This article describes the transformation that data analysis and the supply chain are fostering and how it will impact business intelligence. Find out more about this current topic.

Intelligence-driven businesses are interested in supply chain management and data analysis. In this management style, strategic decisions can be made based on analytical data in important areas, such as the supply chain. In other words, decisions on what, how, and when to act and alter a procedure, an item, or a supplier become exponentially more precise.

In this regard, a global survey highlights that data quality rather than data processing presents the biggest challenge for businesses.

But what exactly are supply chains and data analysis, and why is it crucial to understand this subject?

Read also: Maximize Your Efficiency: Top 5 Supply Chain Trends to Adopt in 2023

Brief History of Supply Chain and Data Analysis

Supply Chain Management (SCM) was initially prompted by the need to reduce expenses while providing customers with high-quality services. Business logistics were typically fragmented and lacked coordinated operations until the middle of the 1970s. Numerous operational and managerial errors led to client complaints and needless expenses.

At the close of the 20th century, a new situation evolved as supply chains’ integration and formation advanced. Supplies and logistics start to provide value and establish a competitive advantage with the customer.

Supply chains have also extended the company’s borders by incorporating huge corporations on a worldwide scale. When a single product is finished, its components may be produced in various nations and shipped to a variety of global markets.

At the same time, there has been a significant advancement in the organization of managing such a large amount of data and information. There have been many changes between the initial EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) programs and the current situation. It has become crucial for managers to integrate sensitive data, analyze it, combine it with other pertinent data, and interpret it strategically. Data analysis and supply chain management were segregated into multiple distinct programs, but their interpretation was combined.

Currently, in addition to EDI, the following are the primary elements of the aforementioned data system:

ECR – Efficient Consumer Response;
DSD – Direct Store Delivery;
CRP – Continuous Replenishment Program;
ERS – Evaluated Receipt Settlement;
VMI – Vendor Management Inventory.

The current problem, however, goes beyond just the software architecture and electronic resources that are readily available. The information set must include Business Intelligence tools and be different in decision support.

The Complexity of the Supply Chain Landscape and Data Analytics

The Supply Chain assumes an increasingly global and interconnected expansion, unlike other “intramural” corporate systems. This is due to the fact that creating supply chains alone is insufficiently strategic; value chains must also be established.

A supply chain will benefit everyone involved in it, not just the corporation that is pushing it in this way. One can relate human capital, technology, new manufacturing tools, management, etc. as a definition of value.

Data processing also becomes a difficult factor as the supply chain transforms into a global information highway that integrates multinational corporations. Integration is a significant difficulty due to the diversity of businesses, platforms, systems, ideologies, and regional cultures.

In other words, it’s important to scale actions, choose pertinent data, combine it with other data, unite it in key presentations, and know how to make strategic decisions. System speed, data accuracy, strategic fit, user-friendly display, and reliable indicators are among the stages.

Industry analysts claim that BI will stand out greatly due to its capacity to comprehend data in this complex environment. But it’s important to realize that this study is only useful if it reflects a difference in how people make decisions.

This is why even though many businesses have effective, quick, and modern processes, only human ability will make them useful as a strategy. No segmentation, data measure, or algorithm can replace a person’s skill.

This decision can only be made by experts who are prepared and educated about the complexities of the Supply Chain and data analysis. Professional training, analytical skills, strategic vision, and, of course, proper systems must all be balanced. In other words, with this management paradigm, organizations will highly value and seek out experts that are well-prepared.

In conclusion, the key to success is having a well-rounded, integrated system with skilled professionals. The combination of these elements will give the BI strategic choice a distinct advantage and significant added value.

Extracting state-of-the-art data

At first look, it appears that data analysis and supply chain management are merely byproducts of high-quality specialist software. Nothing is wronger still. The “secret” is how well the information can be combined with existing data to reveal trends and behaviors.

These will then suggest avenues for decision-making when correctly mixed and inserted within a systemic context of BI. And more: after being examined by experts, they cease to be merely facts and figures and turn into priceless business management indicators.

In this sense, the data that was collected and then combined with others can be classified in some way.

Matrix data (source data): relating to volumes, quantities, values, direct costs, etc.
Trend data: related to fixed or seasonal movements, unforeseen events, variances, etc.
Macro data: data fusion that allows generating deductive/predictive information.
DSRs (decision support reports): summation/merger of the most relevant macro data that allows the elaboration of decision support reports. Thus, DSRs are a fundamental part of BI mechanisms and Business Support structures.

Is there any doubt that the benefits that supply chain management and data analysis may offer businesses will have their limits?

You will learn about businesses that use data to extract indicators and generate projections, enhancing supply chain management, if you opt to get a free supply chain analysis from us.

Learn which data to utilize and how to interpret it to enable analyses in support of the Supply Chain area’s findings.