SCM Technologies and their Availability in SC Operations

Abstract: In order to address rising levels of product variety, fulfilment options, and
customer engagement at the lowest possible cost, modern supply chain management is
entering the third wave of a multi-decade progression toward higher levels of
sophistication. a grouping of technology and business process forces are bringing about
unheard-of changes in supply chains and retail operations for all businesses worldwide.
This essay looks into these factors and how they may affect supply chain management in
the future. Modern businesses are forced to adapt and put new strategies and solutions
into place as a result of the competitive global markets and business rivalry. Examining
SCM technologies and how they might be used in SC operations is the goal of this paper.

Key Words: Supply Chain Management, Information System, Artificial Intelligence, IoT,
RFID

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Information

The administration of a network of related companies that ultimately provides the product and
service bundles needed by end consumers is known as supply chain management (SCM)
(Harland, 1996). The movement and storage of raw materials, inventories for work-in-progress,
and finished commodities from the site of production to the point of consumption are all covered
by supply chain management (supply chain). SCM is also described as the "design, planning,
execution, control, and monitoring of supply chain activities with the objective of creating net
value, building a competitive infrastructure, utilising global logistics, synchronising supply with
demand, and measuring performance globally" in the APICS Dictionary.

2.0 SCM TECHNOLOGIES

2.1 Computerised Shipping and Tracking

You can streamline the supply chain and significantly lower shipping errors with the help of
contemporary technology and web-based software. For instance, smart business owners can
centralise all aspects of their supply chain using software like FlashView. You can easily manage
and monitor shipping and tracking details, create electronic invoices, and digitally organise
inventory data with the help of the software. The time spent shipping, receiving, tracking, and
compiling order data can be significantly reduced through the use of supply chain management
technologies, which will save your business time and money.

By enabling customers to continuously monitor the status of their orders, FlashView will not only
significantly improve the operational effectiveness of your supply chain but will also greatly
improve the customer experience. You can drastically lower shipping errors through digitalized
tracking, and you can react to errors that do happen more quickly. Nowadays, having technology
like FlashView is crucial for managing a successful business that is both customer- and business-
friendly.
2.2 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

A crucial piece of technology that may provide the business owner countless advantages is radio
frequency identification (RFID). Every product has an RFID chip, which gives store owners a
simple method to keep track of their inventory. RFID chips will significantly boost your supply
chain's efficiency by identifying any order abnormalities as they happen and enabling staff to
make corrections right away thanks to the improved visibility they offer. Furthermore, it enables
simpler and more reliable tracking, always giving business owners complete control and visibility
over their items. RFID chips can decrease the possibility of mistakes, streamline the supply chain,
and save operational expenses since they allow computerised product management.

2.3 Use social media to Streamline Supply Chain

A widely used technology that has taken over the globe is social media. With 1.23 billion Facebook
users and over 288 million Twitter users, it's understandable why so many businesses are using
social media to increase brand awareness. In fact, social media is used by more than 70% of
Fortune 500 firms for supply chain management and marketing. By utilising social media, you
may improve client interaction, make your business more visible to the public, boost product
demand, employ cost- and time-efficient marketing techniques, cut down on overhead expenses,
and boost overall productivity. Social media may be used to engage with clients, answer to
inquiries, report accidents or weather that can interfere with delivery plans, etc.

Of course, the supply chain is one of the most significant commercial sectors in every industrial
plant chain. This is the operational point that determines not just distribution effectiveness but also
the calibre of the goods a buyer purchases. A crucial element is supply chain management. A
paradigm shifts in how it is done has become necessary due to the lack of productivity. Among the
one of the biggest changes is the adoption of contemporary technology to increase productivity
and across the entire supply chain, accountability.

Modern company has undergone a revolution because to computerised chain management, which
has improved visibility and traceability. Real-time tracking of the complete chain, including
shipment and billing, is made possible by technology. Portable supply chain technology, which is
invaluable in monitoring the supply chain using wireless technology, has steadily increased in
response to the dynamism in technology products such as smartphones, GPS devices, and tablets
among others.

The flexibility it affords logistical managers in tracking and monitoring the whole chain is, of
course, the most important lesson to learn from this ground-breaking technology. Supply
managers may now make changes instantly, preventing supply chain interruptions. This improves
client satisfaction. Global companies like The John Deere Company are using logistic management
software to increase supply chain productivity. Others, like Nike, are employing this technology in
conjunction with DHL Supply Chain to make it possible to monitor the warehousing and
distribution process in real-time. In layman's terms, supply chain management that incorporates
technology ensures:

 Reduction in operational costs

 Improved efficiency through reduction of errors
 Greater customer satisfaction on the other end

3.0 INNOVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY INDUSTRY

LEADERS
To understand the demand for supply chain management (SCM) solutions, take a look at some
useful advances that top business players have embraced:

3.1 Radio Technology

The rise in anomalies that occurs while an order is in route is one of the biggest difficulties for any
supply chain management. Not only does this result in losses, but it eventually hurts a brand. The
supplier is responsible for covering any associated expenses in addition to the interruption charges
if a product is lost in transit. A business may efficiently monitor every product at the
manufacturing line and in the supply chain by implementing Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology. All goods include RFID chips, which allows staff to instantly see any order
irregularities. It is a creative approach to fixing an issue before it devastates the whole supply
chain.

3.2 Advanced Weighing Technology

The procedure of weighing is one of the biggest obstacles in the supply chain. Most industrial
operations continue to employ outdated truck scales, which considerably compromise on
performance. Fortunately, contemporary technology has the brilliant inbuilt. When access to
platform scales is not possible, there are truck scales that allow for smooth operations available.
The scales calculate the gross weight of the vehicle and the payload. They increase production by
making sure a vehicle can carry the most weight possible from the start saving time and money
along with loading point. Additionally, the onboard truck scales been implemented as a safety
assurance to protect warehouse workers for instance, only use their lifts with the permitted
weight.

3.3 Social Media Revolution

About 320 million MAUs out of the approximately 1.3 billion monthly active users (MAUs) of
Facebook. Given these figures, it makes more sense for contemporary organisations to use social
media to enhance the efficiency of their supply chains. It is a clever strategy for expanding
communication avenues and keeping in constant contact with all supply chain participants. It is
simple to respond to inquiries, report incidents in the supply chain in real-time, report changes in
prices, and increase a company's visibility.

3.4 Transport Management Software

The management of supply using computers is where the industry is headed. Utilizing
computerised shipping and tracking systems makes it possible to manage all activities from a
single panel. You can now arrange your inventory data, control shipment, track distribution, and
produce an electronic bill of landing all from the convenience of your office or while on the move
thanks to the availability of such a panel in mobile devices. By doing this, the overall process is
more error-free and improves the client experience.

3.5 Data Analytics

Because of the vast amount of publicly accessible information, the 21st century has been rightly
dubbed the "information era." Numerous data sets are being produced by every new tool, and this
intelligence is what the supply chain management may use to its advantage. Consider all the data
sources, including RFID, CRM transactions, customer surveys, and call centre logs, and you can
see how supply management will soon be driven by big data, much like the current stock market.

4.0 TOP TRENDS

Some of the developments enhancing supply networks' competitive edge include AI, IoT,
sophisticated analytics, and blockchain.

4.1 Artificial Intelligence

AI has the ability to completely transform supply chain operations. Many other rising
technological trends may become obsolete if AI is used to improve and even automate decision-
making, reimagine business models and ecosystems, and transform the user experience. Current
AI systems can recognise patterns and anticipate future events, but they do not yet have the
capacity to make decisions. For the supply chain to be widely adopted, it will be essential to
combine pattern capabilities with more sophisticated prescriptive capabilities. This will allow
users to focus their skills on higher-order use cases like strategic network design or capacity
planning.

4.2 Advanced Analytics

Companies may proactively take advantage of future possibilities and minimise potential negative
occurrences thanks to advanced analytics. Prescriptive analytics may be used to enhance end-to-
end supply chain performance and decision making in functional areas such supply chain
planning, sourcing, logistics, and transportation. Predictive and prescriptive analytics can be used
to power processes that previously relied on human judgment, which could have a significant
impact on future demand for supply chain talent.

4.3 Internet of Things

IoT use is increasing in some areas of the supply chain, but it is rarely a component of a whole
end-to-end supply chain process. The aviation and defence sectors are an exception, as the
extended supply chain makes use of data from the hundreds of sensors installed aboard
aeroplanes. Preventative maintenance, sourcing, manufacturing, shipping, demand management,
and services are additional supply chain use cases that may have an influence. Improved customer
service is achieved by better understanding customer behaviour and demands, proactive response
to and shaping of consumer demand, and increased uptime through remote monitoring and
repair.

4.4 Conversational Systems

With the inclusion of conversational commerce, conversational systems—most prominently used

in virtual personal assistants (VPAs) and chatbots today—are elevating engagement.
Conversational systems may facilitate transactions, process payments, assure delivery, and give
customer support in addition to handling discovery queries and providing solutions without the
need for human agents.

4.5 Robotic Process Automation

Supply chain managers may save costs, get rid of keying mistakes, speed up procedures, and
connect applications thanks to robotic process automation (RPA). For instance, a company might
want to use structured data to automate a manual process or task that already exists with the least
amount of process re-engineering, or to avoid major system integration projects or the deployment
of particular new, significant applications.

4.6 Immersive Technologies

Supply chain companies may improve the digital experiences of their employees and customers by
utilising immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Although
Gartner predicts that VR will become widely used in the next two to five years and AR in the next
five to ten, both technologies are now in use in a number of different sectors. These include
 improved manufacturing repair and maintenance capabilities, logistics and warehousing, as well
as better customer purchasing options using product visualisation or store layout and planning.

4.7 Blockchain

Blockchain is a great fit for some highly decentralised supply chain management tasks, such smart
contracts or traceability and authentication. While many potential commercial use cases for
blockchain in supply chain have yet to be shown, several early pilot projects have already begun.
By creating a digital record that includes the distinctive characteristics, such as colour, carat, and
certificate number that can be laser engraved into the stone, blockchain is being used, for instance,
to track the movement of diamonds from mining to retail stores.

5.0 CONCLUSION
The main point of implementing technology in supply management is to streamline the procedure
and get rid of duplication. Modern technology will assist decrease expenses and mitigate
impending supply chain hazards by enabling a smooth procedure. This is a creative technique to
increase customer happiness and increase productivity in order to keep one step ahead of the
competition.

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