Welcome to the world of manufacturing and supply chain management, where everything must happen just-in-time, including materials and product shipments across your supply chain. With the pressures of today’s business environment, having the ability to track and monitor those shipments in real-time is more critical than ever.
This is real time shipment visibility, and it refers to the ability to track and monitor the location, status, and condition of shipments throughout the supply chain. It involves capturing and sharing data in real-time, as well as providing stakeholders with valuable insights into inventory levels, shipment progress, and potential bottlenecks. This level of transparency enables effective decision-making, more accurate planning, and improved collaboration between both internal and external stakeholders.
Let’s take a look at a few things improved shipment visibility delivers for your business.
- Operational Efficiency
Businesses can optimize their operations by identifying inefficiencies, streamlining processes, and reducing lead times. Real-time data on inventory levels and shipment status enables better inventory management, resource allocation, and order fulfillment, leading to improved efficiency and cost savings.
- Proactive Issue Resolution
Timely identification of potential disruptions or delays is crucial to mitigating their impact on the supply chain. Supply chain leaders must be able to proactively address shipment delays, inventory shortages, or transportation bottlenecks. By taking swift corrective actions, businesses can minimize disruptions, improve customer satisfaction, and maintain a competitive edge.
- Customer Experience and Satisfaction
Customer expectations are higher than ever. Accurate, real-time information about order status, estimated delivery times, and potential delays builds trust and improves customer satisfaction. Visibility enables them to plan their operations or make necessary arrangements accordingly.
- Supply Chain Optimization
- Supply chain leaders can identify bottlenecks, reduce lead times, and optimize inventory levels. Accurate and timely data enables informed decision-making, leading to improved efficiency, reduced costs, and a competitive edge.
- Enhanced Collaboration
Stakeholders must be able to collaborate, and real-time data sharing enables better coordination, communication, and issue resolution. Improved collaboration fosters trust, strengthens partnerships, and enhances the overall efficiency of the supply chain network.
True visibility is for more than just shipments; it extends to the entire supply chain. Many manufacturers and supply chain management pros face a number of challenges when they look to improve it. Here are a few you could expect.
- Data Integration
The availability and integration of data from various stakeholders, such as suppliers, carriers, and third-party logistics providers, pose challenges. Different systems, formats, and data standards can hinder seamless data exchange, making it difficult to achieve end-to-end visibility.
- Technology and Infrastructure
Ensuring the availability of robust technology infrastructure, including tracking devices, sensors, communication networks, and data management systems, is essential for capturing and transmitting shipment data in real-time. Without this network, you’ll be flying blind. Supply chain leaders must invest in technology that allows collaboration between all stakeholders. This is crucial for developing a seamless network of data.
- Data Quality and Accuracy
Shipment visibility heavily relies on the accuracy and quality of data captured and shared. Inaccurate or incomplete data can lead to incorrect visibility information, which may result in poor decision-making and operational disruptions. It’s important to establish data quality protocols that ensure data is entered into the ERP on-time and accurately.
Shipment visibility is a game-changer in the logistics, supply chain, and manufacturing sectors. It provides businesses with real-time insights into the location, status, and condition of goods, enabling operational efficiency, proactive issue resolution, and a far better customer experience.
But it’s only possible with the right technology. Leaders, you must make the investment into a collaboration and automation solution that will bring both internal and external stakeholders together around accurate, real-time data. Only then will you have true shipment visibility, streamline operations, and minimize risk.
SourceDay is the only solution that guarantees true supply chain visibility from end-to-end, while automating direct materials orders and giving buyers, suppliers, and leaders the ability to collaborate in real time. Every order is tracked and data is always accurate, which means every buyer, supplier, leader, and customer has accurate shipment visibility right when they need.
Ready to see what SourceDay can do for your business? Drop us a line. We’ll show you around.