For consumer goods manufacturers, the key to profitable growth is to evolve the enterprise into a demand-driven supply network, moving from a "push" method of moving product, which is based on incomplete or inaccurate demand information, to a "pull" method, which is based on quick response to real-time demand signals. Supply chain management solutions from Microsoft and our partner network address the realities of today's complex global supply chains and provide the needed foundation on which to transform and improve supply chains, moving them into more demand-driven models.
Business Challenges
Manufacturers face the challenge of keeping up with consumer demand and taking the lead in a competitive market while maintaining reasonable inventory costs throughout the supply chain. Overcompensation for consumer demand leads to excess inventory, which means wasted goods, warehouse space, and transportation planning. Undercompensation means empty shelves and lost confidence with retailers that could impact future shelf space. Given the nature of a down economy, continued cost reduction and constant improvements in operational efficiency are paramount. Finding solutions to address these needs is an important part of any manufacturer's ongoing efforts to better manage supply chains, improve operations, and differentiate itself from competitors.
Solutions
For manufacturers ready to transition to a demand-driven supply network (DDSN) model, the next step is to find the right solution. DDSN solutions built by Microsoft partners respond to the unique challenges of consumer goods companies with:
- Demand planning to optimize unit production at near real time
- Warehouse management to track inventory and support the customer base
- Transportation management to streamline the logistics of moving inventory
Supply chain management solutions using the Microsoft platform and offerings from our extensive partner ecosystem provide the ability to transform and improve supply chains. Built on a foundation of Microsoft collaboration, business intelligence, and integration technology, these solutions make supply chains more demand-driven, adaptive, responsive, and efficient. And by delivering software that is familiar, easy to use, and easy to connect to and integrate with other technologies across the entire supply chain, we empower people in consumer goods enterprises.
- Supply Chain Visibility to Effectively Integrate the Extended Supply Chain
Solutions to provide monitoring, performance management, analytics, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive scorecards across the extended supply chain and heterogeneous underlying IT systems - Supply Chain Collaboration to Promote Deeper Levels of Interaction Across All Partners
Flexible business-to-business and application integration, communication, and collaborative process workflows with all supply chain partners - Supply Chain Planning to Facilitate Proactive, Real-Time Planning
Demand management and sales and operations planning business processes, delivered with an integrated business intelligence and collaboration framework - Supply Chain Execution to Apply to Existing Assets and Common User Environments
Logistics, warehouse and transportation management, and supply chain execution solutions-including radio frequency identification (RFID) enablement-that capitalize on common integration across systems to improve your people's visibility into the supply chain and the efficiency of their performance