No industry has been able to escape the impact of disruption. And supply chains and logistics are no exception.
Supply chain professionals have been walking on eggshells when it comes to handling the disruption. The tribulations have put a lot of constraints on them, leading to slow sales and reduced margins. Suffice to say, supply chains have been put to the test in every discernible way since the crisis started.
Both sides of supply chains have been suffering. Rising costs, product delays, economic tension, and more are quite common. However, supply chain strain is not inevitable. Organizations with robust data integration technology are searching ways to navigate the chaos. Access to accumulated data channels allows them to establish a balance and thereby make smart, adaptive decisions in the current times of disruption and beyond. Self-service-powered data integration platforms have a big role to play here.
The Proliferation of Digitalization of Supply Chains
The shift happening in supply chains isn’t new. Freight and logistics organizations have been making a shift from analog processes to digital ones. In the wake of such disruptive times, it’s almost impossible to operate without a digital transportation management system (TMS) or proper data integration infrastructure. A lot of these companies are moving into blockchain decentralized freight management and tracking. Apparently, digitalization has a lot of perks:
- Accountability and transparency
- Adaptability and agility
- Reduction in losses
- Cost-efficiency via seamless operations
- Improved, real-time logistics
And no one can deny the bottom-line benefits. Digital supply chains are faster, cheaper, and highly reliable than paper trails. Often times, a powerful data integration system is what companies need. Such platforms help companies strengthen their data-driven supply chains to make smart decisions in such uncertain times.
Digitalization and Integration Go Hand in Hand
Solutions are available for digitalizing every single aspect of supply chain systems. Albeit this holds importance, supply chain integration is even more important. This implies that companies with modern data integration technology have a hard time adapting to external forces impacting the supply chain.
Even in the simplest and least complex supply chain, there is a multitude of factors to consider including, weather, freight schedules, carrier choice, availability for inventory, and so on. The problems multiply with global supply chains. To make successful business decisions, organizations must be able to access all the data on time. Truth is, every supply chain needs complete and clear data.
In the absence of a synchronized system, companies encounter friction that can ultimately result in the breakdown of a smooth supply chain. There ought to be a way of easily moving data and putting it into a unified repository, where the data can be used to grow and innovate. This is where a self-service integration platform can help. Self-service integration helps business users strengthen their data management system – that entails movement, management, and government of data. It puts onus on the non-technical users and helps them unlock powerful insights without complexity.
Because non-technical users can integrate data, IT teams can focus on more high-value tasks to drive innovation. This takes a lot of burden away from the shoulder of IT teams, increasing productivity by leaps and bounds.
Self-service integration paves the way for smarter supply chains. It allows the free flow of data. That includes everything from digital signature to always-on sensor systems. It makes it easy to track supply chain data (through intuitive screens and dashboards) and use the insights to drive decision-making and value generation.
Not only these platforms transform siloed data into rich workflows of actionable insights but also provide the flexibility and scalability to adapt as supply chains become more complex.