Supply chain logistics software or supply chain management software (SCM software) is highly valuable to operational managers like yourself. The purpose of logistics platforms is to maximize customer value, while achieving a sustainable competitive advantage in the most effective ways possible. These tools support good transportation, warehousing, inventory, and logistics network design to efficiently link the flow of products, data, and finances. Most organizations today cannot do without a solid SCM solution, so to get you up to speed, here are the top must-have features of a solid software.
1. Order Management
Perhaps the primary concern to the supply chain is robust order and billing management. Software solutions can create orders and bill clients from one location, making your life as an operations manager easier. The SCM solution you choose should be flexible enough to work with your unique order needs and adjust as necessary.
2. Inventory Management
If you want your supply chain to run smoothly and efficiently, you need to properly manage your inventory. Raw materials and supplies, finished goods, and spare or extra parts should be properly stored and managed, and inventory management capabilities like SCM software can help optimize these goals. Optimizing inventory levels ensures that your organization never deals with overstocking or understocking. For example, real-time tools included in SCM software can notify you when there are changes in inventory to allow you to make the right decisions.
3. Seamless Integration (e-Commerce Integration & ERP System Integration)
There are multiple essential functions related to logistics that today’s operations managers must optimize, and in the highly competitive and integrated business ecosystem, the need for a single, comprehensive solution is paramount. Since most organizations cannot handle the bulk work that goes along with managing this software, third-party logistics (3PL) partners have stepped in. These organizations can handle all aspects of your enterprise from beginning to end, while tracking data, presenting real-time information, and streamlining everything from the supplier to the customer. The smoother the interactions are between all parties involved, the more productive the business will be.
4. Warehouse Management
Warehouse management solutions allow organizations to optimize warehouse stock to increase accuracy and efficiency. SCM software allows companies to process orders from various locations, ensuring needs are met in a timely, cost-effective manner. Since thee operations are integral to the supply chain, choosing the right solution could prevent complications and optimize the overall supply chain process.
5. Logistics and Transportation
SCM tools that deal with logistics and transportation properly manage materials and goods to ensure they are at the lowest possible cost. They provide the necessary resources to manage fuel costs and abide by federal rules and regulations. To reduce operational costs and kinks in the supply chain, SCM software should be included as part of your supply chain solution.
6. End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility
Visibility from beginning to end of the supply chain should be a part of every SCM solution. Immediate, real-time access to information about the supply chain ensures there are no issues like missing goods or unhappy customers. Real-time capabilities allow your organization to react to changes quickly, and access current analytics that support future decisions. This feature is not only useful but essential to businesses of all sizes.
7. Forecasting
To anticipate customer demand and plan resources and production accordingly, you will need an SCM solution that includes forecasting. This tool can remove the need to buy too many raw materials or store excess finished goods, thus reducing costs and inventory space.
Leverage the Harmony Logistics Technology Platform with Us
Now that you’ve learned about the most important features of SCM software, it’s time to figure out who will manage your operations for you. As mentioned, a 3PL provider can help you manage your operations so you can focus on making your business and brand more accessible to your online and in-store shoppers. These providers can help you manage your inventory management, shipping, receiving, returns, deliveries, and more, so you save time and money and speed up your success and revenue.
If you’re looking for the right company to partner with, Lean Supply Solutions is the answer. We provide the Harmony Logistics Platform to our clients, and it has brought forward success and greater optimization to many of them. This platform provides unprecedented control over inventory in a highly competitive market, and clearly presents key supply chain information that saves time, and makes the system run more efficiently.
The Harmony Logistics platform provides visibility by integrating basics like track and tract throughout the network, and gives operational managers real-time views of shipping details, inventory counts on specific days, and more. It is available in both web and mobile versions to allow clients to be more agile and responsive to ultimately gain higher profits. It also integrates well with e-commerce, allowing us to receive orders immediately after payment, and pick, pack, and ship them all in the same day.
It provides unlimited SKU cross-reference, allows you to make accurate decisions, provides inbound control, and makes delivery and transportation more accurate. As a manager, you understand the importance of providing efficient and timely deliveries to customers, and there’s no time to waste dealing with errors and waste. The Harmony platform provides multiple sources of information for a seamless understanding of processes and allows customers to compare rates and ship in the most economical way.
At Lean Supply Solutions, we understand how important it is to give your customers what they want, when they want, so we have made it out mission to rise to the challenge. Aside from the efficient Harmony platform, we provide services including product fulfillment, warehousing and distribution, e-commerce fulfillment, warehouse pick and pack, and order fulfillment. We can offer consistent, accurate, and quality results, so you can focus on other important areas of your business. To learn more about outsourcing to our 3PL distribution team or to ask any questions, please contact us.
