Supply chain software has many benefits, including controlling and reducing costs, eliminating logistics errors, improving customer service, and improving decision-making. The best supply chain management (SCM) solutions also automate major processes, improve inventory management, and offer detailed reporting and analytics.
If you’re looking for B2B supply chain solutions, SourceDay is one of the leading solutions that integrates with your enterprise resource planning software (ERP) to automate purchase order (PO) changes and enable supplier collaboration.
Here’s an overview of five ways to get the most out of your supply chain management software:
1. Move Your SCM Software to the Cloud
Moving SCM software to the cloud is a fast way to improve supply chain managements. The cloud offers flexibility and easy scaling when demand shifts. You can scale up to match increasing demand and back down when there’s less demand, allowing continuous inventory management improvement. Cloud solutions can be more affordable as you don’t need high upfront costs or expensive hardware.
When you move to the cloud, you’ll pay for computing power instead of hardware. Moving to the cloud frees you from tedious maintenance and upgrades required to ensure peak performance. The costs are more predictable, and the provider handles all IT support, allowing you to focus on what matters. Cloud security has improved over the past few years, so you can leverage the latest encryptions and features.
2. Integrate Third-Party Logistics Solutions
Collaboration can be a stumbling block for supply chain managers. Finding a single solution with everything you need seems desirable, but harder to achieve in practice. Even the best solutions can only feature so many tools. You can achieve excellent results across a few functions, but adding applications is both complex and time-consuming, if not expensive. The best solution is to connect third-party systems.
Supply chain management can benefits from other systems, including accounting, CRM, and ERP tools. When looking to get the most out of your SCM software, consider providers that accommodate PO collaboration and ERP integration. Such tools within the same ecosystem can reduce frustration and improve automation, security, and scaling. Collaborations can help you optimize the supply chain software while extending its functionality.
3. Prevent and Eliminate Duplicate Entries
Duplicate data entries can be accidental but will cost you money and can result in confusion. Unintentional duplicates can result from various members using the system to record product details in an attempt to increase efficiency. Duplicate data within the SCM software can result in conflicts and inaccuracy of stock levels, inventories, and schedules. Since the data is interdependent, duplicate entries can interfere with how the algorithms work.
Supply chain managers should identify the best ways to detect and eliminate duplicates from the system. The best solutions prevent duplicate entries from entering the database in the first place. Detecting and removing duplicate data entries is possible with minimal integrations. Eliminating double entries automatically saves your personnel time otherwise spent tracking down duplicates, allowing them to focus on groundwork processes.
4. Regularly Audit Your SCM Software Usage
Moving to the cloud, connecting third-party systems, and eliminating duplicates are all good. But, is your SCM software delivering the intended results? Is the system working as productively as it should be? The only way to answer these questions is through regular audits. Without an audit, you may not know if you’re getting the most from the supply chain management software. Even if everything is going well with no major errors, you could still be missing out on other benefits.
Regular audits can examine all key aspects of the SCM software, including newly added features and functionality. You’ll easily determine which tools are performing as intended, where improvements are necessary, and if new additions are called for. Audits can help you save money by maximizing the output tools you need and removing those you don’t use. The goal is to test all features and help you get the most from each.
5. Complete Deployment Training for New Modules
Whether your personnel includes experts or novices, you need to get everyone on the same page. Using SCM software requires a good handle on the basics and how everything works. SCM teams should understand how the software makes operations better, error signals, and elementary diagnostics. You should verify that your team is ready for any new module or integrations to maximize performance.
SCM software is an investment that needs to be exploited in all ways possible. If underused, you’ll be paying extra for nothing. Audits can reveal what needs improvements and which teams are responsible for leveraging specific functionalities. Once such areas are identified, you can invest in personnel training and other resources. The objective is to give your teams the best chance of optimizing and maximizing the solution.
Reliable Supply Chain Software for PO Collaboration
Purchase order collaboration is at the center of supply chain management and can benefit from SaaS solutions. Businesses looking to get the most from supply chain software should choose reputable and reliable solutions like SourceDay. Contact us today to see how SourceDay helps your monitor and improve supplier performance.