The best and most cost effective and efficient supply chains don’t just happen, they are carefully planned, evaluated and analyzed by the business before they are put into place. This ensures that all aspects of the design of the supply chain are optimized with goods and services moving through the chain in a predictable, reliable way.
This is not an easy process, but using specialized supply chain planning system software can be extremely beneficial. This allows the business to not only analyze difference hypothetical options and changes, but it also provides a fast, easy and accurate method for comparing options in real-time and with the most current data.
Why It Matters
In some situations, a smaller business with a relatively simple supply chain may question the benefits of including a supply chain planning system in their business model. For some businesses, particularly those that are not growing or planning on growth, these systems are most likely not a requirement, particularly if the current supply chain is effective and efficient.
However, as a business grows through adding new supplier and vendors, increasing customers, increasing sales and revenue and moving more product and services, the supply chain planning system will become increasingly important as costs rise and potential problems with a breakdown of the current supply chain can spell disaster for the company.
More Successful Planning and Inventory Control
By taking the time to develop a business supply chain with lower costs, redundancies in suppliers if necessary as well as with the opportunity to boost efficiency, companies have more control over their inventory, ordering processes and their planning for marketing campaigns and seasonal stock.
A greater control provides the company with the options to save money, avoids inventory shortage and also allows the business to strategically plan for the future.