, manufacturing, distribution and retail companies throughout the world. About Cleo Integration Cloud Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) is a cloud-based integration platform, purpose-built to design, build, operate, and optimize critical ecosystem integration processes. The CIC platform brings end-to-end integration visibility across API, MFT, EDI, and non-EDI integrations, giving technical and business users the confidence to rapidly onboard trading partners, enable integration between applications, and accelerate revenue-generating business processes. On the platform, businesses have the choice of self-service, managed services, or a blended approach – ensuring complete flexibility and control over their B2B integration strategy. About Cleo Cleo is an ecosystem integration software company focused on business outcomes, ensuring each customer’s potential is realized by delivering solutions that make it easy to discover and create value through the movement and integration of B2B enterprise data. Cleo gives customers strategic, “outside-in” visibility into the critical end-to-end business flows happening across their ecosystems of partners and customers, marketplaces, and internal cloud and on-premise applications. Our solutions empower teams to drive business agility, accelerate onboarding, facilitate the modernization of key business processes, and capture new revenue streams by reimagining and remastering their digital ecosystem through robust application, B2B, and data integration technologies.

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Supply Chain

New Coupa Solution Modernizes Supply Chain Collaboration

prnewswire | September 29, 2023

As companies continue to wrestle with supply chain risks jeopardizing their business-critical revenue streams, Coupa Software, a leader in Business Spend Management (BSM), today announced a new solution to improve supply assurance and business continuity. Coupa's Supply Chain Collaboration empowers companies to avoid risk while driving profitability, increasing agility, and improving communication between buyers and suppliers. Coupa's unified platform drives agility, transparency, and resiliency across supply chains, so products and materials are where and when they're needed. This new solution creates better collaboration between teams and suppliers and provides the ability to quickly assess sourcing alternatives and balance trade-offs ranging from changes to delivery dates to item quantity. "Ensuring supply chain continuity is a top priority for businesses everywhere. We heard from companies around the globe that existing market solutions for supply chain collaboration were falling down. Forcing companies to resort to spreadsheets and emails to track critical supply that would keep factories running and retail stores operating," said Raja Hammoud, executive vice president of products at Coupa. "Those days are over. Coupa Supply Chain Collaboration was co-innovated with the world's leading supply chain companies to deliver modern, consumerized experiences and effortless collaboration between businesses and all their trading partners." Coupa's new Supply Chain Collaboration Suite will help businesses with purchasing, forecasting, inventory, and quality control as the suite expands. Key benefits available today include: Streamlined Communication: Through real-time communication supply chain planners and suppliers can easily share instant updates to quality, price, delivery dates, and more to avoid unwanted surprises or delays. Intuitive, Unified Approach: Integrates with ERP, MRP, and Supply Chain Planning solutions to provide a connected, unified view to all suppliers/trading partners and buyers. Improved Working Capital: With more predictable operations, businesses can reduce inventory carrying costs and minimize carrying excess capacity due to unplanned downtime to better optimize working capital through a single platform for direct and indirect spend. Increased Agility: With real-time notifications and alerts, businesses can act smarter and faster to resolve issues for direct materials without time-consuming, error-prone manual reviews. "Supply chains are highly complex and current collaboration technologies aren't always easy to use, leaving many businesses no choice but to rely on manual approaches and phone calls," said Simon Ellis, Group VP at IDC. "Seamless collaboration is critical to effective supply chain management and resiliency. Organizations need full visibility into both their suppliers' operations and their own, as well as a simple method for working together. Coupa has a history of prioritizing user adoption with easy-to-use tools to drive efficiencies and savings and this suite is no different." Purchase Order (PO) Collaboration, the first component of the solution that is now generally available, ensures supply assurance by providing bidirectional visibility into POs for planners and suppliers. Suppliers can confirm quantities, prices, and promise dates at a line-item level. This ensures buyers and suppliers have accurate, real-time information while automatically communicating any necessary actions. The entire purchase order lifecycle from PO generation to advanced shipping notice to receipt of goods is managed through Coupa's platform. About Coupa Software Coupa is the cloud-based Business Spend Management (BSM) platform that unifies processes across supply chain, procurement, and finance functions. Coupa empowers organizations around the world to maximize value and operationalize purpose through their business spend.

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Supply Chain

Uber Freight doubles down on enterprise technology, unveils next generation product roadmap with AI-powered logistics

Uber Freight | September 29, 2023

Today, during the company's annual customer conference that hosts nearly 300 of the world's largest shippers, Uber Freight announced the most comprehensive evolution of its logistics technologies designed to power the global movement of goods. The news comes nearly two years after the $2.25B acquisition of the market's largest transportation management company Transplace, which partners directly with shippers to manage their logistics networks. Now, with $18B freight under management, the company is releasing for the first time a next generation of products that infuse Uber's advanced technology development capabilities, including AI-powered software. The strategic expansion of the business enabled Uber Freight to build a new kind of logistics company, one uniquely able to offer the kinds of comprehensive, end-to-end enterprise applications and services for the industry in an increasingly complex logistics landscape. "The past couple of years have been transformative for our business, driving significant amounts of resources into delivering the next generation of technologies designed to power the global movement of goods," said Lior Ron, Founder and CEO of Uber Freight. "The focus on developing new enterprise solutions underpins our commitment to our strategic customer base and the industry at large as we drive to be the most comprehensive partner to advance logistics networks." Uber Freight has made a deep investment in technology, with $120M invested since the acquisition that is focused heavily on scaling enterprise applications that span logistics software solutions, generative AI and data-enabled insights tools, as well as innovative capacity and mode expansions. Reimagining logistics management with advanced software Uber Freight is rolling out the most comprehensive update of the widely-used Uber Freight TMS since it was first launched by Transplace in 2005. The Uber Freight TMS is the all-in-one solution for planning, executing, and monitoring complex logistics operations across modes and regions, bringing shippers the time-tested expertise, Uber-grade technology, and high-quality service they need to drive their intelligent logistics forward. Initial upgrades focus on delivering a new standard of visibility, foresight, and control, "Uberizing" modules to promote ease of use and actionable data—all while expanding global, end-to-end shipment visibility across modes including rail, ocean, and air. "When you have a supply chain that's expansive and complex as ours, cutting-edge technology isn't a nice-to-have—it's essential," said Randy Cooper, Director of Transportation at Del Monte Foods. "Our partnership with Uber Freight's managed transportation and innovative technology has become our secret sauce as we serve our customers." Uber Freight is deepening its investment in software solutions with the launch of Uber Freight Exchange, a powerful new tool designed to meet the evolving needs of shippers and carriers by expediting freight procurement cycles and powering rapid shipment execution. Uber Freight Exchange is a neutral platform open to all shippers and carriers—a shipper can utilize Uber Freight Exchange to run auctions with their own carriers, in addition to Uber Freight's network of 100,000 carriers across the US. With integrated communication, simple bid functionality, and historical performance reporting, it enhances operational efficiency, fosters partnerships, and safeguards lane coverage risks in any market conditions. Bringing the power of generative AI and machine learning to enterprise shippers Uber Freight is unveiling Insights AI, a powerful generative-AI-powered insights tool that will transform decision making in logistics and support transportation teams from granular, tactical views to more complex, strategic analyses. Insights AI will leverage LLMs to generate and surface insights from Uber Freight's vast store of transportation data for customers. Uber Freight is also leading the industry in the creation and application of AI and machine learning to drive network optimization and service improvements at scale with several new models rolled out recently, including a sophisticated ETA model, which, when combined with Uber Freight's Probability of Late Arrival (PLA) model, helps to drive automated 'self-healing' workflows to improve shipper service. Expanding dynamic capacity and freight modes, across regions Uber Freight has strategically grown the footprint of the Powerloop program to meet surging client demand for drop and hook and dedicated capacity solutions. The program has expanded operational scope from localized freight within Texas, California and Georgia, to regional and over the road freight stretching across several new states including Arizona, Utah, New Jersey, New York, Arkansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Kentucky. Uber Freight continues to gain ground as the most extensive autonomous freight network in North America with active partnerships with the leading developers and dozens of shippers moving autonomous loads on the network daily. In September, the company achieved a milestone of 100k autonomous miles driven with AV carriers on the network. Uber Freight has expanded support across the North American cross-border supply chain. To meet a 20% increase in production from across the customer base, the company now has six cross-border locations between US and Mexico and over 1,000 team members throughout the region to support this tailwind. Uber Freight also shared the extensive progress the business has made since the acquisition, including expanding its connected network of shippers and carriers to one of the largest in the world with 2 million drivers registered since the founding of the company, and dramatically advancing its sustainability impact, with an estimated 2.4 million empty miles eliminated from its network in the past year alone. ABOUT UBER FREIGHT Uber Freight is a market-leading enterprise technology company powering intelligent logistics. With a suite of end-to-end logistics applications, managed services and an expansive carrier network, Uber Freight advances supply chains and moves the world's goods. Today, the company manages over $18 billion of freight and has the largest network of carriers. It is backed by best-in-class investors including Greenbriar Equity Group and partnered with 1 in 3 Fortune 500 companies, including Del Monte Foods, Nestle, Anheuser-Busch InBev and more.

Read More

Supply Chain

Cleo Enhances Ecosystem Integration Platform to Optimize Supply Chain Execution

Cleo | September 27, 2023

Cleo, the pioneer and global leader of the Ecosystem Integration software category and provider of the Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) platform, today announced availability of multiple new platform innovations designed to help organizations optimize supply chain execution through improved control, automation, and visibility of integrations between their ecosystem and their back-office systems. Cleo President and CEO Mahesh Rajasekharan said, “We’re charting a clear path to frictionless, intelligence-driven ecosystem integration, which will be a cornerstone of our customers’ ability to optimize supply chain execution. CIC 2023 will empower organizations with the insights they need to make better decisions and improve their ecosystem relationships. Our promise to our customers and the market is simple and straightforward: We will continue to push the innovation envelope, with the goal of providing more control to supply chain executives through real-time visibility, automation, AI, and orchestration solutions.” Cleo’s CIC 2023 platform is the company’s most powerful platform release to date and includes multiple enhancements and new functionality to support the design, operation, and management of these ecosystem integrations, including: Improved integration design and deployment capabilities for increased velocity in time to value Enhancements to all Accelerators, which are pre-built, out-of-the-box Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, Grocery, and Warehousing integrations for automating X12 EDI transactions between a company’s trading partner ecosystem straight into core business applications like Microsoft Dynamics 365 SCM and BC, Oracle NetSuite, SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Shopify, and Amazon Seller Central among others. Ease-of-use updates to several connectors including eBay, Shopify, and Amazon to rapidly build ecosystem integrations. Portfolio expansion for infrastructure and business connectivity with new and enhanced connectors including Amazon, Shopify, Microsoft SharePoint, Google Cloud Storage, and RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF). Increased visibility and control to improve supply chain operations Launched a workload prioritization solution that allows organizations to put business priority first through granular control over business-critical and time-sensitive transactions (by document type or trading partner) that ensure key customer commitments are never missed. Enabled stronger, more informed, and more confident decision-making through flexibly customizable reporting timeframes which promote tighter alignment between reporting needs and business operations Released advanced message search capability to discover messages faster. Enables operations to improve customer experience during troubleshooting and monitoring of ecosystem transactions. Enhanced exception management for faster issue handling and prevention More robust certificate management that translates to proactive measures to ensure seamless business continuity with key generation, certificate generation, and rollover Advanced troubleshooting and granular drill-down capabilities enabling operations teams to reduce error resolution time by up to 20% -- resulting in improved ecosystem relationships. Deeper automation and improved configurability allow integration operations personas to ensure timely delivery of transactions through automatic retries & concurrent sends of errored processes Reimaged integration development experience and usability provides a fresh approach for developers Refreshed user interface of the platform integration development environment, allowing a streamlined experience for self-service API and EDI integration. Redesigned business process development experience streamlines updating and orchestrating of integrations, allowing organizations to quickly implement new integrations and make changes as their business evolves. Extensible integration logic with a full range of custom actions that empowers users to drive efficiency through comprehensive local commands executed at the orchestration level Optimizing supply chain execution requires breaking down functional silos, automating critical, time-sensitive business processes, increasing visibility and insights to make better decisions, and providing every organizational persona with control they need to complete day-to-day operations. The key lies in deploying end-to-end ecosystem integrations that bring together different components of a supply chain into a cohesive and seamless digital backbone. CIC, long recognized as one of the industry’s most powerful cloud integration solutions, is currently used by more than 4,200 logistics, manufacturing, distribution and retail companies throughout the world. About Cleo Integration Cloud Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) is a cloud-based integration platform, purpose-built to design, build, operate, and optimize critical ecosystem integration processes. The CIC platform brings end-to-end integration visibility across API, MFT, EDI, and non-EDI integrations, giving technical and business users the confidence to rapidly onboard trading partners, enable integration between applications, and accelerate revenue-generating business processes. On the platform, businesses have the choice of self-service, managed services, or a blended approach – ensuring complete flexibility and control over their B2B integration strategy. About Cleo Cleo is an ecosystem integration software company focused on business outcomes, ensuring each customer’s potential is realized by delivering solutions that make it easy to discover and create value through the movement and integration of B2B enterprise data. Cleo gives customers strategic, “outside-in” visibility into the critical end-to-end business flows happening across their ecosystems of partners and customers, marketplaces, and internal cloud and on-premise applications. Our solutions empower teams to drive business agility, accelerate onboarding, facilitate the modernization of key business processes, and capture new revenue streams by reimagining and remastering their digital ecosystem through robust application, B2B, and data integration technologies.

Read More

Supply Chain

New Coupa Solution Modernizes Supply Chain Collaboration

prnewswire | September 29, 2023

As companies continue to wrestle with supply chain risks jeopardizing their business-critical revenue streams, Coupa Software, a leader in Business Spend Management (BSM), today announced a new solution to improve supply assurance and business continuity. Coupa's Supply Chain Collaboration empowers companies to avoid risk while driving profitability, increasing agility, and improving communication between buyers and suppliers. Coupa's unified platform drives agility, transparency, and resiliency across supply chains, so products and materials are where and when they're needed. This new solution creates better collaboration between teams and suppliers and provides the ability to quickly assess sourcing alternatives and balance trade-offs ranging from changes to delivery dates to item quantity. "Ensuring supply chain continuity is a top priority for businesses everywhere. We heard from companies around the globe that existing market solutions for supply chain collaboration were falling down. Forcing companies to resort to spreadsheets and emails to track critical supply that would keep factories running and retail stores operating," said Raja Hammoud, executive vice president of products at Coupa. "Those days are over. Coupa Supply Chain Collaboration was co-innovated with the world's leading supply chain companies to deliver modern, consumerized experiences and effortless collaboration between businesses and all their trading partners." Coupa's new Supply Chain Collaboration Suite will help businesses with purchasing, forecasting, inventory, and quality control as the suite expands. Key benefits available today include: Streamlined Communication: Through real-time communication supply chain planners and suppliers can easily share instant updates to quality, price, delivery dates, and more to avoid unwanted surprises or delays. Intuitive, Unified Approach: Integrates with ERP, MRP, and Supply Chain Planning solutions to provide a connected, unified view to all suppliers/trading partners and buyers. Improved Working Capital: With more predictable operations, businesses can reduce inventory carrying costs and minimize carrying excess capacity due to unplanned downtime to better optimize working capital through a single platform for direct and indirect spend. Increased Agility: With real-time notifications and alerts, businesses can act smarter and faster to resolve issues for direct materials without time-consuming, error-prone manual reviews. "Supply chains are highly complex and current collaboration technologies aren't always easy to use, leaving many businesses no choice but to rely on manual approaches and phone calls," said Simon Ellis, Group VP at IDC. "Seamless collaboration is critical to effective supply chain management and resiliency. Organizations need full visibility into both their suppliers' operations and their own, as well as a simple method for working together. Coupa has a history of prioritizing user adoption with easy-to-use tools to drive efficiencies and savings and this suite is no different." Purchase Order (PO) Collaboration, the first component of the solution that is now generally available, ensures supply assurance by providing bidirectional visibility into POs for planners and suppliers. Suppliers can confirm quantities, prices, and promise dates at a line-item level. This ensures buyers and suppliers have accurate, real-time information while automatically communicating any necessary actions. The entire purchase order lifecycle from PO generation to advanced shipping notice to receipt of goods is managed through Coupa's platform. About Coupa Software Coupa is the cloud-based Business Spend Management (BSM) platform that unifies processes across supply chain, procurement, and finance functions. Coupa empowers organizations around the world to maximize value and operationalize purpose through their business spend.

Read More

Supply Chain

Uber Freight doubles down on enterprise technology, unveils next generation product roadmap with AI-powered logistics

Uber Freight | September 29, 2023

Today, during the company's annual customer conference that hosts nearly 300 of the world's largest shippers, Uber Freight announced the most comprehensive evolution of its logistics technologies designed to power the global movement of goods. The news comes nearly two years after the $2.25B acquisition of the market's largest transportation management company Transplace, which partners directly with shippers to manage their logistics networks. Now, with $18B freight under management, the company is releasing for the first time a next generation of products that infuse Uber's advanced technology development capabilities, including AI-powered software. The strategic expansion of the business enabled Uber Freight to build a new kind of logistics company, one uniquely able to offer the kinds of comprehensive, end-to-end enterprise applications and services for the industry in an increasingly complex logistics landscape. "The past couple of years have been transformative for our business, driving significant amounts of resources into delivering the next generation of technologies designed to power the global movement of goods," said Lior Ron, Founder and CEO of Uber Freight. "The focus on developing new enterprise solutions underpins our commitment to our strategic customer base and the industry at large as we drive to be the most comprehensive partner to advance logistics networks." Uber Freight has made a deep investment in technology, with $120M invested since the acquisition that is focused heavily on scaling enterprise applications that span logistics software solutions, generative AI and data-enabled insights tools, as well as innovative capacity and mode expansions. Reimagining logistics management with advanced software Uber Freight is rolling out the most comprehensive update of the widely-used Uber Freight TMS since it was first launched by Transplace in 2005. The Uber Freight TMS is the all-in-one solution for planning, executing, and monitoring complex logistics operations across modes and regions, bringing shippers the time-tested expertise, Uber-grade technology, and high-quality service they need to drive their intelligent logistics forward. Initial upgrades focus on delivering a new standard of visibility, foresight, and control, "Uberizing" modules to promote ease of use and actionable data—all while expanding global, end-to-end shipment visibility across modes including rail, ocean, and air. "When you have a supply chain that's expansive and complex as ours, cutting-edge technology isn't a nice-to-have—it's essential," said Randy Cooper, Director of Transportation at Del Monte Foods. "Our partnership with Uber Freight's managed transportation and innovative technology has become our secret sauce as we serve our customers." Uber Freight is deepening its investment in software solutions with the launch of Uber Freight Exchange, a powerful new tool designed to meet the evolving needs of shippers and carriers by expediting freight procurement cycles and powering rapid shipment execution. Uber Freight Exchange is a neutral platform open to all shippers and carriers—a shipper can utilize Uber Freight Exchange to run auctions with their own carriers, in addition to Uber Freight's network of 100,000 carriers across the US. With integrated communication, simple bid functionality, and historical performance reporting, it enhances operational efficiency, fosters partnerships, and safeguards lane coverage risks in any market conditions. Bringing the power of generative AI and machine learning to enterprise shippers Uber Freight is unveiling Insights AI, a powerful generative-AI-powered insights tool that will transform decision making in logistics and support transportation teams from granular, tactical views to more complex, strategic analyses. Insights AI will leverage LLMs to generate and surface insights from Uber Freight's vast store of transportation data for customers. Uber Freight is also leading the industry in the creation and application of AI and machine learning to drive network optimization and service improvements at scale with several new models rolled out recently, including a sophisticated ETA model, which, when combined with Uber Freight's Probability of Late Arrival (PLA) model, helps to drive automated 'self-healing' workflows to improve shipper service. Expanding dynamic capacity and freight modes, across regions Uber Freight has strategically grown the footprint of the Powerloop program to meet surging client demand for drop and hook and dedicated capacity solutions. The program has expanded operational scope from localized freight within Texas, California and Georgia, to regional and over the road freight stretching across several new states including Arizona, Utah, New Jersey, New York, Arkansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Kentucky. Uber Freight continues to gain ground as the most extensive autonomous freight network in North America with active partnerships with the leading developers and dozens of shippers moving autonomous loads on the network daily. In September, the company achieved a milestone of 100k autonomous miles driven with AV carriers on the network. Uber Freight has expanded support across the North American cross-border supply chain. To meet a 20% increase in production from across the customer base, the company now has six cross-border locations between US and Mexico and over 1,000 team members throughout the region to support this tailwind. Uber Freight also shared the extensive progress the business has made since the acquisition, including expanding its connected network of shippers and carriers to one of the largest in the world with 2 million drivers registered since the founding of the company, and dramatically advancing its sustainability impact, with an estimated 2.4 million empty miles eliminated from its network in the past year alone. ABOUT UBER FREIGHT Uber Freight is a market-leading enterprise technology company powering intelligent logistics. With a suite of end-to-end logistics applications, managed services and an expansive carrier network, Uber Freight advances supply chains and moves the world's goods. Today, the company manages over $18 billion of freight and has the largest network of carriers. It is backed by best-in-class investors including Greenbriar Equity Group and partnered with 1 in 3 Fortune 500 companies, including Del Monte Foods, Nestle, Anheuser-Busch InBev and more.

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