5 Ways to Reenergize Your Supply Chain Digitalization Strategy

If your supply chain digitalization has been on autopilot this year, it’s time to reignite your strategy—especially if you're experiencing low shipment volumes. 

Supply chain digitalization is the use of digital technologies to change a business model and provide new revenue and value-producing opportunities. Because technology evolves so rapidly, it cannot be a “set it and forget it” initiative. For optimal results, digitalization should be a continuous improvement process that adapts to market conditions.

Here are five ways to reinvigorate your digital supply chain strategy and ensure it continually delivers the highest value for your organization.

Get Everyone Aligned on the Vision

Successful transformation begins with a unified understanding. According to the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), leadership must cultivate a shared vision of digital supply chains.

"Everyone in the organization needs to understand how digital supply chains differ from traditional ones," ASCM advises in their research report, “How to Build a Digital Supply Chain: Focus On Capabilities.” A shared vision ensures that everyone moves in the same direction throughout the digitalization journey, which is crucial when shipment volumes are unpredictable.

Assess Your Current Situation Honestly

Evaluate your existing tools and systems. What capabilities, tools and software will you need to achieve your new digital transformation goals? 

If your legacy systems can’t support your new digital goals, identify digital or cloud-based solutions that can. For instance, a transportation management system (TMS) can offer comprehensive end-to-end visibility, improving collaboration and streamlining functions like demand planning and inventory management, which is vital when shipment volumes fluctuate.

Avoid Chasing the Latest Trends

ASCM advises that the leadership team develop a maturity model identifying the critical stages of digitalization for their organization: “Companies cannot jump from stage to stage, but need to build their digitalization skills as they move through the stages in various functional and regional divisions of the overall supply chain.”

Firms need to build on each stage of the maturity model, which conveys a natural progression companies need to follow. Incrementally building digitalization skills ensures your strategy evolves in line with your needs rather than being swayed by the latest tech fads.

Pursue Digital Initiatives That Drive Quick Business Growth

Any digital investment that helps the organization return to revenue growth will be approved quickly and efficiently. Gartner suggests revisiting your supply chain model to support new digital business models like e-commerce or subscription services. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics are among the technologies that may significantly impact business growth.

Implement the Right Technology Tools

Leverage solutions that enhance supply chain transparency. A well-implemented TMS can deliver high levels of supply chain transparency, aggregate and enhance data, and generate actionable insights. With real-time access to tracking information and performance metrics, your company can adapt to any market condition and maintain operational efficiency.

Take Advantage of Downtime to Achieve Your Digitalization Goals

Digital transformation is crucial for navigating changing market conditions. It provides end-to-end visibility, enabling better decision-making and enhanced service. As Chief Executive reports, digital supply chains offer insights that benefit not only your business but also your customers and suppliers. 

IntelliTrans’ solutions help companies unleash the power of supply chain transparency to improve customer service, reduce operational costs, and automate business processes. The IntelliTrans TMS empowers organizations to be agile and efficient by providing global supply chain transparency. Real-time alerts and interactive data visualizations empower organizations to ask deeper questions and achieve more impactful results, thereby supporting their ongoing digitalization strategies and goals.

Ready to take your supply chain digitalization to the next level? Discover how our TMS can provide the insights and tools you need to stay ahead of market fluctuations and optimize your operations. Learn more about our TMS solutions here.

6 Benefits of End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing global market, where disruptions can cause millions in losses, having end-to-end supply chain visibility is no longer just a luxury—it’s a necessity. 

If your supply chain management platform isn’t providing complete visibility from start to finish, you’re missing out on critical benefits and competitive advantages that could set your business apart.

Why End-to-End Visibility Matters

For many companies, achieving end-to-end supply chain visibility has been like chasing the Holy Grail—an elusive goal that seems always just out of reach. They know this level of visibility exists, and they understand its immense value, but they struggle to connect the dots that lead to true, comprehensive visibility.

This gap presents significant challenges for businesses trying to manage inventory, monitor shipments, and meet customer expectations—critical functions for any B2B or B2C organization today. Without full visibility, many shippers are left in the dark about where their inventory is located, the level of service their carriers provide, and where the inefficiencies lie within their supply chains. 

This lack of insight can result in delayed shipments, increased costs, and dissatisfied customers, all of which can severely impact a company's bottom line.

The Risks of Incomplete Information

Despite significant investments in people, processes, and technology, few companies can claim they have complete visibility across their supply chain. Running on outdated or incomplete information leaves businesses vulnerable, unable to respond swiftly to changes or make informed decisions. This can lead to missed opportunities, higher operational costs, and an inability to meet customer demands effectively.

For example, without accurate data on where shipments are at any given moment, a company might overcommit resources to address a perceived issue that doesn't exist or miss out on optimizing routes that could save time and money. Similarly, lacking visibility into carrier performance can prevent companies from identifying and rectifying service issues before they escalate into more significant problems.

Achieving a complete, end-to-end view of the supply chain—from the transportation planning stages to the delivery of the product to the end customer—is essential for overcoming these challenges. By ensuring that all stakeholders have access to the same up-to-date information, companies can operate more efficiently and effectively in a competitive market.

The Tangible Benefits of Full Visibility

By implementing a robust transportation management system, companies can unlock significant advantages that go beyond just cost savings.

1. Save on transportation costs

Companies with end-to-end visibility can save an average of 6%–10% annually. These savings come from selecting the most cost-effective carriers and transportation modes and ensuring flawless execution across the supply chain. For instance, by accurately tracking carrier performance and shipment progress, companies can avoid costly delays and fines associated with late deliveries or missed deadlines.

2. Optimize operations

With dock scheduling, shippers and carriers can eliminate detention charges by ensuring trucks are loaded and unloaded on time, every time. This precise coordination helps to keep the supply chain moving smoothly and reduces the risk of bottlenecks that can disrupt operations.

3. Reduce transit time variations

A transportation management system allows for proactive exception management, reducing the time spent on manual oversight and enabling quicker response to issues as they arise. This not only minimizes delays but also improves overall customer satisfaction by ensuring that products arrive when expected.

4. Increase asset efficiency

By optimizing transit times, companies can ship more loads with the same number of vehicles, significantly reducing asset costs. This efficiency is particularly important in industries where transportation and equipment costs are a major portion of the overall budget. Streamlining these processes can lead to substantial cost reductions over time.

5. Improve cash flow

Enhanced visibility leads to shorter sales cycles and faster billing, freeing up cash that’s often tied up in lengthy processes. With quicker invoicing and payment cycles, businesses can reinvest funds into other areas of the operation or take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.

6. Lower labor costs

High levels of visibility reduce the need for manual intervention, decreasing labor costs associated with managing the plant, warehouse, dock, or yard. Automation and streamlined processes mean that fewer employees are needed to oversee routine tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic activities that add value to the business.

Take the Next Step

Imagine being able to cut transportation costs by 10% and reduce transit time variations with minimal manual intervention. The IntelliTrans transportation management system can help you achieve this level of efficiency and visibility. By integrating such a system into your operations, you can not only improve day-to-day processes but also gain a strategic advantage that positions your business for long-term success.

Ready to gain the visibility you need to stay competitive? Connect with an IntelliTrans TMS expert.