Supply chain management software, also referred to as SCM software, can help you save both time and resources. If your warehouse is going through equipment upgrades, consider what it will take to include the latest SCM solutions. Provide your managers with SCM software they can easily access from their desktops to keep track of their departments and send reports.

Information about SCM solution software is available online and through industry associations. Look for in-depth reviews of the newest supply chain applications, including web-based SCM systems. However you incorporate the current software, there are a number of ways that you should begin making the most of supply chain management software.

1. Find SCM software online that can help to optimize your warehouse and inventory control.

2. Try web-based supply chain management software providers that give you real time access to your logistics at any given moment.

3. Bring in consultants to choose the best for supply chain management tools for your company.

Action Steps to Find the Right Supply Chain Software
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Investigate various supply management software suppliers and try free demos

In addition to talking to others who have taken advantage of the latest software, look online for information about the kinds of programs that are available to make your business more profitable and efficient. Look for information about inventory control programs and bar code processing systems that help you maintain closer control over the entire supply chain process.

I recommend: Supply Chain Digest will keep you informed of changes and emerging issues that will assist you in making the most of your new IT. Apparel Search can serve as a resource for you to find other vendors, news and information that drives the software affecting the supply chain arena for your textiles business.

Search for SCM systems that can be accessed through online applications

Web-based SCM systems can hook your inventory straight to your vendors' and service providers' sites so that you can make your ordering process more efficient. You can get real-time updates on your inventory at any time of the day or night with online supply chain services, as well as immediate access to your operations from any location with an Internet connection.

I recommend: Check out the latest web-based platforms from Blue Fountain Systems for inventory and stock management applications. Manage your stock and even let your vendors log into your web-based supply chain programs from Solentris to make the most of your upgrades.

Bring in a supply chain software expert to find the best platforms for you

Consider bringing in a third party to review your organization and how it works to help you select the best software for your uses. An SCM consultant can review your warehouse, transportation and communication systems or help you build a supply chain for product development to delivery for a new product.

I recommend: Rockford Consulting is a full-service SCM consulting company that can provide upgrades to your software programs that will make your company more efficient and profitable. Find extensive resources to help you make the most of your SCM software through Oxford Global Resources, a consulting company with access to a variety of consultants so that you can find one that specializes in your industry.

Tips & Tactics to Make Your Best Supply Chain Management Software Buy

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you sign a contract to get supply chain management software, make sure that the provider includes updates and will send them automatically as they occur.

Supply chain management software providers have been adapting to a changing market. Many of their customers are managing a supply chain that has become global. Their customers are also likely to outsource some or all of their manufacturing. This puts new demands on supply chain management solutions. But vendors in this niche are keeping up by providing supply chain management software that can provide visibility across the globe and across numerous supply chain partners. In this guide to you’ll learn:

1. How to determine what supply chain software you need.
2. The benefits of integrating SCM software with ERP systems.
3. Whether to buy a supply chain management solution from your enterprise vendor or choose a best-of-breed SCM software provider.
4. How to take globalization into account with your supply chain management solutions
5. How to manage the supply chain software in an outsourced environment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine whether your ERP vendor is your best source for supply chain software

If you use SAP, Oracle or QAD ERP software, you can now buy SCM software from your ERP provider. According to AMR Research, software from ERP vendors is closing the gap with best-of-breed providers that still have the technology jump on supply chain management solutions.

I recommend: Look closely at the offerings from ERP vendors such as Oracle, SAP, and QAD.

Are best-of-breed supply chain management software providers your best choice?

For more than a decade, the leaders in supply chain management solutions have been independent companies that forged the technology outside the confines of large software enterprises. These companies still have the lead in technology, but the supply chain management solutions developed in recent years by ERP vendors have been catching up.

I recommend: Look at offerings from supply chain software specialists i2 Technologies, RedPrairie, Manhattan Associates and Aspen Technology.

Find a supply chain management solution that takes outsourcing into account

Companies often manage a supply chain that incorporates outsourced manufacturing and distribution. Many supply chain management software providers are well equipped to deal with complex supply chains that need to track goods as they move from suppliers to contract manufacturers, then on to customers without ever touching the company’s own facilities.

I recommend: Look at supply chain management software providers that are accustomed to linking companies to complex supply chains. They include E2open, i2 Technologies and Exostar.

Find a global supply chain management solution

Companies increasingly have a global reach, both in their supply base and their customers. Many supply chain management software providers have kept pace with globalization, so their tools are well-adapted to a global trading environment. This includes integration into logistics and transportation management systems.

I recommend: Look at some of the supply chain management providers that have a global reach. They include E2open, Exostar, Descartes, GXS and Sterling Commerce.

Find a supply chain management solution that integrates into ERP and distribution systems

For the best optimization of a supply chain management solution, it helps if the supply chain software integrates into related business and distribution systems. Some view the ERP vendors as having superior integration since their tools lie within the ERP environment, but the best-of-breed supply chain software companies have worked to keep their integration to ERP, warehouse management and distribution tools in good shape.

I recommend: Go to Business.com for warehouse management solutions and ERP solutions to help with your SCM software search.

Use a consultant to help find the right SCM software

Each industry has its individual supply chain software needs. For instance, the consumer packaged goods industry needs to comply with customer mandates and is turning to supply chain management solutions that include track and trace capabilities to follow goods. Using a consultant within your industry can keep you on track to getting the right supply chain management solution.

I recommend: Consult the directory of supply chain management software consultants at Business.com to begin your search.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make a list of functions that you need before shopping. Include in the list the type of integration you need from your supply chain management solution, whether you need to connect to a warehouse management system, transportation system or an ERP system.
• •  Keep in mind that best-of-breed supply chain management software providers are developing new functionality continually in their attempt to stay technologically ahead of ERP vendors. This means that some of the SCM software tools you seek may offer greater advantages than you expect.
• •  Keep in mind that different supply chain management software providers have strengths in different industries. The needs of retail are significantly different than the needs of pharmaceuticals. Identify the providers that are strongest in your industry.

The latest advancements in supply chain management, or SCM, software are meant to save you time and money while eliminating errors and streamlining trade and the transportation supply chain management process. From costing out jobs to managing your human resources and customer files, supply chain management software providers can supply solutions to process orders and administer billing and inventory control more quickly and efficiently.

Use supply management software to manage every aspect of your business. Transportation, HR and buyers should be hooked in to desktop and mobile applications to deliver accurate reports from any location. Begin using supply chain management software in a number of ways to make your company more profitable.

1. Use SCM systems to manage your warehouse and staff.

2. Use web-based supply chain applications for budgeting and project development.

3. Use supply chain execution software to keep track of resources as they move through the chain.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Manage your operations with supply chain software

Integrate an Internet software system into your company to make quicker and more accurate decisions on the spot, including staffing needs. Get your transportation team the hardware so that they can update with mobile units.

I recommend: Learn about how the latest supply chain management tools can help you to run your entire operation more efficiently by watching the webcasts produced by Logility. Check out the screens that will demonstrate the Llamasoft supply chain system applications.

Prepare business forecasts with supply management software

With web-based SCM software, you can make and send reports directly from a site while updating information as it comes to you live from vendors and clients. Prepare budgets with information that's updated regularly by department managers linked in with the same programs.

I recommend: Check out the calculator provided by Demand Solutions to learn about the return on your investment in new software programs. Use the visual presentations at Manhattan Associates to get a feel for the types of programs available for forecasting supply chain budgets.

Keep pace with supply chain management solutions

Keep track of your inventory in real time with supply chain management software providers. Find out about inventory shortages or transportation stalls, new deals from vendors and the latest exporting regulations through custom software that's built to your specifications and available on your desktop or PDA.

I recommend: Visit GXS to keep up with the many ways SCM software is being utilized, updated and integrated into the supply chain industry. QAD realizes the importance of including all streams of your supply chain in the communication loop with products and software that works with mobile devices to quickly transmit information to the rest of the chain. Find PDF versions of their white papers for more information on how to use supply chain management software.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Let your managers and other key employees try out the free demos of SCM solution software to get their feedback and suggestions before you make a final commitment.

Supply chain management software provides the tools to implement a dynamic management system. Managers worldwide use the system, and the results on the bottom line show significant results. Individuals interested in improving their previous use of this system or implementing it for the first time will find effective and efficient software programs to assist with operations. Supply chain management includes important steps for effective operations, and clear understanding of the key terms in the software programs is essential. Knowledgeable individuals should review and discuss the available programs using the important key terms.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Supply chain

Getting a product to consumers more efficiently in a more profitable manner is the goal of supply chain management. A supply chain begins with the raw materials used to make the product, and it ends when the consumer takes possession of that product. The supply chain includes all of the steps from the beginning to the finished product.

I recommend: CIO provides extensive information about supply chain management as well as a clear definition of supply chain.

Collaborative vision

Suppliers, manufacturers, transportation agents and others all play a part in a supply chain. Managers work to build a collaborative vision with all of the important people responsible for part of the supply chain in order to supply a great product in a timely manner at reasonable costs. Collaborative vision is not automatic, although all of the people in the supply chain want to do their best, so it's up to the leadership and management skills of executives to build a collaborative vision.

I recommend: Business Week is a reliable source for all business people, and collaborative vision for effective supply chain management is the subject of one fascinating article.

Vendor managed inventory

Vendor managed inventory is an important part in making supply chain management software important to the users of the system. In the global marketplace, working with partners in distant places and different time zones is common, so a partner who can check supply inventories and get answers while you sleep is a distinct advantage. Vendor-managed inventory generates reports that will enhance the performance of any organization.

I recommend: Manhattan Associates, leaders in software for supply chain management, has information on vendor-managed inventory software.

Agile business process

Stiff competition means managers must be able to adapt systems for high productivity and lower costs when following the principles of supply chain management. Many managers around the world use agile business processes possible in supply chain management daily to lead a successful organization in the global marketplace. Agile business processes provide quick and efficient changes in order to compete effectively in a fiercely competitive world.

I recommend: i2 is known as the supply chain company because its services and information focus on this popular management process.

Digitization

Digitization has the potential to make supply chain management even better than ever. Managers who use the system usually believe in it, and digitization provides real time information to the people in charge of moving goods from raw materials to packages in the hands of consumers. All of the people or links in the supply chain have access to information on the progress of a product through the supply chain.

I recommend: Supply Chain Digest is another group devoted to the supply chain management, and it has information on digitization as related to supply chain management software.

Downstream

Supply chain management has been very effective, but it is a collaborative effort by all people at the links in the chain. Effective collaboration requires keen understanding by all of the people in the chain in order to maintain an orderly system, so key terms in each software application are most important. Downstream refers to the links in the chain after the assembly of the product.

I recommend: Scribd presents excellent diagrams to explain downstream and other important terms used in supply chain management. Supply Chain Online is another excellent source for those implementing supply chain management.