What is Supply Chain Visibility (SCV) and Why Is It So Important?
In today’s global economy, it is more important than ever to have a clear view of your organization’s supply chain. This is where Supply Chain Visibility (SCV) comes in. SCV provides managers with a real-time view of the entire supply chain, from supplier to customer. This allows for better decision-making and increased efficiency.
In this article, we will discuss what SCV is and why it is so important for businesses in the logistics (3PL and 4PL) and supply chain industries (distributors and manufacturers). We will also introduce Cadre Technologies’ software that can not only help you achieve Supply Chain Visibility, but also improve the performance of your entire operation.
What is Supply Chain Visibility?
Supply chain visibility is the ability to view and track the entire supply chain from end to end. This means that managers and operators can see where goods are in transit, how much inventory is on hand, and how quickly orders are being filled. This supply chain data follows goods whether they are:
- At your own warehouse.
- At a warehouse you contract.
- At your supplier or customer’s location.
- In transit.
With SCV, managers can identify potential problems or delays early on so they can be addressed promptly. This helps reduce errors, increase visibility into the supply chain, and ultimately deliver more reliable service to your customers.
The Importance of Supply Chain Visibility
Why is supply chain visibility so important? When it comes to logistics and supply chain operations, visibility is key. Having a clear view of your complete supply chain allows you to identify potential problems before they affect your business’s bottom line.
In addition to identifying problems early on, SCV also helps managers better plan for future needs by providing up-to-date information about inventory levels and the status of orders. This helps ensure that you have enough supplies to meet customer needs and reduce any potential delays in deliveries.
Finally, SCV helps reduce costs throughout the supply chain. By seeing where resources are being used, companies can make better decisions about how to allocate their materials and resources, leading to more efficient operations.
Types of Data Captured in a Supply Chain Visibility System
The types of data captured in modern supply chains vary depending on the type of products and industry. However, some of the common data points include:
- Order data: including the order number, product type, quantity, and delivery date.
- Shipment information: including carrier, weight, and tracking number.
- Inventory data: like current levels of inventory, what’s in transit, and when goods are due to arrive.
- Supplier information: addresses, contact details, and supplier contact information.
- Component lot number
- Date of manufacture
- Material, legal, and safety certifications
Collecting this data and making it visible in an SCV system is vital for understanding the supply chain. It also enables businesses to ensure all business and legal requirements are being met to keep operations running smoothly. Keep in mind, the best data-driven insights come when the data collected is relevant and gathered in real-time.
An Example of Supply Chain Visibility in Action
To gain an understanding of how visibility works, let’s take a look at a real-world example. Let’s say a company has to deliver 1,000 units of product from the U.S. to Germany, but without SCV, they won’t know exactly how much inventory is on hand, what’s in transit, or when it will arrive.
With SCV, managers can quickly and easily track each shipment and delivery, and can see exactly what’s happening in real-time. They can also trace each component of the supply chain and identify potential problems early on so they can be addressed quickly. If there are delays, the company can then proactively inform the customer and make alternative plans.
SCV enables the logistics company or supplier to make better decisions based on real-time data. They can identify potential problems, streamline their operations, and improve customer satisfaction by delivering goods on time.
Benefits of Visibility in the Supply Chain
The benefits of visibility in the supply chain are numerous. By providing real-time, actionable insights into inventory levels, shipment tracking, and more, businesses can:
- Increase efficiency by eliminating unnecessary delays and streamlining operations.
- Gain better insight into customer behavior to optimize customer service.
- Understand supplier performance and reduce supply chain risks.
- Improve accuracy and reduce errors in the order tracking process.
- Reduce costs by improving inventory management and reducing spoilage of goods.
- Increase customer satisfaction by providing reliable service.
The importance of SCV cannot be overstated—it’s an essential component of any successful supply chain management system. With the right SCV software, businesses can gain real-time visibility into every aspect of their supply chain and ensure operations are running smoothly.
What Does a High-Visibility Supply Chain Look Like?
A high-visibility supply chain is one where all aspects of the supply chain are tracked and monitored in real-time. This includes tracking orders, shipments, inventory levels, supplier performance metrics, customer demand patterns, and more. With this type of visibility, businesses can make better decisions quickly and ensure that their operations are running smoothly.
While total visibility can be difficult to achieve, the goal is to have as much visibility into the supply chain as possible.
Technology Requirements for SCV
For companies to achieve SCV, they need the right technology in place. This includes tracking and monitoring software, sensors, barcodes, mobile RF devices, APIs and other data sources, cloud-based systems for analytics and reporting capabilities. All of these technologies must be integrated to provide a comprehensive view of the supply chain.
What is Supply Chain Visibility Software (SCV Software)?
Supply chain visibility software helps businesses achieve and maintain visibility across their complete supply chain. SCV software solutions provide real-time tracking, analytics, and reporting capabilities to monitor the complete supply chain from end to end. This enables managers to identify potential problems early on and make better decisions quickly.
Cadre Technologies’ SCV Software Solution for Total Control and Visibility
Cadre Technologies is a leader in supply chain visibility software solutions. Our software enables businesses to gain total control over their supply chains by providing real-time data and analytics. With our software, managers can quickly identify potential problems, track shipments in real-time, and optimize customer service with better insights into customer behavior.
By leveraging Cadre Technologies’ SCV software, businesses can gain total visibility and control over their supply chain operations. This is why more and more companies are turning to Cadre Technologies for their supply chain visibility solutions.
How Can Supply Chain Visibility be Improved?
Achieving supply chain visibility is not an easy task, but there are a few things businesses can do to improve their visibility. This includes:
- Investing in technology.
- Setting up KPIs and metrics.
- Automating processes and systems.
- Gathering data from multiple sources.
- Utilizing analytics and reporting tools.
By taking these steps, companies can ensure that they have the visibility they need to optimize their operations.
Tools for Improving Supply Chain Visibility
There are a variety of tools available to improve SCV. These include cloud-based systems like Cadre Technologies software, barcode and RFID readers, sensors, analytics & reporting software, APIs, and more. By investing in the right technology and implementing it strategically, businesses can ensure that they have visibility into their complete supply chain.
Challenges Affecting Supply Chain Visibility
There are a number of challenges that can affect supply chain visibility. These include:
- Data integration issues.
- Lack of real-time data availability.
- Inadequate monitoring and tracking technology.
- Manual processes and systems.
These challenges can make it difficult to achieve total visibility, but with the right SCV software and technologies in place, businesses can overcome these challenges.
Can You Achieve Full Supply Chain Visibility?
The goal of SCV is to give businesses full visibility into their operations. This can be difficult to achieve, but it is possible with the right supply chain visibility technology and a strategic approach. By investing in a leading supply chain software solution, businesses can ensure that they have real-time data and analytics at their fingertips and make better decisions quickly.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, supply chain visibility is essential to any successful business operating in today’s global economy. By leveraging the right SCV software, businesses can gain real-time visibility into their operations and make better decisions to ensure smooth and efficient supply chain management. Cadre Technologies is a front-runner in this field, providing comprehensive SCV solutions to help supply chain leaders achieve total control over their operations.
Delivered as a Saas solution, Cadre Technologies’ LogiView provides users a control-tower view of the entire warehouse by combining real time aggregation, monitoring and analysis tools. It includes inventory management, supply chain visibility, electronic data exchange, alerting and analysis capabilities.
Contact us today to learn more about how our software can help you achieve full supply chain visibility.
FAQs
What Types of Businesses is Supply Chain Visibility Important For?
SCV is important for any business operating in the global economy. This includes logistics (3PL and 4PL), manufacturing, retail, and other sectors that rely on a complex supply chain network. By leveraging SCV software solutions like Cadre Technologies’, businesses can gain real-time visibility into their operations and make better decisions quickly.
What Tools Are Needed for Supply Chain Visibility?
The technology needed for SCV includes tracking and monitoring software, sensors, barcodes, RF devices, APIs and other data sources, cloud-based systems for analytics and reporting capabilities. By investing in the right technology and implementing it strategically, businesses can ensure that they have complete visibility into their whole supply chain.
How Do I Improve Supply Chain Visibility?
To improve SCV, businesses should invest in the right supply chain technology and set up KPIs and metrics to track performance. Additionally, businesses should automate supply chain processes and systems, gather data from multiple sources, and utilize analytics and reporting tools for better decision-making. By taking these steps, companies can execute proper supply chain planning and ensure that they have the visibility they need to make the best decisions.
