| Without a doubt one of the most crucial tools | | | | intelligent transaction processing systems allow |
| available to supply chain professionals today is | | | | different companies spread across different |
| information technology (IT). IT can be the glue that | | | | geographies to collaborate in real time - share order |
| help Supply Chain deliver real value to organizations - | | | | books, asset information or collaborate on tenders or |
| however an incorrectly configured system or a poor | | | | bids - ensure that your system is capable of sharing |
| technology choice can bring it's own problems - here | | | | data with your partners. |
| we check out 6 things that your Supply chain IT | | | | 4. Workflow |
| system should deliver. | | | | Your system should enable you to flow activity |
| 1. Efficient Transaction Management | | | | within the system to your hierarchy of users - need |
| Having simple standard transaction processes, for | | | | to get approval on an order - do it electronically with |
| example how you raise a Purchase Order, supported | | | | workflow - had a delivery rejected by your |
| by a user friendly user interface is a must - make it | | | | warehouse - send out automatic alerts to QA - gone |
| easy for users to capture data once and then utilize | | | | out of stock for an item of inventory - flag it up to |
| it again and again within the system. Pay close | | | | your materials management team for action - look to |
| attention to processes that may result in data | | | | use your system to manage by exception. |
| integrity concerns - make sure that your transactions | | | | 5. Forecasting |
| capture the key information that you require to | | | | Having the right planning tools will get you where you |
| monitor your business and look for automation of | | | | want to get to tomorrow and highlight your business |
| repetative non-value add activities where possible | | | | risks before they bite - need to plan your inventory |
| 2. Business Intelligence | | | | costs over the next 5 years - need to understand |
| An adequate business intelligence or management | | | | your staffing needs on your electrical commodities - |
| reporting solution is often the keystone of any | | | | make sure your solution has adequate planning and |
| business - for Supply Chain that's equally true - | | | | forecasting out of the box. |
| knowing where your assets are, accurate and timely | | | | 6. Collaboration |
| inventory information, supplier performance and a | | | | Collaboration sparks ideas - can save money and |
| firm grip on costs should be easily achieved at the | | | | brings the company closer together - get the |
| click of a mouse. Look to ensure that everyone in | | | | benefits of having design and procurement work |
| your organization has access the data they need | | | | closer to share and work on the same data - Need |
| when they need it. | | | | Design and Procurement to work on a Bill of |
| 3. Enterprise Integration | | | | Materials?- having the right collaboration tools can |
| Linking the supply chain both internally and externally | | | | deliver real value. |
| is no longer a pipe dream - tools such as XML and | | | | |