Operating a business during a time of disruption requires companies to adapt quickly to change. Traditional supply chain management tools can no longer keep up with increasing demand levels. That’s why companies that want a competitive edge are counting on supply chain automation technologies to raise the efficiency and profitability standards.
Even if improving supply chain was already on the minds of industrial manufacturers, the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated that challenge immensely. Consumers had to wait longer for everything from computers to toilet paper to cars. Geopolitical conflicts, labor shortages, and other disruptors continue to shed light on the need for rapid change in supply chain management.
Automation tools have provided companies with new ways to cope with the uncertainties to help keep business processes and products moving.
What is Supply Chain Automation?
A supply chain includes the entire process of producing and selling goods—from the procurement of raw material to manufacturing, storage, distribution, delivery, and recovery.
Simply defined, supply chain automation includes the use of sophisticated, modern technology to handle traditionally manual supply chain tasks without direct human intervention. Automation technologies—such as robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, digital process automation, and digital vendor managed inventory software solutions like ShelfAware—are used to streamline workflows and increase production and efficiency.
How Supply Chain Automation Can Help Your Company
Automation has become a game changer and a necessity for supply chain management.
Organizations can produce more products faster and with more consistent quality by automating manufacturing production tasks. Automation helps speed up the delivery process so smaller companies can compete with quick-service giants like Amazon.
In a digital transformation age where speed and agility have become competitive differentiators, companies can create automated alerts to monitor customer demand. Products and materials can be ordered sooner to prevent shortages. Effective supply chain automation doesn’t replace humans but augments their capacity to help teams work across the supply chain more efficiently.
For example, ShelfAware effectively automates business-to-business supply chains saving time and labor for both suppliers and consumers. Case studies have shown that ShelfAware is 85% more efficient than traditional supply chain processes.
Supply Chain Automation Benefits
Automating supply chain processes can help your company scale, save money, and increase efficiency. Here are a few benefits to automating your supply chain processes.
1. Automation makes restocking easier.
With automated inventory management, crucial parts and supplies can be automatically reordered when stock is low. There are no surprises when customers demand products.
2. Automation improves production and delivery speeds.
Automating repetitive tasks allows workers more time to tackle higher level tasks.
3. Automation improves transparency.
Warehouse teams can track deliveries while procurement teams are alerted of inventory level dips.
4. Automation lowers costs without sacrificing quality.
Automation is effective in reducing returns, reducing inventory losses, and reducing scrap.
5. Automation improves customer satisfaction.
With fewer delays due to supply chain disruptions, customers receive higher quality products on time. Workers can focus on prospecting and building relationships.
6. Automation reduces manual tasks.
Tedious human-performed tasks can create bottlenecks in production. Automating manual tasks saves time and money while making the supply chain process smoother.
7. Automation provides accurate and actionable data.
Accurate analytics break down silos and ensure fast access to reliable data. Leaders can make quick, informed decisions backed by dynamic reports and information.
ShelfAware is revolutionizing supply chain management through the power of collaboration. Independent suppliers work together with a single consumer on a single RFID IoT supply chain platform.
Thanks to its unique use of Cloud SourcingTM, ShelfAware is a great fit for any business trying to remotely manage a complex physical inventory. More specifically, ShelfAware was designed to automate industrial wholesale supply chains and provide a platform for independent industrial suppliers to collaborate and collectively supply the industry’s largest consumers on an automated omni-channel.
Want to learn more about an affordable way to automate your supply chain? Request your free ShelfAware demo.
Too good to be true? ShelfAware is redefining the vendor-managed inventory industry. For this reason, we’re happy to talk to you about how our intelligent inventory platform can benefit your business. Contact us today for more information.
More articles about using a digital vendor managed inventory system to solve your supply chain challenges:
Everything You Need to Know About Digital Vendor Managed Inventory
Why Cloud SourcingTM is a Game Changer for Digital VMI Systems
What Kinds of Manufacturing Businesses Can Benefit from Inventory Management Software?
Top 10 Advantages of RFID Inventory Tracking
7 Ways to Save Time and Money with an RFID Inventory Management System
How Automation Improves Manufacturing Operational Efficiency
