If an organization wants a fully orchestrated , endto-end global supply chain , then putting supply chain data into a cloud-based system is the answer
pattern repeated everywhere . From high fashion to electronic parts distribution , and manufacturing through to drug distribution , the story was much the same .
Scalability and connection
“ Before 7bridges came into being , there was very limited ability to interact with a logistics service provider of any sort . Interaction was pretty much limited to Electronic Data Interchange ( EDI ) technologies . Things have really come a long way since then , and many logistics service providers have a tech interface and the skeleton of the supply chain actually has automation built into it to a certain degree , so it ’ s possible to interact in a more data-driven way .
“ Another aspect that has changed is the shift to cloud computing . As supply chains become increasingly integrated into the cloud , it becomes easier to start running them in a more harmonious way . While there are a few exceptions to adoption , today , an acceptance that the cloud is going to play a part in your strategy is pretty much a given .
“ If an organization wants a fully orchestrated , end-to-end global supply chain , then putting supply chain data into a cloud-based system is the answer . To do so off local systems would be prohibitively difficult . A cloud-based system allows for decision-making based on connection rather than supply chain silos .
“ I ’ m sure if you talk to supply chain managers and leaders , most would have subscribed to a fully integrated , outcomedriven operation from the outset . It ’ s simply that the tools available to them have been extremely limited in that respect . The software required needs to provide more than a digital twin . There needs to be an additional layer that can test how the network is going to behave in different conditions , search for ways to behave with resilience , handle the probabilities that might be assigned to different scenarios and equate the chance of any individual catastrophe occurring . This is incredibly difficult to do on a local level . The cloud allows for a level of scalability and connection that simply wasn ’ t possible ten years ago .”
Facilitating agility
According to Phil , one of the biggest challenges facing the supply chain has arisen as a result of a shift in business mindset . “ Supply chain leaders have always been critical of the perception that the supply chain is merely a cost center . When we talk to customers today , their supply chain is now
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