Supply chain optimization

In many companies, data from the various phases of the value chain is increasingly being generated and combined for analysis. To avoid confusion and to be able to draw profitable insights from the digital information, it is crucial that the sometimes highly sensitive data is strategically managed and processed. With Advanced Reporting, companies can collect and process the real-time data on their goods movements and receive proactive reporting on the current status of their supply chain processes through appropriate tools.

Coordinating and monitoring international supply chains and cross-border logistics is a challenge. Freight forwarders need to deal with different customs regulations, trade agreements and laws, while at the same time demands for environmentally friendly and sustainable transport solutions are rising. Freight forwarding is therefore increasingly using technology in order to simplify and streamline processes: Digital transformation has significantly changed the way goods are moved. We discuss how the different areas of freight management can be optimized with the help of digital solutions.

It is a long way from production to delivery of a product to the end consumer. For many companies, it’s a key priority to ensure that the ordered goods are available on the agreed dates. After all, the more efficient, reliable and punctual the transport of goods, the higher the level of customer satisfaction. To achieve this, it is worth focusing on the middle mile. As the interface between procurement and the final provision of the goods, the latter represents a crucial and complex section of the supply chain. Find out here how strategic supply chain management can help to optimize transport between warehouses with the help of digital solutions in order to shorten delivery times, better manage inventories and meet customer expectations.

The challenges of recent years have prompted organizations to put their supply chains to the test and strive to minimize dependencies on established production sites. For example, many companies are currently using a China+1 strategy to expand their supplier network and relocate production or branches to new locations with attractive conditions. We discuss which countries are becoming promising alternatives in the context of diversification efforts, as well as the factors that play a role in the China+1 strategy and the tasks that go hand in hand with it.

With the increasing challenges in global procurement, many companies feel the growing need to secure their supply chain: If, for example, a supplier solely responsible for certain materials or resources were to fail, this would have serious consequences for production. Diversifying the supply chain through dual or multiple sourcing strategies is an effective means of strengthening resilience and reducing procurement risks. However, an increasing number of suppliers can also result in increased costs and more complex management processes. We compare the advantages and disadvantages of dual and multiple sourcing with the single sourcing concept and explain in which context which alternative is most prone to success.

For companies, inventory management is strategically important and challenging at the same time: In order to avoid surplus goods or bottlenecks, demand must be predicted as accurately as possible. Incorrect planning can lead to considerable economic disadvantages. In order to manage and optimize inventories in line with demand, a high degree of transparency is required in all supply chain processes. In addition to the basics of inventory management, we will introduce you to methods and tools that can be used to increase transparency and thus achieve inventory optimization.

Companies are currently confronted with a multitude of risk events that directly or indirectly impact procurement, production and supply security. Most of these incidents are beyond direct control – yet there are ways to identify risks, adjust processes and optimize systems. The basis for this is supply chain analytics – the targeted evaluation of the data stream that accompanies goods along the supply chain. Our new blog post explains the basics of supply chain analytics.

Conscious consumers and legal requirements such as ESG reporting are increasingly calling on companies to decarbonize the entire value chain. However, many businesses have so far only monitored their SCOPE-1 and SCOPE-2 emissions: direct CO2 emissions within their own company and indirect emissions from energy suppliers. Meanwhile, the SCOPE-3 emissions of the supply chain are still insufficiently recorded. We present a number of examples to show where companies can start and what measures they can take.

In the event of a disruption, an overdependence on individual suppliers or geographical regions can lead to serious bottlenecks in procurement and production. Increased diversification is one way to cushion supply chain disruptions and improve security. We explain strategies that companies can use in order to unleash the full potential of a well-diversified supplier portfolio.