Part 2 of a 2 Part Series – Automation and the Supply Chain. Read Part 1 – Triaging the Supply Chain, here.

Supply chain automation refers to systematizing part or all of a workflow to improve processes. Essentially, it means using technology to cohesively manage a the entire complex web of working parts.

In our last segment, Part 1 – Automation and the Supply Chain – Triaging the Supply Chain, we discussed the “new normal” of the supply chain in the time of Covid-19 and explored the top scenarios the supply chain was experiencing. In this segment, Part 2, we will discuss how automation is a complete game-changer for supply chain management.

Benefits of Supply Chain Automation

In today’s age of digital transformation, organizations are being driven to use all resources available to optimize workflow and achieve cost-effective processes in their daily operations.

Automation completely transforms supply chain management. Digital technologies are evolving very quickly and are enabling businesses to manage a complex wheel of working parts more quickly, with more cost effectiveness, and with less physical and manual labor than ever before.

Supply chain automation is the systematizing or automating of the workflow to improve processes, such as:

·       Automation of payments and invoicing

·       Automation of order fulfillment and inventory updates

·       Automation of tracking and email confirmation

·       Automation of warehouse robotics (picking and/or packing)

Automation of the supply chain accelerates the movement of your product and service through the supply chain, effectively reducing costs and growing your bottom line. Automation is the resolution of problems for order and delivery channels, the complexity of the global supply chain, and the increasing expectation and demand of customers. Automating the supply chain provides tangible results for companies of all sizes in the following ways:

·      Improved operational efficiency – Supply chain automation is more accurate, efficient, and cost-effective than manual labor.

·      Improved customer experience and increased transparency – Automation keeps customers updated on order status in real time, reducing the time between the creation of an order and fulfillment by automating all communications and order status updates. In addition to providing an electronic invoice, an automated online ordering system provides updates to customers throughout the entire order and fulfillment process. The end result is better customer satisfaction and a foundation of trust with your customer base.

·      Improved inventory management – With automated supply chain processes comes better inventory management. Better inventory and order tracking leads to decreased discrepancies in stock levels and the ability to improve forecast demand.

With Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) ERP, you can build rule-based automation workflows to streamline your sales order processing. This allows you to funnel your orders into workflows based on certain factors, such as:

·      Order value

·      Quantity

·      Sales Channel

Automation of the supply chain enables you to deliver customized and personalized service to your customers without compromise.

Excellent warehouse inventory automation software such as Infor’s CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) ERP allows increased visibility and control of your inventory, allowing you to:

·      Route orders based on quantity

·      Route orders based on customer location

·      Route orders based on actual stock levels

Customer Relationship Management (CRM), is the management of the information you have on your customers, as well as how you stay connected with them. CRM is another area which is improved by automation of the supply chain, as it will enable you to consolidate and connect communications from multiple platforms, provides easy access to communications, maximizes sales opportunities via automated communication with customers, and gives you the ability to group and organize customers based on factors determined by you.

Customers are what make your business; therefore, CRM is one of the most critical components of your supply chain. Utilizing automation tools to maintain customer trust and satisfaction is paramount in your business.

Finally, automation can even improve your internal communications by automating manual tasks. It has been estimated that slightly more than one-third of a salesperson’s day is spent on mundane administrative tasks.  This can easily be rectified by automating and prioritizing lead distribution, records creation, and report generation.

Automating your supply chain allows you to manage inventory, sales orders, shipping, finances, logistics and more from one dashboard; effectively giving you the insights you need to work smarter, grow your business and maintain that competitive edge. Contact us today by visiting www.godlan.com/contact or calling 586-464-4400 to see how we can assist you with the automation of your supply chain.