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AI in supply chain automation is gradually reshaping how core functions operate, particularly in procurement, warehousing, and logistics. Key Insight: The use of AI in supply chain automation is producing tangible benefits across procurement, warehousing, and logistics.
While SAP has had procurementanalytics solutions, last year at Spend Connect Live, SAP announced the Spend Control Tower. Daniel Chapman, the senior director of process transformation for procure to pay at Warner Music, was a keynote speaker. This solution provides insights in a much easier way to digest.
However, as carbon taxes and emissions reporting requirements continue increasing, supply chain professionals face mounting pressures from inside and outside their organizations to measure and improve performance against new, nebulous sustainability metrics. Sustainability is high on the list of favorite corporate buzzwords.
Fragmented systems, rising cost pressures, and shifting risk profiles are making it harder than ever to manage procurement effectively. But what does it actually take to regain control and build a procurement strategy that’s both resilient and scalable? How do you begin developing a procurement strategy?
Fragmented systems, rising cost pressures, and shifting risk profiles are making it harder than ever to manage procurement effectively. But what does it actually take to regain control and build a procurement strategy that’s both resilient and scalable? How do you begin developing a procurement strategy?
Three months into 2025, we have seen a barrage of on-again, off-again tariffs that have supply chain and logistics teams reeling, as they must rethink everything from next weeks shipping route to their foundational network models. With the global e-commerce market predicted to reach $8.1
Picture this: You’re a warehouse manager, and with a few taps on your smartphone, you instantly know the exact location and quantity of every item in your inventory. That’s not science fiction—it’s the power of mobile inventory management. Barcode or QR code scanning: Enables quick and accurate stock updates.
Enterprise procurement leaders are under more pressure than ever—juggling cost control, compliance, supplier risk, and internal complexity, all while trying to modernize outdated systems. AI, automation, and generative tools are redefining efficiency, allowing procurement teams to move from reactive to proactive decision-making.
Procurement and supply chain management are often used interchangeably—but in practice, the lines between them can blur in ways that create real friction. Misaligned priorities, siloed systems, and unclear ownership can directly impact key performance indicators like cost savings percentage and procurement cycle time.
An organization with tens of thousands of different products may have to move them across many modes of transportation, IT systems, and third-party logistics partners, all adding to complexity, as well as loss of visibility and control. The ability to meet fulfillment goals is impeded by several issues.
FourKites CEO, Matt Elenjickal One of the two leaders in the real-time transportation visibility market is FourKites. ARC considers real-timevisibility solutions, like the one from FourKites, one type of SCCN solution. I attended my first Visibility conference in 2020. That is fast growth.
When it comes to executing mode-specific freight moves from origin to destination efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively, transportation execution and visibility solutions play a critical role. Visibility solutions allow real-time asset tracking across the entire distribution network.
For most CPOs and CFOs, deciding on the right purchasing setup — centralized or decentralized — is no small task. Each model has its perks, and choosing the best fit can feel like walking a tightrope. Keep reading to learn: What is centralized purchasing? What is centralized purchasing?
If you’re evaluating procurement technology or exploring ways to drive more value from existing systems, chances are you’re looking beyond tactical fixes – you want a smarter, scalable strategy. Misaligned priorities across finance, legal, and procurement create friction that delays decision-making and reduces impact.
Procuring transportation for freight is much different than any other procurement category. Transportation procurement needs to support both customer service and a company’s internal supply chain goals. One master of freight procurement is Kyle Masters. Procurement ran a request for proposal event.
Supply chain efficiency is the cornerstone of success and involves the effective management of processes, resources, and technologies from procurement to production, transportation to warehousing. In the automotive sector, manufacturers are simultaneously reducing inventorycosts and delivery times.
GEP and the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Supply Chain Resource Cooperative surveyed supply chain, procurement and IT professionals across a range of industries to gain insight into their priorities and strategies regarding supply chain resilience and optimization. Alex Zhong, Director Product Marketing at GEP.
Management of Ocean Transit Time Reliability and Visibility by LSCMS Shippers’ Council How would Logistics managers explain to their COO and Production group that inbound material will arrive on 23Dec but with 50% probability? What is supply chain visibility and why it is important?
For example, the One Network platform for supply chain planning and execution is used by the Ministries of Health in Nigeria, Ghana, and Rwanda, providing comprehensive inventoryvisibility across all health facilities for realtime supply demand matching and collaborative decision making.
Experts from North Carolina State University and GEP conducted a survey on supply chain, procurement and IT leaders to determine their challenges and priorities, focusing on examining gaps in the supply chain. The study found that these leaders considered the largest gap to be between supply chain and procurement, citing it as a major issue.
As physical stores opened, shut down and re-opened again, consumers became more flexible in the way they shop for, and purchase, just about every product. Navigating an Increasingly Challenging Logistics Landscape. It’s challenging for logistics providers to keep up, even in perfect supply chain conditions. The next step?
It’s time to focus on how we innovate and optimize our businesses and operations in this permanently altered world. Challenges drive dramatic shifts in supply chain and logistics. Across many of our industries, conventional wisdom about best practices for supply chain operations and logistical networks is being challenged.
The New and Game-Changing Technology Solutions Redefining Last-Mile Logistics. From stocking up your fridge with the week’s groceries to purchasing the latest smartphone, the consumer has now been placed at the center of the supply chain as they pull the complete gamut of products to where they reside. That’s an 87.5%
Strong vendor relationships are critical for business success, especially when it comes to managing inventory and procurement. Vendor Relationship Management (VRM) helps businesses manage supplier interactions, track performance, and ensure smooth procurement processes.
Opportunities for Procurement Technology As we look toward 2025, European businesses are reshaping their supply chains to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. A recent report by Maersk and Reuters Events highlights that 68% of companies are making supply chain visibility and monitoring solutions a top priority.
But between rising costs, complex logistics, and the constant struggle to optimize space and labor, staying ahead can feel like an uphill battle. Data-Driven Decision Making : Using analytics to continuously refine operations. This includes real-timevisibility and tracking via mobile devices.
Supply chain leaders are feeling the squeeze on multiple fronts: costs and interest rates remain high, tariff rates are rising (then falling, then rising again), and consumer demand feels about as solid as consumer confidence which is to say, shaky at best. He lives in Chicago.
SCCN solutions provide supply chain visibility and analytics across an extended supply chain. The most common message types exchanged are Source – particularly purchase order (PO) and purchase order confirmation messages – and Deliver – messages surrounding when goods are likely to arrive. 20 Things to Know About SCCN.
The major challenge faced by customers of real-timevisibility data had always been how to operationalize what could quickly become overwhelming quantities of fast-changing information. This extensive connectivity has resulted in impressive metrics: 1.2
By embracing collaboration, real-time data, and a focus on sustainability, companies can build resilience, improve margins, and gain a competitive edge. Finally, the company collaborates closely with local suppliers, sharing real-time data on production requirements and inventory levels.
By embedding analytics across logistics, sourcing, and fulfillment, businesses gain the visibility and foresight needed to stay competitive.Analytics-driven leadership is no longer a luxury; it’s the foundation of operational survival in todays volatile business environment.
The hyper-focus on meeting customer expectations is also creating pressures upstream in the supply chain, as manufacturers extend visibility and collaboration beyond their own walls to avoid any disruptions. with end-to-end visibility and an eye toward fact-based, profitable decision-making. The Road to Agility and Resilience.
Yet, as few as 33 percent of shippers have taken advantage of a transportation management system (TMS), reports Michael of Levans of Logistics Management. What Are the Challenges in Managing E-Commerce Logistics? This is due to the higher rate of returns associated with e-commerce purchases. LEARN MORE.
Most transportation costs in a company arise from inbound logisticscost. If other words, the costs associated with transportation of items from vendors make up the biggest portion of will transportation costs, reports Amy Roach Partridge of Inbound Logistics.
The way they customize Shopify for operational effectiveness bridges gaps between marketing, customer service, and logistics and converts stand-alone silos into end-to-end digital ecosystems. This real-timevisibility translates into faster issue resolution, enhanced forecasting, and vendor coordination.
By harnessing the growing power of AI to not only sense demand at a very fine-grain, real-time level, but also to govern decisions about pricing and inventory. The company says its new approach uses agentic AI to transform consumer feedback into profitable retail growth strategies. “We
How the digital twin concept drives benefit By using advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms, digital twins can provide real-time insights and recommendations to optimize operations, reduce costs, and increase productivity. Do they purchase a 3D warehouse simulation and modeling tool?
Sudden demand spikes, precipitous demand drops, supply disruptions, production line shutdowns and other events can only be managed by early prediction and real-time responsiveness. Supply chain execution is required to distinguish between the high runner purchases and the slower-moving products customers are willing to wait for.
Russell Zuppo, a vice president for consulting services at Uber Freight, reports that in their customer base, Walmart suppliers are currently paying 0.16% of the cost of goods sold in fines to Walmart. The fines, Uber Freight reports, vary by the costs of the products being sold to Walmart.
Supply chain management typically does not fit very well with procurement, which is a challenge at the best of times, and can be a disaster in difficult times. The third assumption was that the logistics infrastructure would always be available. Procurement must adjust accordingly.
E-commerce has transformed how consumers shop and purchase their favorite products, as well as try new products and services. In addition, poor web design or lag time could dramatically increase e-commerce logisticscosts by leading to greater instances of cart abandonment or even lackluster customer support. LEARN MORE.
Each year in the United States, the return of goods purchased for the holidays usually peaks on one day in early January; the volume is so significant the day has been designated National Returns Day. This year, due to an increased number of e-commerce purchases, retailers and shippers will experience National Returns Week.
Meanwhile, more companies are turning to entities outside of the company, like third-party logistics or integrators (3PLs and 3PIs) to manage omnichannel supply chains , reports Maarten Baltussen of Supply Chain Digital. In fact, third-party companies already have the first step in the bag, and you need to understand why.
Increasing critical parts inventory can be a smart strategy (e.g. a stockpile of chips), but if disruption persists safety stock can run out and is still vulnerable to other chokepoints, like logistics and labor shortages. increased materials lead times) triggers the impact across the rest of the chain (e.g. on-time delivery).
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