Paper Example on Supply Chain and Logistic Technology

Introduction

Over the past years, most businesses have preferred using automation software to enable them to improve their productivity, achieve profitability, as well as gain operational efficiency. However, as technological advancements occur, businesses need to adapt to changes felt in the market scenario so that they remain agile. As such, this requires organizations to use Enterprise Resource Planning software for managing the business information, integrating disparate systems, streamlining workflows and achieving efficiency. In supply chain management, ERP solution deals with the physical aspects of supply, which comprise of transportation and storage.

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Supply Chain Software Systems for ERP and Demand Planning

One of the software systems that the company should consider using is JDA Software. The JDA Software Group, Inc. is located in Arizona, USA. It provides end-to-end retail services, as well as software solutions for supply chain management (Tenhiala, & Helkio, 2015). The company also offers solutions to manufacturing and distribution like category management that may involve floor planning, clustering of channel, knowledge-based solutions, as well as space planning. Through this software, intelligent solutions would be provided such as management of transport and warehouse labor, tracking, flow casting, and tracing solutions.

Additionally, JDA Software offers manufacturing planning solutions. These comprise sequencing and factory planning, optimization of inventory, planning of enterprise supply, and demand supplying, sales planning, and operations management. The unique software solutions that JDA provides to companies across the global platform enables it to empower clients to achieve substantially through optimization of costs, increasing revenue while reducing the time consumed to deal with software problems (Boile, & Sdoukopoulos, 2014). As such, the company finds it easy to deliver on customer promises and provide products based on their needs and interests. Due to the unwavering passion of the customers, JDA focuses on designing and provision of value-based products to clients and makes businesses efficient and profitable. Ideally, for long periods, logistics and distribution processes within companies have recorded tremendous changes and transformation. Therefore, the CEO should use the JDA Software to ensure that machines and warehouses within the company are connected to enhance the distribution of its products. Through this, it would facilitate faster responsiveness to the clients hence understanding their needs in time (Tenhiala, & Helkio, 2015). The company will also maintain profitability when it incorporates the technology software into its processes. As the supply chain world has gone digital, JDA solutions will help the logistics providers to deliver quality performance in the operational platform. In essence, even the complex demands of customers would be met amicably thereby adding strategic value to customers.

Another software that I would recommend for the CEO is Kinaxis RapidResponse. Kinaxis Company is located in Ottawa, Canada, and its main customers include Ford and Cisco. The software involves configurable applications used by large enterprises for the planning of their activities. The organizations that use RapidResponse find it easy to identify the analytics capabilities to help manage interconnected processes involved in supply chain planning (Qrunfleh, & Tarafdar, 2014). Through the software, people, data, and processes are connected in a single platform hence assisting with both financial and operational activities. The applications consist of demand planning, management of inventory, planning of supply services and capacity, and order fulfilment. Processes like supplier collaboration and planning the material requirements are also evident.

Based on the number of users and applications that businesses request, companies may consider using Kinaxis Software. Manufacturing enterprises may experience constraints in their supply chain networks due to complexity (Trninic, 2014). As such, they will rely on this software to collaborate planning, enhance monitoring of performance and coordinate response for the planning of responses across different business areas and departments.

Moreover, Kinaxis provides cloud-based solutions, which enables the customers to improve, as well as accelerate analysis of their processes. Different organizations also understand how to make efficient decisions across supply chain operations. The RapidResponse product facilitates the management of multiple and interconnected processes of the supply chain. In essence, the clients gain visibility and are quick to respond to any changing conditions. Therefore, the CEO should consider using the Kinaxis Software to realize operating efficiencies and deal with cloud-based problems that may affect the organization adversely (Boile, & Sdoukopoulos, 2014). Since Kinaxis has configurable operations and sales solutions, it would fill any technique gap that may exist in the marketplace. In this way, the customers will reduce risks, cut costs, as well as make decisions faster. The return on investment would also be delivered within a shorter time as compared to other software systems. The CEO should use the RapidResponse software provided by Kinaxis to prepare for prepare for any changes that accelerate growth.

Conclusion

Companies should be customer-focused and prove it by providing efficient services and products that meet their expectations. However, this will only be easy to achieve when the supply chain is improved, and issues in demand management are dealt with appropriately. Therefore, the CEO should use JDA and Kinaxis RapidResponse Software to deal with problems in supply chain management and the demands of its customers. The software will contribute to sustainable development and align the company with its corporate values that improve performance, increase profitability and enhance efficiency.

References

Qrunfleh, S., & Tarafdar, M. (2014). Supply chain information systems strategy: Impacts on supply chain performance and firm performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 147, 340-350.

Tenhiala, A., & Helkio, P. (2015). Performance effects of using an ERP system for manufacturing planning and control under dynamic market requirements. Journal of Operations Management, 36, 147-164.

Trninic, J., Durkovic, J., Rakovic, L., & Mirkov, N. (2014). Open source ERP as supply chain management support. Strategic Management, 19(2), 19-26.

Boile, M., & Sdoukopoulos, L. (2014). Supply chain visibility and security-the SMART-CM project solution. International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 6(3), 280-292.