8 Crucial Supply Chain Management Software Requirements

3. Transportation Management

A transportation management tool or transportation management software (TMS) is essential for organizing and optimizing everything related to mobile operations. A TMS allows users to plan and execute shipments, track and monitor freight movements, and manage carrier relationships. When used properly, a TMS can also help businesses to reduce transportation costs, improve efficiency, and enhance the overall visibility of their supply chain.

Though each solution comes with its unique features, most will include a shipment planning and optimization function to help users find the best routes, modes of transportation, and carriers to meet their shipping requirements. They will also include a carrier management function to manage supplier relationships, track supplier performance, etc. Other important functions include freight tracking and visibility, as well as simplified freight payment and auditing. 

Example of transportation supply chain system

4. Monitoring & Planning

Proper monitoring and supply chain planning are essential to managing any supply chain, regardless of size or complexity. These types of tools provide valuable information on shipping dates, times, IDs, order numbers, and a wide range of freight data. With this information in hand, users can track key performance indicators to assist them in making better-informed decisions. 

Most of these tools will be delivered in the form of a centralized dashboard from which users can see a wide range of manufacturing, procurement, and logistics data all at once. Common features include visual supply chain maps, in-transit status updates, demand planning, and demand forecasting, and even supply chain simulation. The resulting data can also be used to reduce costs and improve overall forecasting. 

An example of a supply chain management solution from our side is Dropyzon. The portal enables drop-shipping clients to place orders on Amazon, with direct delivery to their customers, while also facilitating the discovery of products at the most competitive prices across the Amazon platform. Additionally, it generates a tracking number and dispatches the item directly to the drop shipper's customers. We helped our client to build this platform from scratch.

Example of order management system

5. Supply Chain Analytics

Now more than ever, supply chains need to evolve and improve to stay competitive. This has led more and more users to seek out software solutions that can not only support their supply chain but evaluate it as well. Such analytical software suites typically use business intelligence metrics to determine where supply chain issues stem from and how users can better manage risks. In many cases, they can even use predictive analysis to forecast potential problems. Among the many features of these systems, users will typically find demand forecast accuracy analysis, KPIs, and information management integration options.  If quality management and quality control are high priorities for your business, supply chain analytics can help.

As an example, we worked with AIO impact, the product created by Aioneers, which handles the analytics, decision support, and digital execution of supply chain management. Together with them, we developed a workflow process for this, utilizing a cloud-based infrastructure for both the backend and frontend. Our team helped to implement such features as an executive board, connectors, and digital object twins.

Example of supply chain analytics system 

6. Sourcing & Supply Management

Sourcing procurement and supplier management tools provide users with a unique approach to supply chain evaluation. For instance, many of these systems are programmed to look at costs, supplier quality, contract management, and other related issues. Used properly, they can aid in sourcing and procurement of supplies and raw materials, while also helping to technically assess the relationships between vendors and companies. Ultimately, this aids boost overall efficiency and reduces the occurrence of supply chain mix-ups in establishing key tracking methods. 

7. Technical Features

Every software solution, including those for supply chain management, will come with its own suite of technical features. Though many are similar, others are different to the point that they can dramatically impact the final product's functions. Prospective customers should make sure to pay attention to security features like encryption standards and audit trails, but also cloud-based solution deployment, OS standards, fault tolerances, and more. Last but not least, companies need to assess how well their new system (or systems) can integrate with other tools and APIs.

8. Collaboration Features

Speaking of collaboration, such features are crucial to helping businesses expand their partnerships and increase the breadth and effectiveness of their supply chains. With a highly collaborative option, users can provide their partners with accessible shipment status data, transparent inventory models, and much more. 

Also, the features embedded in these resources make it possible for multiple organizations to work on a single project, ensuring all stakeholders are always on the same page. This also eliminates the need for labor-intensive communication efforts while automating most aspects of the collaboration process. Ultimately, this allows users to expand their reach, scale their supply chain operations, and generally increase the sophistication of their business approach.