Supply chain management tools are indispensable in the digital era of volatile demand and evolving customer expectations. Businesses often struggle with a “one fits all” approach, thus losing leads. In the age of circular supply chains, only the best solutions fit unique needs like agile processing and scalability.

In this article, we’ll delve into the features and limitations of the best SCM solutions, the different types of supply chains and associated techniques.

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The Best Supply Chain Management Software

Finding the right tool is crucial. We’ve outlined the top supply chain tools’ features, benefits and limitations to guide your software selection.

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Oracle SCM Cloud

Oracle SCM Cloud serves businesses of all sizes to streamline their operations, reduce waste and drive efficiency. As a cloud-based platform, it’s accessible anytime, anywhere, removing the need for high-investment infrastructure.

This supply chain tool integrates multiple processes and provides end-to-end supply chain visibility, giving businesses a clear, actionable picture of their logistical network.

One of Oracle’s differentiators is its applications designed to handle complex supply chain challenges. These include Product Innovation, Strategic Material Sourcing, Adaptive Manufacturing, Integrated Logistics and Omnichannel Order Fulfillment — all geared towards increasing operational efficiency.

Highest Rated Features According to Our Data

• Demand Forecast Simulations — 100
• Fuel Consumption Analytics — 100
• Demand-At-Risk Drill Down Visualizations — 100
• Multi-Location Supply Planning — 100
• Supply Chain Network Design — 100

AI Capabilities

Top Benefits

• Simplify Installation: This transportation logistics software enhances supply chain capabilities by letting users choose the components and modules to install. Every part is backed by Oracle’s support assurance, providing access to all support avenues.
• Unlock Cloud Capabilities: Access critical supply chain data via your mobile device for secure backup and retrieval from anywhere.
• Exceed Business Goals: Reduce costs, increase supply chain productivity and gain visibility into client service KPIs with this supply chain management software’s wide range of tools.
• Adopt the Latest Technologies: Stay on top of transportation trends by integrating innovations like machine learning, AI and blockchain support into routine supply chain operations.
• Digitize Supply Chains: Oracle facilitates digital data exchange to reduce daily operational costs. Do away with analog filing and the need for pricey on-site maintenance to speed up supply chain processes.

Primary Features

• Transportation Management: This SCM software reduces fleet management complexity while increasing carrier sourcing. Quickly optimize multimodal transportation using its extensive dashboard.
• Warehouse Management: Real-time visibility into warehousing processes improves accuracy while cutting everyday expenses.
• Real-Time Visibility: The software provides real-time in-transit visibility by locating goods for all modes and regions by inputting a shipment tracking, booking, container or vessel number.
• Demand Management: Robust predictive analytics native to the supply chain management software lets users forecast product demand, assisting businesses in staying ahead of market developments.
• Collaboration and Visibility: Companies can plan and forecast more effectively with significant data visibility. Stay in touch with clients and partners using a messaging system that connects businesses.

Limitations

• Integrating Oracle SCM Cloud with legacy systems or third-party software is challenging.
• Real-time analytics and reporting capabilities are rigid.
• It has a limited scope for customization.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Customs Filing — Supported With Additional Modules
• Export and Import Management — Supported With Additional Modules
• Trade Agreements — Supported With Additional Modules

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Blue Yonder

Blue Yonder provides extensive tools and capabilities to optimize transportation, storage and inventory management.

It’s a game changer for businesses aiming to transform their supply chain operations. Luminate Logistics provides a comprehensive end-to-end execution platform that enables the creation of flexible and autonomous distribution networks.

Its predictive capacity distinguishes it, allowing it to recognize potential issues before they occur and provide machine-learning-based intervention recommendations.

This forecasting ability reduces risk and enhances operational potential, providing firms with a substantial advantage in the fast-paced world of supply chain management.

Highest Rated Features According to Our Data

• Demand Forecast Simulations — 100
• End-To-End Supply Chain Visualizations — 100
• Fleet Management — 100
• Lifecycle Planning — 100
• Multi-Location Supply Planning — 100

AI Capabilities

Top Benefits

• Handle Inventory: Establish a competitive edge by strategically planning your inventory logistics and implementing, with strategic objectives for service, manufacturing and distribution. Multi-channel optimization for inventory and stocking techniques helps boost customer service.
• Manage Sales and Operations: Address supply chain challenges to maintain sales viability and operational strategies, increase productivity and successfully link planning and execution. Set realistic costs, revenue and profit goals and bring the supply chain together to achieve them.
• Oversee Finances: With merchandise financial management, businesses can connect their strategic plans to achieve agreed-upon goals. Establish customer-focused financial rules to handle inventory to boost productivity and profits effectively.
• Control Assortment: Assortment management integrates customer purchasing preferences, assortment lifecycle planning, extensive analytics, pre-pack and sizing optimization into a streamlined workflow.
• Optimize Warehouse Management: Real-time transaction processing, selection and storage techniques, integrated labor laws and directed task management deliver high-quality services at a lower cost.

Primary Features

• Logistics Network: Blue Yonder’s Logistics ecosystem connects you to a digital SCM execution partner community. Dynamic price discovery offers unified and seamless access to dynamic pricing and capacity, while freight capacity optimization minimizes idle miles.
• Transportation Management: This durable supply chain tool transforms workflows by streamlining and perfecting execution in multimodal transportation networks. Unlock end-to-end process management, from modeling to scheduling last-mile delivery.
• Warehouse and Labor Management: Change how you do business with real-time inbound and outgoing transaction processing, optimal storage techniques and integrated labor management on an intuitive and smooth user interface.
• Robotics Hub: This SaaS-native SCM software allows rapid onboarding of different warehouse automation service providers. Speed up time to value, improve operational flexibility and eliminate vendor lock-in. Using a single operations dashboard also enhances visibility across various automation systems.
• Demand Planning: The supply chain planning software deploys demand-forecasting variables to provide demand projection with analyzed business impact and risk. Ensure increased planning efficiency, better inventory management, improved customer behavior and demand driver awareness.

Limitations

• Implementing Blue Yonder is complex and time-consuming.
• The advanced features of this logistics management software require a steep learning curve for users and IT teams.
• It has a low processing speed.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Accounting Software Integration — Not Supported
• eCommerce Software Integration — Supported With Integrations

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SAP Supply Chain

SAP SCM is agile supply chain management software that meets the elaborate needs of large enterprises. Integrating predictive analytics with artificial intelligence is one of its primary differentiators, allowing firms to establish optimal planning strategies.

SAP improves supply chain responsiveness and enables firms to manage demand by applying these advanced technologies. Users obtain a holistic, global view of their information and save time, especially in forecasting.

The ability of SAP SCM to streamline end-to-end operations and give real-time inventory and demand data enables organizations to tackle the problems of modern supply chain management.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Demand Forecast Simulations — 100
• End-To-End Supply Chain Visualizations — 100
• Demand Planning — 100
• Lifecycle Planning — 100
• Supply Chain Network Design — 100

AI Capabilities

Top Benefits

• Enhance Communication: Seamless communication between different supply chain stakeholders ensures coordination. Maintain consistent demand management and streamline essential supply chain processes.
• Improve Data Visibility: Get a comprehensive overview of the entire supply chain and extract valuable insights from daily operations. Gain insight into the functionality of each supply chain segment to enable well-informed planning and decision-making.
• Elevate Customer Satisfaction: Enhance visibility into warehousing and transportation, allowing customers to monitor their products’ status, location and shipping details. Foster trust among multiple customers by providing them with real-time shipment tracking.
• Refine Forecasting: Employ advanced AI and analytics to help clients predict product demand accurately. Enhance planning practices to prevent stock shortages and reduce inventory levels.
• Boost Inventory Management: Monitor stored products and optimize stock placement with inventory management tools. Facilitate the quick and accurate retrieval of goods for expedited shipping.

Primary Features

• Cloud Deployment: Use cloud capabilities like backups, document storage and continuous updates without causing downtime. Enable seamless communication for sharing documents and information among team members and stakeholders.
• Predictive Analytics: Integrate advanced business planning capabilities that harness AI and sophisticated analysis to proactively stay ahead of the constantly evolving market, ensuring supply chains remain responsive to demand while achieving profitability.
• Multiple SCM Modules: Use various modules, including extended warehouse management tools, advanced planning and optimization, transportation management systems and supply network collaboration, among others.
• Lifecycle Management: Execute operations across the entire supply chain with features for networking, planning, coordination and execution. Access critical information about all supply chain activities and apply it throughout every phase of a product’s lifecycle.
• Transportation Management: Use multiple transportation management modules to streamline the shipping process. Seamlessly transfer purchase orders, handle returns, and create deliveries using the advanced planning and optimization module. Employ unique scheduling tools to schedule deliveries and drivers, ensuring timely shipments.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Dispatcher-Driver Communication in Mobile — Not Supported
• GPS-Enabled Automatic Vehicle Location Tracking in Mobile — Not Supported
• Warehouse Design and Simulation — Supported With Partner Integrations
• Warranty Management — Supported With Additional Modules
• Procure-To-Pay Analytics — Supported With Additional Modules

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Dynamics 365 SCM

Dynamics 365 SCM prioritizes visibility and control across the supply chain network. It offers predictive analytics, IoT integration and real-time insights to monitor and manage supply chain performance.

With artificial intelligence at its core, Dynamics 365 SCM enables autonomous systems to self-monitor, detect issues and take corrective action.

It also provides integrated business planning features that assist firms in aligning their supply networks with financial objectives. This feature lets businesses maintain the flexibility of their supply chains while ensuring their continued profitability.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Demand Forecast Simulations — 100
• End-To-End Supply Chain Visualizations — 100
• Procure-To-Pay Analytics — 100
• Generate Forecasts — 100
• Multi-Location Supply Planning — 100

AI Capabilities

Top Benefits

• Strengthen Procurement: Enhance procurement using embedded tools to enable real-time collaboration with vendors, conduct spend analysis and manage supplier performance. These analyses provide actionable insights to maximize the effectiveness of your purchasing efforts.
• Reduce Downtime: Minimize expensive errors and boost workforce efficiency with the help of mixed reality and predictive analytics. Use IoT for improved resource scheduling to keep operations running without interruptions.
• Enhance Demand Forecasting: Optimize inventory management by harnessing machine learning for accurate insights. Collaborate with supply chain, sales, and marketing data to enhance demand forecasting, enabling more informed business decisions.
• Optimize Planning: Ensure the right resources are in the right place at the right time to improve inventory volumes. Optimize intelligent planning to exceed customer expectations and reduce downtime by efficiently allocating work centers, workers, machines and plants.
• Improve Product Information: Enhance your product information by creating clear definitions, attributes, identifiers and documentation to expedite time-to-market. Standardize, define and control the release of products per legal requirements. Consolidate product information in a centralized repository to eliminate confusion.

Primary Features

• Dashboards: Craft user-friendly interfaces for overseeing product data and visuals. Retrieve comprehensive product details through a centralized dashboard.
• Configuration Models: Develop adaptable models with embedded constraints to tailor customer needs and product attributes. Automatically generate lists of product requirements and routes essential for delivery and production processes.
• Asset Maintenance: Enhance machines’ longevity by establishing a routine for their maintenance. Use telemetry data to pinpoint necessary machine repairs and strategize replacements.
• Supply Chain Management: Use AI-powered insights to oversee inventory effectively. Streamline inbound and outbound logistics to boost efficiency. Guarantee precise order selection and packaging.
• Customer Returns: Monitor each returned product and address related issues. Valuable insights from AI can reduce the occurrence of future returns.

Limitations

• The software requires extensive training to master the software.
• Loading stored information can be time-consuming.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Build Plan, Resources and Capacity Utilization Matrix — Not Supported
• Demand-At-Risk Drill-Down Visualizations — Not Supported
• Lifecycle Planning — Not Supported
• AI-Based Slotting — Not Supported

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Epicor SCM

Epicor SCM is comprehensive software that streamlines and improves all aspects of supply chain management. Demand planning, procurement, inventory control and logistics are crucial areas the platform’s powerful, sector-specific functionality can manage.

It ensures a smooth flow of information and materials throughout the supply chain network, emphasizing improving communication, cutting lead times and enhancing customer experience.

The integration capabilities of Epicor SCM are one of its unique assets. Using sophisticated analytics and reporting tools gives businesses real-time access to the supply chain processes, enabling them to spot problems and make lead-time improvements.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Custom Dashboards — 100
• Demand Forecast Simulations — 100
• End-To-End Supply Chain Visualizations — 100
• Demand Planning — 100
• Measure and Track Forecast Accuracy or Errors — 100

AI Capabilities

Top Benefits

• Streamline Material Management: The material management module automates the generation of product requests, their transmission and the tracking of inventory movements. Additionally, it offers features such as a material handler interface, order prioritization, sales order allocation, scanning and other functions to meet customer requirements.
• Regulate Inventory: Epicor’s cycle counting module oversees and conducts inventory counts according to a predetermined schedule, reducing annual audit expenses. This method defines necessary cycle counts, performs zero quantity checks for on-hand items and labels items with the correct ABC code.
• Synchronize Supplier Relationships: It brings together procurement professionals, purchasing agents and buyers to enhance the negotiation of contract rates using its estimation tool. Utilize filters to identify the best materials for the task and sort RFQ requirements based on cost, lead time, ISO certification, stock-on-hand and quality rating.
• Optimize Inventory: This SCM software offers a user-friendly online interface that combines reliable forecasting methods, optimization strategies, consensus demand forecasting and inventory planning.
• Connect eCommerce Portals: Epicor’s eCommerce wing, powered by Prophet 21, facilitates the growth of online businesses. It provides features such as mobile access, real-time stock levels, support for both B2B and B2C channels, special pricing, search engine optimization, site analytics, attractive storefronts, and features like master shopper and sales representative support, among others.

Primary Features

• Mobile Application: The Epicor Handheld application empowers you to keep tabs on inventory movements within the company. Its event-driven task routing and direction maintain a comprehensive transaction history for reporting and analysis purposes.
• Electronic Data Integration: This tool offers B2B integration solutions that reduce costs and enhance productivity by delivering electronic data interchange capabilities, adaptable data integration, and database translation engines.
• Barcoding: Epicor BarTender enhances security, safety, and efficiency by automating the generation of barcodes, printing, and the regulation of labels, plastic cards, RFID tags and other items.
• Warehouse Management: Gain complete visibility and control over supply chain and logistics operations. These capabilities include defining finite bins and packages, managing activities and consumption, overseeing tasks and loads, processing orders across multiple channels, and other features.
• Shipping and Receiving: Use a centralized application to monitor the flow of inbound and outbound shipments. Improve efficiency, user-friendliness and precision through online transactions and editing. Features such as container and receipt tracking and bill of lading work together to streamline the process.

Limitations

• The system runs slow, affecting performance.
• It lacks support on challenging issues.
• The process of installation, implementation and upgrading is cumbersome.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• What-If Simulations for Transportation Modeling — Not Supported
• Fuel Consumption Analytics — Not Supported
• Logistics and Shipping Software Integration — Not Supported
• Accounting Software Integration — Supported With Integrations

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Types of Supply Chains

Businesses thrive by structuring their supply chains according to one of the three overarching principles.

Lean principles reduce waste and costs, whereas agile setups enable businesses to respond to changes quickly. Hybrid supply chains allow for adapting strategies as needed, resulting in a more resilient and adaptable supply chain.

Let’s learn more about these types.

Lean

A lean supply chain focuses on delivering a product to the end customer in the most efficient and waste-free manner. It prioritizes removing unnecessary components and steps, significantly reducing lead time — from manufacturing to delivery of the finished product.

This principle improves supply chain resilience, which is especially important for global organizations responding quickly to changing market demands.

Supply chain management tools can improve visibility into operations, allowing waste identification (such as overstock or underutilized resources). Furthermore, predictive analytics can aid in more accurate demand forecasting, lowering the risk of overproduction.

Agile

The essence of agile is to be responsive to changes. An agile supply chain encourages efficient processes and empowers employees. It quickly responds to sudden changes in supply and demand, allowing the company to act decisively and promptly.

Agile supply chains strive to understand the entire supply chain, investing in new technologies and data-driven processes that enable them to exercise precise business control. Real-time inventory management, demand forecasting and dynamic logistics management are all systems that can help a company’s agility.

Hybrid

A hybrid supply chain incorporates the best aspects of lean and agile protocols. For high-volume products, it uses lean strategies to provide value to customers identifying spotting and eliminating waste.

All other products receive an agile treatment. This means your supply chain is capable of dealing with unpredictability — as well as a steady influx of new and innovative products.

A hybrid approach is especially beneficial for businesses that must balance efficiency and responsiveness due to changing customer demands and market conditions.

Companies who want to become “mass customizers” — manufacturing steadily smaller batches customized to customers’ specific needs — also benefit from a hybrid supply chain.

You can use the hybrid approach to:

• Reduce costs along the supply chain and pass the savings on to the customer.
• Learn from the market regularly and implement both long-term and short-term strategies.
• Make sure you meet customer demand while remaining adaptable to market changes.
• Take informed supply chain decisions, combining real-time and aggregate data.
• Create a shipping strategy that works for various product types.

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Supply Chain Management Techniques

Depending on the industry and end goals, businesses adopt different types of supply chain management methods to excel in the market. Sometimes, some constraints can also cause disruptions and call for a restructure.

We’ve discussed some of the popular SCM techniques below.

Material Requirements Planning (MRP)

MRP tools are business-oriented software-based integrated inventory and supply management systems. Businesses use MRP to estimate raw material quantities, maintain inventory levels and schedule produce and shipments.

Consider a small auto parts manufacturer for this example. Using an MRP system, they can forecast the number of brake pads they need to produce in the following month based on historical sales data.

The system can then calculate the raw materials required for the predicted production and determine when suppliers should place orders based on lead time.

Doing so prevents production disruption and excess inventory costs. MRP software can also assist businesses in maintaining appropriate levels of inventory, allowing manufacturers to align supply with demand better.

Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA)

TCA is a financial model-based method that examines prices to determine whether or not goods were purchased at a low price and sold at a high price. Essentially, this supply chain management technique addresses the “purchase or make” debate.

TCA is critical for businesses that want to understand the costs of their supply chain transactions. These may include contract enforcement, procurement, stakeholder communication, and any disruptions that result in renegotiations.

Understanding these costs enables businesses to decide whether to purchase a product or service, manufacture it in-house, or switch suppliers, optimizing overall supply chain costs.

Materials Logistics Management (MLM)

This method focuses on goods storage and mobility within the supply chain. Warehousing, inventory control, material handling and transportation infrastructure management are critical components of this supply chain strategy. It contributes to the smooth flow of materials, increasing efficiency and responsiveness.

Consider a multinational pharmaceutical company that sends medications to hospitals worldwide. Given the requirement for temperature-controlled storage, particular handling guidelines and constrained delivery deadlines, practical supply chain planning tools are essential.

The company can guarantee proper handling, storage, and transportation of these delicate materials by implementing a robust materials logistics management system, increasing efficiency.

Theory of Constraints (TOC)

This method identifies the most significant limiting factor (i.e., constraint) impeding the achievement of a goal. Then, it works to improve that constraint until it is no longer an obstacle. As one of the supply chain management techniques, the TOC may mean identifying an unreliable supplier and then either working with the supplier to increase speed or finding a faster supplier.

For example, a food manufacturing company learns its packaging process has become a bottleneck, slowing the entire production line and causing order fulfillment delays.

Using the TOC, the company focuses on speeding up its packaging process — by investing in more efficient machinery or adding another packaging line — until it’s no longer a constraint.

Channel Coordination

The goal of this method is to synchronize information flow between different supply chain stages. Its purpose is to keep total supply chain costs as low as possible while maintaining service levels.

For example, if a manufacturer and retailer collaborate to align production and sales efforts, the likelihood of overproduction or stockouts decreases.

Supply Chain Roadmap

This valuable time-bound action plan outlines the steps to improve supply chain operations. For example, a company may develop a five-year plan to shift its supply chain strategy from responsive to efficient.

The roadmap highlights significant milestones such as implementing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and training employees in a lean approach.

The first phase could be implementing intelligent inventory management software for six months, followed by delivery improvements using a more extensive courier network. The final stage could incorporate customer feedback to improve their logistics further.

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Next Steps

Consider the potential empowerment these supply chain management tools can offer your operations in the digital age. If the envisioned future aligns with your company’s goals, now is the time to invest.</p

Look up a system with essential AI modules tailored to your business requirements. Use it to create a checklist of features you can send to stakeholders for feedback. With our free comparison report, you can easily compare vendors offering top features like demand sensing, GPS tracking and more.

What supply chain management tools are most critical to your business operations? Are there any techniques you can’t perform with them? Let us know in the comments below!