Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 21, 2024

In follow-up qualitative interviews, one of the largest issues with organizational alignment was metric definition and a clear definition of supply chain excellence. In my post Mea Culpa, I reference my work with the Gartner Supply Chain Hierarchy of Metrics. Error is error, but is it the most important metric? My answer is no.

Procurement Analytics 393

Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing Metrics Supply Chain Planning Software 393

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 27, 2025

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 The Ukraine-Russia conflict is ongoing.

Supply Chain Planning Software 330

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software Logistics Network Optimization Software Predictive Analytics Software 330

Precoro

DECEMBER 24, 2024

Traditionally, procurement has been a process weighed down by manual tasks, fragmented systems, and endless paperwork. Today, procurement is undergoing a transformation. While procurement teams have long worked to add strategic value, Artificial Intelligence (AI) amplifies their impact.

Price Reduction 105

Price Reduction Sourcing Strategies Cost Reduction Strategies Expense Reduction 105

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 1, 2021

In a previous post , I made a case for how the Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) and Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) are smarter together. Accordingly Supply Chain and Procurement will need continuous collaboration. Such sourcing events can be in the context of direct materials or logistics capacity.

Optimal Sourcing 283

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 283

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 10, 2025

In May 2025, one in seven home-purchase agreements fell through resulting in the cancellation of 56,000 purchase contracts. Supply chain was defined in 1982 as interoperability between source, make and deliver. The concept was that managing trade-offs and optimizing the whole to drive business outcomes would improve value.

Supply Chain Planning Software 195

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Waste Reduction 195

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

But between rising costs, complex logistics, and the constant struggle to optimize space and labor, staying ahead can feel like an uphill battle. That’s where warehouse optimization comes in. Here’s what you can expect: A clear definition of warehouse optimization and its core components. Ready to get started?

Optimal Sourcing 97

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Waste Reduction Modeling 97

ToolsGroup

MARCH 25, 2025

This advanced analysis allows businesses to predict promotional lift with unprecedented accuracy, ensuring optimized production schedules and inventory positioning through sophisticated supply planning.

Supply and Demand 156

Supply and Demand Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 156

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 28, 2024

These passports document all aspects of the life cycle – from the sourcing of raw materials to final disposal or recycling. Information must be collected at each stage of a product’s life, including material sourcing, energy use, and environmental impact. What Components Comprise a Digital Product Passport?

Optimal Sourcing 310

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Modeling Supply Chain Optimization 310

RFgen

DECEMBER 4, 2024

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. As companies across industries have discovered, a well-optimized supply chain can drive significant improvements throughout their operations.

Sourcing Strategies 96

Sourcing Strategies Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction Expense Reduction 96

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 6, 2023

Procurement and Supply Chain Management are essential functions that can help companies navigate these challenges, but they are often siloed and operate in separate departments. Their metrics are often misaligned as well – supply chain focuses on service and procurement focuses on the cost of acquiring materials and services.

Optimal Sourcing 246

Optimal Sourcing Sourcing Strategies Manufacturing Procurement Material Savings 246

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 26, 2023

The basic frame of supply chain planning–functional taxonomies for optimization on a relational database–must be redesigned before supply chain leaders can reap the benefit of deep learning, neural networks, and evolving forms of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Or a unified data model across source, make, and deliver for planning?

Optimal Sourcing 369

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply and Demand Manufacturing Procurement 369

Silvon Software

MAY 6, 2025

Analytics and business intelligence (BI) are no longer optionaltheyre essential. They need visibility across multiple internal systemslike ERP, CRM, and financial platformsand even external sources shared with suppliers, partners, and customers. Think of it as the central nervous system of your analytics ecosystem.

Prescriptive Analytics Software 89

Prescriptive Analytics Software Analytics Software Predictive Analytics Software Supply Chain Design Software 89

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

” As I dipped my spoon into some scrumptious chestnut soup at a great restaurant, my companion asked, “With the advancements in optimization and self-learning, aren’t we close to having self-driving supply chains?” There is no magic ball on design: the organization’s reporting structures vary by culture and size.

Supply Chain Planning Software 376

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling 376

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 3, 2025

Instead of relying solely on a single, monolithic AI model (based on a massive large language model), a company can orchestrate a team of specialized agents, each leveraging the best AI or mathematical technique for its specific task. We needed to model the data in a way that we can do simple searching. Data does not move.

Negotiating Skills 183

Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Supply Chain Planning Software 183

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

I know that your primary focus is procurement. The distribution models were never tested when implemented. As a result, after four years of the initial go-live, the team blindly used planning models, distorting the plan. Or planned orders to purchase orders?) I encourage all to backcast to test and improve their models.

Supply and Demand 431

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 431

SCMDOJO

MAY 23, 2025

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.

Prescriptive Analytics Software 59

Prescriptive Analytics Software Procurement Analytics Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software 59

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

The discipline, first defined in 1982, includes source, make, deliver, and planning functions. One of my favorite supply chain leaders has a stack of Palantir reports in black binders on his desk. Kinaxis Purchase of Rubikloud. Kinaxis Purchase of Rubikloud. The Rubikloud acquisition was a $60M cash purchase.

Supply Chain Design Software 362

Supply Chain Design Software Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software 362

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 14, 2014

But companies often have diverging incentives and interests from their supply chain partners, so when they independently strive to optimize their individual objectives, the expected result can be compromised. ”. I think about this discussion with Keith often as I work on the Supply Chain Index and edit the chapters of Metrics That Matter.

Manufacturing Procurement 345

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Modeling 345

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 4, 2021

Digital commerce efficiently requires the digitalization of many customer-facing operations and sourcing and procurement. Supply chain planning involves interaction with different types of information based on internal and external data sources. This includes internal and external data sources.

Supply Chain Planning Software 284

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Modeling 284

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 23, 2021

Those include trust issues, the operating model, and technology. SCCN solutions provide supply chain visibility and analytics across an extended supply chain. The larger the number of industry participants on a network, the better the solution is at sourcing and onboarding.

Optimal Sourcing 293

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software Modeling Software 293

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 7, 2023

Source: Supply Chain Insights ASCM defines resilience in the SCM Supply Chain Dictionary as the ability of a supply chain to anticipate, create plans to avoid or mitigate, and to recover from disruptions to supply chain functionality. Improve visibility across the networks that operate in self-serving business models.

Supply Chain Design Software 395

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Software 395

Kinaxis

MAY 16, 2025

Since January, Canadians’ weekly grocery trips have become a real-time indicator for the potential impacts of tariffs as shoppers have responded to threats with a showcase of buying power, prioritizing nationally sourced and manufactured products even before a single tariff was enacted.

Beverage 130

Beverage Price Reduction Canada Cost Reduction Strategies 130

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 5, 2021

PwC reports that almost half of assets under management are held by investment firms committed to decarbonization. Similarly, UPS has strong commitments to sustainability and invests in many options, such as alternative fuel vehicles, e-cycles in dense cities, and carbon offsets for purchase with shipping. Buffering creates waste.

Supply Chain Planning Software 322

Supply Chain Planning Software Sustainability Material Savings Supply Chain Planning 322

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 9, 2023

This is because most classical planning solutions lack the modeling capability and computing power to accommodate different data sources, large SKU count, and detailed constraints and contingencies to build an immediately executable plan. each with discrete plans generated typically in sequential batch runs.

Supply Chain Planning Software 282

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Forecasting Software Optimization Software 282

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 1, 2021

The introduction of smoke-free products made the use of spreadsheet tools far less efficient in the capacity and sourcing planning as the new product categories had rapid growth. “We We needed to simulate multiple scenarios of significantly increased capacity and sourcing complexity, at speed and over a long planning horizon.

Modeling 270

Modeling Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing 270

Jaggaer

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

Strategic Sourcing Success: Best Practices and Key Strategies Of course, there are many definition s of source-to-pay but put simply, strategic sourcing is a data-driven approach to securing the best value for your organization from its strategic suppliers. How Has Strategic Sourcing Evolved?

Negotiating Skills 52

Negotiating Skills Purchasing Skills Sourcing Strategies Optimal Sourcing 52

GlobalTranz

APRIL 3, 2018

Multiple manufacturers, multiple relationships, multiple distribution models, multiple contracts. Manifesting this trend is the terminology and concept of Digital Path to Purchase — the omni-channel, tech-focused approach to supporting and acting on a consumer’s purchase.

Supply and Demand 267

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Optimal Sourcing 267

Precoro

OCTOBER 6, 2022

With the global market expansion and deepening supply chain complexity, the roles of procurement leaders have evolved from tactical to strategic. Nowadays, procurement departments not only focus on the day-to-day buying operations but also search for the most efficient ways to go about them. How often do purchases happen?

Manufacturing Procurement 98

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics Pricing Training 98

Jaggaer

APRIL 24, 2025

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 success of this globalized model rested on three assumptions, the first of which was that governments would act in a rational manner to ensure frictionless trade.

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Demand Planning Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 27, 2020

How do we harness the power of data with new forms of analytics? Today, technology providers are selling analytics. This week, I received this email from a financial institution questioning why business leaders are not harnessing more insights and redesigning processes based on analytics. S&OP Challenges. Reflection.

Analytics Software 269

Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing 269

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 26, 2022

It’s time to focus on how we innovate and optimize our businesses and operations in this permanently altered world. There are lively debates about the meaning and prioritization of scale, globalization, outsourcing, and inventory optimization. Changes in our lives, economies and supply chains are ubiquitous and well embedded now.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 338

Logistics Network Optimization Software Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Modeling 338

ThroughPut

APRIL 4, 2025

It’s about strategic optimizationensuring availability while minimizing waste and costs. With effective Spare Parts Inventory Optimization , businesses can strike a balance between availability and cost, ensuring seamless operations without overburdening budgets. Supply chain disruptions create uncertainty in procurement.

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Waste Reduction 52

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 17, 2013

Source Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The market shift is towards analytics, but this new market is confusing. They are step change requiring either the redeployment of existing technologies or the purchase of new platforms. Data model structures are the difference between success and failure. The acronyms keep coming….

Supply Chain Design Software 258

Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Supply and Demand 258

Precoro

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021

This month, we continue our Procurement Basics series and would like to introduce our readers to yet another set of often misused business terminology. As both sourcing and procurement are related to obtaining supplies for the organization, confusing these two terms is easy. Procurement. What Is Procurement Process?

Optimal Sourcing 97

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Purchasing Skills Procurement Solutions 97

ToolsGroup

AUGUST 1, 2022

Retail returns occur when a customer returns the purchased items to a seller in exchange for a refund, store credit, or a similar product. Returns come with plenty of challenges around logistics, inventory, and predicting volatile sales trends. 83% of consumers with a household income of over $100,000 report that returns are important.

Retail 296

Retail Optimal Sourcing Purchasing Skills Procurement Solutions 296

Supply Chain Opz

JANUARY 7, 2013

1) Apples Supply Chain Model. Annual Report (SEC Filing) is analyzed and simplified supply chain processes are constructed as below, Supply Chain Planning at Apple Inc. Supply Chain Model of Apple Inc. Information from the annual report is also used to produce the Apple Supply Chain Map.

Case Study 279

Case Study Study Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Planning Software 279

The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society

AUGUST 20, 2020

Organisations that have successfully implemented RPA initiatives report cost savings of up to 80% and time savings of up to a staggering 40%. Procurement. Procurement can also have RPA do dynamic searches of websites to source or conduct market research for future buys and tenders. Purchase Order Management.

Supply Chain Software 246

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Agile and Lean Supply Chain 246