Supply Chain Software
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
The implementation of EDI is important for companies as it can significantly reduce the cost of sending documents. A paper purchase order requires resources to print the PO, fax it, or post it to the vendor. EDI automatically sends the electronic document to the vendor thus reducing the cost of sending the PO. This article describes the basics...
Introduction to Assist4
ASSIST4 from AEB is the comprehensive solution suite for logistics companies that offer a complete set of business services for end-to-end logistics. The application has six areas that can be used across the supply chain including warehouse management, order management, transport and freight, customs management, compliance management, and a visibility function. This article will look at the function and benefits of the different Assist4 components.
Salesforce.com
Salesforce.com is a customer relationship management (CRM) application that has been a leader in the CRM sector for a number of years. Today it has over 100,000 customers, more than 2 million subscribers, and has its application has been translated into sixteen languages. Salesforce.com is unlike other applications as it is not software that is implemented by a company, rather software as a service (SaaS) application.
RFID and SAP
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is becoming more prevalent in the manufacturing industry as companies find ways in which its benefits can be used to greater enhance the accuracy of data collection and identification of products. This article examines the use of SAP Auto-ID for companies who look to implement RFID with their SAP ERP...
SAP Inventory Management
Inventory management is the process of efficiently monitoring the flow of products into and out of an existing inventory in the warehouse. This process involves controlling the receipt of products in order to prevent the inventory from becoming too high where items are stored at an unnecessary cost, or too low where it can cause a stock-out and production could be halted due to lack of raw materials. This article examines inventory management in SAP.
Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
Process Control Systems are an integral part of the production line and to communicate with a company's enterprise resource planning (ERP) system applications can be implemented called manufacturing execution systems (MES). These allows companies to have a visibility of the production line from the ERP system. This article discusses the uses and...
Tips For Selecting A Voice Picking Vendor
Voice Picking systems are becoming extremely important to an efficient warehouse operation. This article examines ten tips for companies who are looking to select a vendor for their voice picking solution.
SAP Sales and Distribution
The sales and distribution (SD) function of SAP is part of the logistics area and contains the processes that help a company integrate with their customers. These processes include providing quotations to customers, receiving sales orders via phone, internet or EDI, shipping the finished goods, and finally billing the customer for the goods that they have received.
SAP Customer Service
Customer Service functionality contains the processes that a company requires to deliver the services are offered to customers. These services can be for warranties that are offered with products or warranties that are purchased by customers. This article looks at the major aspects of the SAP customer service functionality.
SAP Quality Management
Quality Management (QM) is an integral part of the logistics function and within the SAP application it is fully integrated with complementary components including Materials Management (MM), Plant Maintenance (PM), and Production Planning (PP). This article gives an overview of the SAP quality management component.
Inbound And Outbound Deliveries In SAP
In SAP the inbound logistics functionality incorporates inbound deliveries, inbound shipments as well as goods receipts. The outbound logistics functionality covers the picking and packing of materials as well as the outbound delivery and goods issue. This article gives an overview of the inbound and outbound delivery processes in SAP.
SAP Extended Warehouse Management
SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) is a component of the SAP Supply Chain Management (SCM) business suite. The EWM function is not a part of the SAP ERP suite, which contains standard warehouse management. SAP has announced that although they will continue to support SAP WM, they will not be enhancing the product, and all new warehouse functionality will be included in the EWM component.
Social CRM
Social CRM allows a business to drive down to interact with the customer, not only to answer questions, but to listen and react to their needs, as well as courting their opinion on other topics such as new products, services and future direction. This article looks at the evolution of Social CRM.
Smartphones And The Supply Chain
The Smartphone is a popular consumer item that has made its way into the supply chain and is becoming an invaluable tool for a wide range of processes including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). This article examines the use of the Smartphone and the tablet in today's supply chain.
SAP Strategic Enterprise Management
The SAP Strategic Enterprise Management (SEM) product provides integrated software with comprehensive functionality that allows a company to significantly streamline the entire strategic management process. The SAP SEM product can be installed independently of a SAP ERP system as it does not require a direct link to the ERP software. This...
SAP Purchasing
Businesses of any size has to purchase items to either manufacture finished goods or to provide services. Before a purchasing department can purchase material in SAP, the department’s unique infrastructure must be configured. To design a structure that best meets a business’s needs, you need to understand the SAP organizational structure and the decisions a purchasing department needs to make.
Computer System Validation
Computer System Validation is required for companies in certain industries, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, to ensure that the systems they use will not affect the quality of the product. Validation is the documentation of the processes used in manufacturing that demonstrate consistency, it is required on process systems, equipment and...
SAP Plant Maintenance
Plant Maintenance is an integral part of the logistics function and in SAP it is fully integrated with other components including Materials Management (MM) and Production (PP). The plant maintenance function covers three areas of maintenance; inspection, prevention and repair. this article gives an overview of the SAP Plant Maintenance...
Open Source ERP
Open source software has gained a significant foothold in the business work and it is natural that open source ERP and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions are the next evolutionary step in the process. The open source ERP and CRM solutions can be purchased by a company and used as is. This article looks at the advantages and...
SAP Transportation
Transportation is very important element of the supply chain, without transportation, no finished goods would reach their intended customers and no raw materials would ever reach the plant. The transportation functionality in the SAP system allows a company to efficiently ship items from a facility to the customer. This article gives an overview of transportation in SAP.
SAP Advanced Planning and Optimizer (APO)
An important component of SAP is the Advanced Planning and Optimizer (APO) application. APO is a suite of supply chain planner applications that increase overall knowledge of the supply chain and provide forecasting, planning and optimization. This article looks at the basics of the APO function.
SAP Production Planning
Production Planning is an integral part of the logistics function in SAP and it is fully integrated with other components including Materials Management (MM). Every business that has a manufacturing operation will have implemented some level of production planning functionality to ensure that finished goods can be manufactured at the necessary time for customer’s sales orders to be delivered.
Top Providers of Supply Chain Management Software
Supply chain management software is not just a straight choice the top two or three providers. As the global supply chain becomes more complex, the need to manage this complexity is more important than ever. Companies now have to look at a variety of systems in order to maximize their supply chain efficiencies. This article examines some of the top choices for supply chain management software.
Why Small Business Needs Supply Chain Software
It is important for a small company to manage its supply chain in the most efficient, cost-effective and collaborative way possible. Small business is under pressure to reduce manufacturing costs and to help customers reduce their own costs. This article discusses the needs for small businesses to implement supply chain software.
The Future of Supply Chain Software
Companies who have implemented supply chain software have done so to increase visibility, optimize operations, streamline transportation with the desire to increase their bottom lines. This article looks at current position of supply chain software and what will be required of this supply chain software in the future.
SAP Supplier Relationship Management
The SAP Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) application can connect a company with its supply base which allows multiple levels of suppliers, partners, and manufacturers to work together, while you reduce the cost of goods sold. There are a number of functions that are found in the SAP SRM application including procure to pay, catalog management, and supplier evaluation. This article examines the SAP SRM application.
Technology
Technology is an important part of today's supply chain. Computer software, hardware and methodology is vital to improve efficiency and reduce the overall costs of procurement, manufacturing and transportation of goods.