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Welcome Jacob and Tech4People. Thanks for posting ahead of time… Hope you can stay until we start, and if not be sure to come back and read the transcript!
We will be starting at 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST sharp. First, though, there are two housekeeping notes:
First, please make a copy of your post before hitting the “post” button – just in case. If the system “eats” one of your carefully crafted thoughts, please hit “Ctrl-Z” to recover it
Second, if you have problems posting, we suggest trying a different browser. IE9 is a popular choice, but sometimes find Firefox, Chrome, or Safari work better.
This will be a fun, fast, and friendly conversation, so please do not hold back with your comments or questions. There are no dumb questions and we value everyone's point of view.
Welcome Greg….thanks for joining. We'll get started in just a couple of minutes. In the meantime, do you want to set the stage? Tell us a little bit about GT Nexus and the work you do.
Sure, thanks Hailey. I'm the Chief Marketing Officer of GT Nexus, and we operate a cloud-based business network for global trade and supply chain management. We help companies manage their global supply chains by enabling them to connect with their trading partners and service providers and orchestrate processes more efficiently.
Hoping the topic of using DNA tagging methods across the supply chains for raw goods (textiles), and component manufacturers (electronics through hydraulics)
A lot of what we saw in the Supply Chain Insights research was just how far companies have to go. Most aspire for supply chain visibility across their value chains but a high percentage rate themselves as underperforming.
Hi @tech4people — well, in connecting networks, EDI is still the most widely used transport mechanism, but innovations in how information is located and aggregated — and linked — after file transport is what is really transforming the information exchange
Thank You, looking forward to this. I'm a bottom feeder within the military industriatl defense system:). Surprising the number of substandard components in electronic modules. Cost of change out is high.
@tech4people — yes, my experience in working with leading companies and supply chain executives that getting to good and trusted supply chain visibility across the value chain is still Holy Grail … there is progress and real innovation now, but most still are underachieving
Hoping the topic of using DNA tagging methods across the supply chains for raw goods (textiles), and component manufacturers (electronics through hydraulics)
We're seeing a lot of interest in trace-ability at the SKU or component level, and that's across industries … pharma, retail, automotive, etc. … But even the basics of tracking inventory in quantities, seeing it in transit, catching exceptions early, etc., has proven difficult.
We're a cloud technology company and a lot of what we do with customers is to get them started in some part of their supply chain where they can get real value quickly. ROI is there for reduced inventory in the in transit sections especially … but that requires monitoring of flow, tracking cycle times, looking for where the excessive dwell point are, and correcting — both operationally and structurally.
Commercial Off The Shelf program begun in mid-90s decentralized a lot of the military industrial supply chain, About the best system controls seem to be Apples and that's completely shutout from general purchases.
@apek — I think to go “decentralized” you really need an information platform that can connect you with your partners and allow everyone to see and act together … this is a lot of what cloud platforms are doing now … they behave more like social networks … and get everyone on the same page … very different that the ERP systems we grew up with
Yeah Tech4 People, politics is a huge role. Defense Logistic Agency passed a mandate as popular as the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare:). MDA supposed to be making announcements NOW at end of March. 6 days left
Our customers run across industries and they include many of the 3PLs that serve lots of other customers, which may include military customers also, but I'm not personally familiar with a specific military customer …
@Hailey, back to yr question on supplier collaboration vs SCV. They are related (for good supplier collaboration, you'll need visibility) but SCV is more of an information sharing layer across lots of processes. Supplier collaboration is a mega process at the front end (forecasting, order distribution, WIP monitoring, pack&scan, invoice gen).
@Greg…Alongwith Decentralization of Supply Chian there need to be other economic reforms which would enabe ” an information platform that can connect you with your partners and allow everyone to see and act together “. This is possible only by enabling a change in corporate management. When you give local palyers control over the supply chain and reform Corporate Business Managerial System such that everyone has a stake in success of business then you will get what you need to have everyone to act together
@gregjohnsen, look at the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Internet Bid Board (DIBBs @http://www.dla.mil/SMALLBUSINESS/Pages/DoingBusinesswithDLA.aspx). DoD contracts being begged for.
@tech4people, well, you could argue that many decentralize today by outsourcing key logistics functions (origin ops, consolication, deconsol, etc.) to strategic 3PLs. This is done for cost advantages but also expertise. My point is that if you go there, if you are moving to a more distributed and outsourced model for key processes, you are going to need a very different kind of information system. You'll need a network collaboration platrform so that you can see and control the myriad processes that are distributed and, execution-wise, beyond your control. ERP has been woefully lacking in this respect, and layering EDI on top of it doesn't solve it either. As the research shows.
@Greg, can you say more about how cloud based collaboration can replace traditional ERP? WHat can organizations expect in terms of ROI, and business results?
Thanks Greg. I have authored several articles on this topic and also have an upcoming book discussing about how to make this feasible. I am sure you will find it interesting. I would add you to my Linkedin. Thanks for you insighful shares on this forum
@Hailey, yes I would say visibility is a critical element of enabling supplier collaboration. By that, I mean a mechanism by which you give buyers and logistics managers withing the buying entity visibility to the PO updates, the work in progress milestones during production etc., and the system is ALSO there for the suppliers themselves. The community is on the same page, looking at the same information. When a supplier makes an update to the PO status, or the production work, it's there for the buyer and even, potentially, for orgin-based 3PLs to see and act on. As an example. SCV gives them the “sight” to the business objects and updates. Then you can automate processes.
@Greg: Does the GTNexus product enable the daunting process of setting up a supply chain collaboration effort (qualifying suppliers, getting contracts in place, etc., etc), or is its value more in the back end of providing visibility once the SRM, CLM, and other processes are set up?
@Haily, I'm a few questions behind here. On the question of ERP vs Cloud network platforms, I have to point out that these don't necessarily REPLACE the ERP systems. Companies are going to need good internal systems, systems of record, to manage their internal operations and records. But when it comes to connecting those systems to the systems and processes of external partners, this is where newer cloud collaboration platforms can yield huge advantages. They work together, or they should.
@Hailey — further on this point, I'm hearing a lot now about the distinction between systems of record (ERP), and systems of engagement (collaboration, cloud). In supply chain this distinction is really critical. Supply chains are not chains, they're networks. It takes a system of engagement to “connect” the players and enable orchestration. This isn't the domain of ERPs, per se, but if you look at any company today, it's defined by it's outsourcing and distributed network. Companies are networks. But they've lacked the IT systems to behave as such.
On Greg's last commnet, I have talked with quite a few companies that use their ERP for what it was designed for–internal company processes–and then the cloud to handle the external bueinss processes (like supplier relations) that ERP and other trad IT systems don't do well.
@tech4people — you're right, these systems need to talk to each other. A company's ERP system needs to connect to a platform which plays the role of connecting the other players' ERP systems too. The cloud platform sits in the middle of the trading network and is both an information hub and a PLACE where work process gets done at the network (or community) level.
@Greg, what would be the best wya for an organizatoin to tackle creating a collaborative environment across the supply chain? Who should be involved? Any pitfalls that should be considered?
That's right. The disconnect is trying to use internal “systems of record” as your external “systems of engagement” …. I remember what one of our customers, Jim Cafone, the VP of Supply at Pfizer said once. He said, “We use ERP to talk to ourselves. But when we want to talk to the world outside we use the Cloud.” They are a big GT Nexus customer.
@Hailey — in our experience, most companies don't do a very good job of “seeing”. We recommend they start there. Cloud platforms (like ours) are proven now, and there are lots of areas where you can begin to “turn on the lights” in your supply chain to see what's actually happen. Not just where product is right now, but how product flows have behaved historically, over time. This is why we put such an emphasis on supply chain visibility (SCV). It IS the capability that companies need to begin to orchestrate. Without, you're running blind, don't have the fact base, and no amount of automation will succeed. See, then automate. In that order.
Another key finding the SCI report is that while 6 in 10 companies rated themselves well for visibility WITHIN the enterprise, that number dropped by 54% when it came to OUTSIDE the company. I think that speaks volumes.
What do the supply chain professionals bring to this conversation? We are seeing a morph in what skills SC pros need to have (Read my piece from today: Infographic: Understand the Supply Chain Talent Gap she says in a blatant pitch. 🙂 )
@Greg, is that gap related to the sheer breadth and number of players outside the supply chain? What do organizations need to do to get everyone in the same (virtual) room to collaborate?
And on the topic of ERP, the report showed that while 6 in 10 companies had confidence in ERP to deliver visibility beyond the bounds of the enterprise, that number dropped by 43% when it came to confidence in ERP to deliver visibility across the broader value chain. Basically, the market isn't confident any longer that ERP can deliver at that “network” level.
@Haily — modern supply chains are incredibly complex and dynamic. Most companies are not vertically integrated any longer. The sheer number of moving parts and players can be staggering. These players have their own systems, their own protocols, etc. Their own ERP systems! So connecting the fabric together and enabling information sharing at that level IS the name of the game now. It requires radically different IT infrastructure than what companies have been buying and installling for the past 30 years.
@dcamp –yes control towers, when we use that term, are about network wide orchestration and collaboration. They're designed to span the value chain, to monitor and drive decision support. This is exactly where cloud-based collaboration architectures are most appropriate.
@Greg, i know that IT folks have a love/hate relationship with the cloud. Too much”shadow IT” going on with it…people adopting services iwthout consulting IT. At the same time, by outsourcing a piece of it, you do get more time to do strategic stuff and it becomes an operational expense which can be good. What does IT have to do to get ready?
@Hailey in answer to the question on more about Control Tower: Control Towers are a set of capabilities supported by advanced technology. They are organized as a shared service. They are focused on improving business objectives such as forecasting, inventory optimization, supplier collaboration, etc.
@scrambo…Decentralizing supply chain also gives an immunity againsts interruption fo regular supply chain due to disasters. Pelase read my article on EBN http://www.ebnonline.com/author.asp?section_id=3315&doc_id=268703&
@srambo — supply chains ARE a lot more exposed to risk today. That's the nature of outsourcing, long lead times, many players in the mix, global volatility, etc. My view is that one of the key ingredients to managing the risk is to be able to monitor supply chain activity pervasively. When you've got a flood, or a labor strike, or unrest in a critical location or part of the world you rely on, you need to know quickly how much inventory is at risk, what your options for reallocating and diverting are, etc. That's “control tower” ready. Companies are still a long way from having that capability, generally.
@Hailey, on “love and hate” cloud debate with IT. I think in supply chain there is an enormous amount of work and innovation that internal IT teams can engage in around cloud. This is a next horizon opportunity to extend the reach and power of in-house systems and to deliver real value to the business around areas that have not yet been fully tapped. I think especially of external mission-critical processes that are still prone to spreadsheets and emails — like procurement and fulfillment, like invoicing and payment processes in the direct supply chain. All these external processes are collaborative in nature, highly iterative, and ideal for cloud based “shared” platforms that engage the entire network of players around the process.
@Mary — I really like that line, “speaking the same language” … and yes, I'd say that's what these newer cloud platforms enable for the community. They get everyone on the same page, speaking the same langague. The PO I'm looking at is not only accurate and up to date, but it's the same one you're looking at.
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A free online environment where users can create, edit, and share electrical schematics, or convert between popular file formats like Eagle, Altium, and OrCAD.
Find the IoT board you’ve been searching for using this interactive solution space to help you visualize the product selection process and showcase important trade-off decisions.
Transform your product pages with embeddable schematic, simulation, and 3D content modules while providing interactive user experiences for your customers.
A worldwide innovation hub servicing component manufacturers and distributors with unique marketing solutions
SiliconExpert provides engineers with the data and insight they need to remove risk from the supply chain.
Transim powers many of the tools engineers use every day on manufacturers' websites and can develop solutions for any company.
Should be a most interesting Live Chat to view!
Goodmorning Everyone
cooperation and collaberation are essential for mutual benificts
I am actually both those reports linked to here
http://supplychaininsights.com/supply-chain-visibility-in-business-networks/
Results are most fascinating!
Do read!!!
Please do read both those reports
Welcome Jacob and Tech4People. Thanks for posting ahead of time… Hope you can stay until we start, and if not be sure to come back and read the transcript!
We will be starting at 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST sharp. First, though, there are two housekeeping notes:
First, please make a copy of your post before hitting the “post” button – just in case. If the system “eats” one of your carefully crafted thoughts, please hit “Ctrl-Z” to recover it
Second, if you have problems posting, we suggest trying a different browser. IE9 is a popular choice, but sometimes find Firefox, Chrome, or Safari work better.
This will be a fun, fast, and friendly conversation, so please do not hold back with your comments or questions. There are no dumb questions and we value everyone's point of view.
And always, please announce your arrival so we can give you a warm EBN welcome and offer you some virtual guacamole. 🙂
Questions, theories, ideas, real world experiences and even friendly rants are welcome here.
Hello Hailey, just joining now.
Welcome Greg….thanks for joining. We'll get started in just a couple of minutes. In the meantime, do you want to set the stage? Tell us a little bit about GT Nexus and the work you do.
are we ready to go live? this is gonna b a good event!
Sure, thanks Hailey. I'm the Chief Marketing Officer of GT Nexus, and we operate a cloud-based business network for global trade and supply chain management. We help companies manage their global supply chains by enabling them to connect with their trading partners and service providers and orchestrate processes more efficiently.
Hi, Tech4People. Glad to have you hear.
Hoping the topic of using DNA tagging methods across the supply chains for raw goods (textiles), and component manufacturers (electronics through hydraulics)
I actually read both reports was good to see how supply chains r evolving now
@greg-r u focused more on edi?
@Mcshrkey…glad you could join us!
A lot of what we saw in the Supply Chain Insights research was just how far companies have to go. Most aspire for supply chain visibility across their value chains but a high percentage rate themselves as underperforming.
@Greg, what's causing the underperformance. We've been talking about supply chain complexity for a long time now.
How would you differentiate supplier collaboration and supply chain visibility?
@greg-do u feel they r really underperforming?
@dcamp, welcome…That's an interesting quetion…
Hi @tech4people — well, in connecting networks, EDI is still the most widely used transport mechanism, but innovations in how information is located and aggregated — and linked — after file transport is what is really transforming the information exchange
Hi Hailey
@dcamp-whats the difference?
Thank You, looking forward to this. I'm a bottom feeder within the military industriatl defense system:). Surprising the number of substandard components in electronic modules. Cost of change out is high.
@tech4people — yes, my experience in working with leading companies and supply chain executives that getting to good and trusted supply chain visibility across the value chain is still Holy Grail … there is progress and real innovation now, but most still are underachieving
Welcome, srambo…thanks for stopping by!
@greg-so what is the low hanging fruit here?
something can provide max roi?
Bringing McSharkey's question to the top, Greg:
Hoping the topic of using DNA tagging methods across the supply chains for raw goods (textiles), and component manufacturers (electronics through hydraulics)
any thoughts on this?
In the SCI research, 96% agreed agility was important or very important and yet just 37% believed they were agile …
That's a huge gap
Why don't corporation give a thought about Decentralizign supply chain
That's a huge gap.
We're seeing a lot of interest in trace-ability at the SKU or component level, and that's across industries … pharma, retail, automotive, etc. … But even the basics of tracking inventory in quantities, seeing it in transit, catching exceptions early, etc., has proven difficult.
@mcsharkey-does politics have a key role to play here in the military electronics process?
Hi Apek, glad you could join us. Pull up a chair, and help yourself to teh virtual guacamole.
We're a cloud technology company and a lot of what we do with customers is to get them started in some part of their supply chain where they can get real value quickly. ROI is there for reduced inventory in the in transit sections especially … but that requires monitoring of flow, tracking cycle times, looking for where the excessive dwell point are, and correcting — both operationally and structurally.
Commercial Off The Shelf program begun in mid-90s decentralized a lot of the military industrial supply chain, About the best system controls seem to be Apples and that's completely shutout from general purchases.
Look at the cost of an Apple item
@Greg, pulling dcamp's question up as well: How would you differentiate supplier collaboration and supply chain visibility?
What do you think?
@Greg, do you serve military customers as well? Or is there resistance to the cloud over security or regulatory concerns?
@apek — I think to go “decentralized” you really need an information platform that can connect you with your partners and allow everyone to see and act together … this is a lot of what cloud platforms are doing now … they behave more like social networks … and get everyone on the same page … very different that the ERP systems we grew up with
Yeah Tech4 People, politics is a huge role. Defense Logistic Agency passed a mandate as popular as the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare:). MDA supposed to be making announcements NOW at end of March. 6 days left
Our customers run across industries and they include many of the 3PLs that serve lots of other customers, which may include military customers also, but I'm not personally familiar with a specific military customer …
@greg-decentralizing supply chains without first getting all parts in place wud b akin to disaster?
@mcsharkey-lol!
@Hailey, back to yr question on supplier collaboration vs SCV. They are related (for good supplier collaboration, you'll need visibility) but SCV is more of an information sharing layer across lots of processes. Supplier collaboration is a mega process at the front end (forecasting, order distribution, WIP monitoring, pack&scan, invoice gen).
I believe you can onboard suppliers much more quickly with a “networked” cloud solution than with tradtional EDI.
This is an IT and business benefit.
@Greg
Do you have some data/input on this?
@Greg…Alongwith Decentralization of Supply Chian there need to be other economic reforms which would enabe ” an information platform that can connect you with your partners and allow everyone to see and act together “. This is possible only by enabling a change in corporate management. When you give local palyers control over the supply chain and reform Corporate Business Managerial System such that everyone has a stake in success of business then you will get what you need to have everyone to act together
So would it be fair that visibiliity supports collaboration?
@greg-thanks for sharing that key difference.
@gregjohnsen, look at the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Internet Bid Board (DIBBs @http://www.dla.mil/SMALLBUSINESS/Pages/DoingBusinesswithDLA.aspx). DoD contracts being begged for.
Hi Mary, glad you could stop by! Guacamole (the virtual kind) is on the table to your left.
Hope it has cilantro!
@tech4people, well, you could argue that many decentralize today by outsourcing key logistics functions (origin ops, consolication, deconsol, etc.) to strategic 3PLs. This is done for cost advantages but also expertise. My point is that if you go there, if you are moving to a more distributed and outsourced model for key processes, you are going to need a very different kind of information system. You'll need a network collaboration platrform so that you can see and control the myriad processes that are distributed and, execution-wise, beyond your control. ERP has been woefully lacking in this respect, and layering EDI on top of it doesn't solve it either. As the research shows.
Thanks for the link, McSharkey
@Mary, loads of cilantro…I'm in CA after all.
@apek, yes agree with your points on the added layer of control when you allow or aim for “local” execution
@Greg, can you say more about how cloud based collaboration can replace traditional ERP? WHat can organizations expect in terms of ROI, and business results?
Thanks Greg. I have authored several articles on this topic and also have an upcoming book discussing about how to make this feasible. I am sure you will find it interesting. I would add you to my Linkedin. Thanks for you insighful shares on this forum
@Hailey, yes I would say visibility is a critical element of enabling supplier collaboration. By that, I mean a mechanism by which you give buyers and logistics managers withing the buying entity visibility to the PO updates, the work in progress milestones during production etc., and the system is ALSO there for the suppliers themselves. The community is on the same page, looking at the same information. When a supplier makes an update to the PO status, or the production work, it's there for the buyer and even, potentially, for orgin-based 3PLs to see and act on. As an example. SCV gives them the “sight” to the business objects and updates. Then you can automate processes.
@Greg: Does the GTNexus product enable the daunting process of setting up a supply chain collaboration effort (qualifying suppliers, getting contracts in place, etc., etc), or is its value more in the back end of providing visibility once the SRM, CLM, and other processes are set up?
@Haily, I'm a few questions behind here. On the question of ERP vs Cloud network platforms, I have to point out that these don't necessarily REPLACE the ERP systems. Companies are going to need good internal systems, systems of record, to manage their internal operations and records. But when it comes to connecting those systems to the systems and processes of external partners, this is where newer cloud collaboration platforms can yield huge advantages. They work together, or they should.
@greg-basically they shud talk to each other.which doesn't happen now.
@Hailey — further on this point, I'm hearing a lot now about the distinction between systems of record (ERP), and systems of engagement (collaboration, cloud). In supply chain this distinction is really critical. Supply chains are not chains, they're networks. It takes a system of engagement to “connect” the players and enable orchestration. This isn't the domain of ERPs, per se, but if you look at any company today, it's defined by it's outsourcing and distributed network. Companies are networks. But they've lacked the IT systems to behave as such.
On Greg's last commnet, I have talked with quite a few companies that use their ERP for what it was designed for–internal company processes–and then the cloud to handle the external bueinss processes (like supplier relations) that ERP and other trad IT systems don't do well.
@tech4people — you're right, these systems need to talk to each other. A company's ERP system needs to connect to a platform which plays the role of connecting the other players' ERP systems too. The cloud platform sits in the middle of the trading network and is both an information hub and a PLACE where work process gets done at the network (or community) level.
@Greg, thanks for the clarification… it seems that most organizations have an internal system that works but it breaks down in the xtended network.
@Mary — yes, we see same. That's where it's trending.
@Greg, what would be the best wya for an organizatoin to tackle creating a collaborative environment across the supply chain? Who should be involved? Any pitfalls that should be considered?
That's right. The disconnect is trying to use internal “systems of record” as your external “systems of engagement” …. I remember what one of our customers, Jim Cafone, the VP of Supply at Pfizer said once. He said, “We use ERP to talk to ourselves. But when we want to talk to the world outside we use the Cloud.” They are a big GT Nexus customer.
@greg-i don't think its fair to blame it for all supply chain shortfalls
@Hailey — in our experience, most companies don't do a very good job of “seeing”. We recommend they start there. Cloud platforms (like ours) are proven now, and there are lots of areas where you can begin to “turn on the lights” in your supply chain to see what's actually happen. Not just where product is right now, but how product flows have behaved historically, over time. This is why we put such an emphasis on supply chain visibility (SCV). It IS the capability that companies need to begin to orchestrate. Without, you're running blind, don't have the fact base, and no amount of automation will succeed. See, then automate. In that order.
@tech4people — sorry, blame what. What is the “it”?
Another key finding the SCI report is that while 6 in 10 companies rated themselves well for visibility WITHIN the enterprise, that number dropped by 54% when it came to OUTSIDE the company. I think that speaks volumes.
What do the supply chain professionals bring to this conversation? We are seeing a morph in what skills SC pros need to have (Read my piece from today: Infographic: Understand the Supply Chain Talent Gap she says in a blatant pitch. 🙂 )
@Greg, is that gap related to the sheer breadth and number of players outside the supply chain? What do organizations need to do to get everyone in the same (virtual) room to collaborate?
And on the topic of ERP, the report showed that while 6 in 10 companies had confidence in ERP to deliver visibility beyond the bounds of the enterprise, that number dropped by 43% when it came to confidence in ERP to deliver visibility across the broader value chain. Basically, the market isn't confident any longer that ERP can deliver at that “network” level.
@all, what are your organizations doing now in terms of supply chain collaboration? What are the pain points you've found?
@Greg, i'm betting that lack of confidence is based on real experience with the limitations of tyring to use an internal system externally.
@Hailey on what the organizatins are doing now: Interested in the Control Tower concept and managed services
@Greg, taking a bit of a forward look, what do you see on the horizon for SC collaboration? What are the leaders doing and planning?
@Haily — modern supply chains are incredibly complex and dynamic. Most companies are not vertically integrated any longer. The sheer number of moving parts and players can be staggering. These players have their own systems, their own protocols, etc. Their own ERP systems! So connecting the fabric together and enabling information sharing at that level IS the name of the game now. It requires radically different IT infrastructure than what companies have been buying and installling for the past 30 years.
@dcamp, can you say more about the control tower concept?
Are longer supply chains more susceptible to emergencies, and how do you plan for supply chain interuptions from disasters?
@dcamp –yes control towers, when we use that term, are about network wide orchestration and collaboration. They're designed to span the value chain, to monitor and drive decision support. This is exactly where cloud-based collaboration architectures are most appropriate.
@Greg, i know that IT folks have a love/hate relationship with the cloud. Too much”shadow IT” going on with it…people adopting services iwthout consulting IT. At the same time, by outsourcing a piece of it, you do get more time to do strategic stuff and it becomes an operational expense which can be good. What does IT have to do to get ready?
@Hailey in answer to the question on more about Control Tower: Control Towers are a set of capabilities supported by advanced technology. They are organized as a shared service. They are focused on improving business objectives such as forecasting, inventory optimization, supplier collaboration, etc.
@scrambo…Decentralizing supply chain also gives an immunity againsts interruption fo regular supply chain due to disasters. Pelase read my article on EBN http://www.ebnonline.com/author.asp?section_id=3315&doc_id=268703&
@srambo, the extended supply chain certainly can be more susceptible to disaster… Greg, can the cloud mitigate that?
@srambo — supply chains ARE a lot more exposed to risk today. That's the nature of outsourcing, long lead times, many players in the mix, global volatility, etc. My view is that one of the key ingredients to managing the risk is to be able to monitor supply chain activity pervasively. When you've got a flood, or a labor strike, or unrest in a critical location or part of the world you rely on, you need to know quickly how much inventory is at risk, what your options for reallocating and diverting are, etc. That's “control tower” ready. Companies are still a long way from having that capability, generally.
Thanks, dcamp, that's helpful. it's a new term for me. I've learned from you today! 🙂
@dcamp — yes, exactly. Totally agree re control tower as a shared service and the focus areas.
@Greg, what needs to happen for organizations to have that capability? It seems to be critical and increasingly so.
@all, i see we are at the 40 minute mark…so queue up any last questions for Greg!
@Hailey, on “love and hate” cloud debate with IT. I think in supply chain there is an enormous amount of work and innovation that internal IT teams can engage in around cloud. This is a next horizon opportunity to extend the reach and power of in-house systems and to deliver real value to the business around areas that have not yet been fully tapped. I think especially of external mission-critical processes that are still prone to spreadsheets and emails — like procurement and fulfillment, like invoicing and payment processes in the direct supply chain. All these external processes are collaborative in nature, highly iterative, and ideal for cloud based “shared” platforms that engage the entire network of players around the process.
Thanks Haily and to all of you. I enjoyed the dialog!
@greg
Has using the cloud assisted organizations in “speaking” the same language by using the same information repository on the cloud?
@Greg There does seem to be a lot of promise for SC and the cloud.
@Mary — I really like that line, “speaking the same language” … and yes, I'd say that's what these newer cloud platforms enable for the community. They get everyone on the same page, speaking the same langague. The PO I'm looking at is not only accurate and up to date, but it's the same one you're looking at.
@Hailey — yes. Lots of promise and lots more to do. The future is very bright.
Thanks, all for making this chat so lively! and thanks, Greg, for being in the hot seat for all our questions. I hope you'll stop by again sometime.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Thanks, Greg!