Supply chain response is critical for recovery, say tech experts

“Responding at the Speed of Business,” is key to supply chain operational excellence, maintain two software industry leaders. In their SCMR webcast, scheduled for tomorrow, Progress Software executives summarize the current marketplace, and outline some of the risks and solutions looming in the future.

According to David E. Olson, director, business event processing for Progress, shippers will have to concentrate on several challenging “market drivers” in the coming years. As a consequence of the sharp demand decline in the past recession, he said, shippers will be pursuing sustainable and profitable growth by introducing new products and services. At the same time, however, they must remain mindful of new regulatory mandates and increased global competition.

“Time to market is critical for maximizing revenue,” he said. “Adding to shorter product lifecycles is the fact that there’s an availability of competing products, placing a premium on product delivery.”

Joining him on the webcast “Business Making Progress,” is David S. Mazzoni, Progress Software industry vice president, supply chain. He noted that high-performing companies are seeking to examine processes and information “holistically” from a customer’s perspective.

Given the current complexity of most major supply chains, though, requires an event and information network comprising sales and outbound processing to financial settlement, Progress executives said. Unfortunately, traditional decision-making solutions usually respond to changes that have already occurred, they noted.

As a consequence, both men suggest that shippers replace Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with Key Response Indicators (KRIs), which signal opportunities and/or threats “in the moment.”

At the same time, said Progress, shippers should leverage “silos” composed of order fulfillment, warehouse management, and transportation management.

“But don’t keep them independent,” they cautioned. “Recognize their contribution to KPIs and take inventory of the real-time events and processes that support the indicators.”

SCMR readers can register for the webcast now and gain access to more findings when it is released on Wednesday, June 8.

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