One of the major attributes driving business success is customer satisfaction. With proper data in hand, companies can work on their supply chain management strategy to cater to customer demands and combat delivery inefficiencies. Supply chain as well as procurement process management produces huge volumes of data. It is important for leaders to adopt the right approach to using valuable data for improved operations.
Supply chain leaders like the Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer uses Machine Learning and AI models for improving supply chain operations. Automating a data pipeline is also of great help. A data-driven supply chain provides higher agility and greater productivity, particularly when there are chances of disruptions. Professionals who have completed a supply chain management certification course deal with this subject better.
Understanding data-driven supply chain management
Data-driven supply chain management includes data usage strategically for better prediction of inventory and production changes, which is closer to real-time. This directly plays a crucial role in quicker decision-making.
When it comes to a data-driven approach to devising a supply chain management strategy, primarily there is the use of new data sources like AI or ML technologies for making predictions. Data-driven supply chains provide a complete and vivid picture of the entire supply chain performance.
Benefits of data-driven decisions in supply chain management
As a Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer, you cannot undermine the importance and benefits of data-driven decisions in supply chain management. Let us look at some of these benefits:
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Actionable insights
With the use of data-driven decisions within the supply chain, businesses can gain insights into the demands of various products and materials. This helps in getting more accurate forecasts. With access to data in real-time, organisations are in a position to adjust to demand fluctuations or emerging trends. This opens up opportunities in generating more revenue.
Businesses also get an insight into the logistical capacity requirements thus dealing with inventory undersupply or oversupply issues successfully. Data-driven decisions help in meeting a balance between demand and supply, leading to cost-savings and more importantly, enhanced customer experience.
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Improved accountability and end-to-end visibility
When businesses implement data-driven decisions in devising strategies for supply chain management, they have improved accountability of the whole work. Moreover, there is a detailed record of every step in the supply management chain offering end-to-end visibility.
Transparency in various operations is a vital point of a sustainable supply chain. With real-time data-driven decisions, organisations have complete transparency, which proves to be useful for all stakeholders. Transparency is inclusive of the due diligence measures in supplier appointments, identifying procurement sources as part of procurement process management and the metrics used for calculating carbon emissions.
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Improved inventory and logistics management
Inventory and logistics management are integral parts of the supply chain management process. With data-driven decisions, vendors and suppliers have immediate updates if there are any kinds of order backlogs. Along with attending to the backlogs immediately, businesses can devise strategies to adjust the inventory management process.
The logistics department also benefits from data-driven decisions as they receive real-time information regarding their consignments, different cargo batches and updated delivery status of each consignment. With enhanced operational management, you can track your goods conveniently. The final result is a happy and satisfied customer.
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Better planning capacity
Every business wants to expand and for that proper planning is a prerequisite. Data-driven decisions in supply chain management provide valuable insights into emerging trends and the demand for a product. This proves to be highly useful for future project planning and devising and implementing effective business strategies.
For instance, in a manufacturing company, real-time data and visibility offer valuable insights into various things including manufacturing inefficiencies, production volumes, various challenges related to raw material sourcing, etc. When businesses get more accurate information from data, they can have better planning. With planning, a business gets a competitive edge over others.
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Cost-savings
Data-driven decisions help in saving good amounts of money in supply chain operations. This is done by making sure that the demands for raw materials and related products are fulfilled timely. This is important so that there is no delay in the production plants or in the assembly lines. Supply chain operations can be made cost-effective if the products move on the quickest routes in the shortest time span.
With necessary insights and transparent visibility from data-driven decisions, supply chain executives are successful in addressing various challenges in the supply chain. Some of these include boosting profitability, reducing wastage and increasing operational efficiencies.
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Enhanced customer experience
Whether it is procurement process management or supply chain management, the main aim of any business is to provide the best customer experience. A Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer implements data-driven decisions for enhanced customer experience. The majority of customers have a positive and smooth experience, making them happy customers.
With real-time data, officers and managers monitor and analyse supply chain operations closely. They can work on ways to increase accuracy and minimise waiting times for product deliveries to customers. As a result, customers receive their orders on or before time and in good condition.
Conclusion
Businesses are realising the value and importance of data and data-driven decisions in supply chain management and procurement process management. Right from making improved data-driven decisions for a particular supply chain management strategy to enhancing end-to-end operations, businesses are leveraging data in the best possible manner.
If you are interested in making a career in the supply chain industry as a Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer, a supply chain management certification course will be of great help. You can take up an IIM supply chain management programme and become a leader in the supply chain and operations industry.
Imarticus Learning in collaboration with IIM Raipur offers an Executive Certificate Programme for Global Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer. This 10-month programme targets senior supply chain professionals and helps them in acquiring operational, technological, strategic and personal skills for carving a niche in the supply chain industry. The study programme has six modules, covering various critical features of supply chain management and operations.
