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Supply Chain

Supply Chain Management

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Supply Chain Management

 

For any kind of business, it is essential that their production flow handling of their goods or services would be in top order, starting from the acquisition, handling, and processing of raw components/materials to products, goods or services up until to the delivery of either one of those to the customer themselves. This is where the “Supply Chain Management” practice comes in, to handle the said production flow.

 

Supply chain management is usually composed of a network of suppliers (which are the “links” of the supply chain) that provides raw materials to the organizations/companies linked to the supply chain. The management aspect of this is composed of six major components, which are listed below:

 

  • Planning
  • Sourcing
  • Making
  • Delivering/Logistics
  • Returning
  • Enabling

 

Supply Chain Management Evolution

 

This type of management has evolved over the years since it was implemented by previous companies and organizations decades before. Modern supply chain management usually revolves around data management, services and products bundling to solutions, which in turn affect product and service quality, deliveries, costs, customer service, and profitability.

 

Also, it usually takes advantage of generated data by the chain process, which are then curated by each company’s analytical experts and data scientists. Most data curated are analyzed in real-time to ensure efficient data feedback while maintaining minimal latency.

 

Importance of Supply Chain Management

 

Minimizing overall costs, wastes, and time used in the production cycle are the benefits of effective supply chain management. However, it is not completely perfect, and it is usually a stopgap by retailers and stores of companies in avoiding empty store shelves due to a shortage of supply.

 

Due to this, further improvements are being implemented in this system to achieve better benefits from this kind of management, by doing the following:

 

  • Identifying potential problems.
  • Optimizing price dynamically.
  • “Available to promise” inventory allocation improvements.

 

Right Software For Digital Supply Chain Management

 

Due to the constant evolution of the supply chain management, various organizations have taken the management practice digitally, aside from keeping its physical counterpart active, and resulted in the birth of various software that can manage supply chains via digital network akin to a physical network.

 

This digital version usually handles the supply information being curated to the monitoring of sales that will be the basis for most manufacturers on what to ship to their partnered organizations’ store shelves, reducing unnecessary additional costs for overstocking unneeded inventory.

 

Supply Chain Management’s Key Features

 

An effective supply chain management results in good business, with highly profitable returns and very satisfied customers and consumers alike.

 

The key features of an effective supply chain management are known as the “Five Cs” which are listed below:

 

  • Connected
  • Collaborative
  • Cyber-aware
  • Cognitively-enabled
  • Comprehensive

 

Those features are essential to the digital aspect of supply chain management due to it being connected via cloud-based commerce, which in turn connects to the physical side of supply chain management resulting in a complex and continuous system that handles organizational supply inventory for their partnered stores and retailer branches.

 

Personnel consulting E-commerce

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Personnel consulting E-commerce

Electronic commerce or E-commerce is growing so rapidly across the world that it takes the top position when it comes to the average salary of employees and attrition rate. This makes the job of HR professionals very difficult to get candidates who perfectly fit in the e-commerce industry. In this industry we come across many start-ups and it has become really challenging to draw public attention and quality employees toward such start-ups. Moreover, it is an astounding task to control the disintegration of E-commerce companies in this highly competitive world. Therefore, there is little doubt that HR specialists have become one of the most important stakeholders in this business.

The success of E-commerce projects largely depends on the skills of an individual or as a group. So, for an HR professional in this industry, you should be well aware and have broad concepts about the functioning of E-commerce. You should know the management and staffing in E-commerce as well as the process of organizing a project work. If you gain the skills in managing the staffs in a project and measuring the outcomes, you can achieve your HR goals in this field.

Qualities required in a successful HR professional in the E-commerce industry

Given below are the qualities desired in an HR professional in the E-commerce industry-

  1. The HR professional should be able to keep their employees happy and satisfied-

While working for a fast-growing company, or in an atmosphere of tough competition, the HR managers come across quite a few challenges in retaining the best talents in the organisation. In such cases, HR professionals should follow strategic planning and keep a focus on giving an open work culture. They also need to provide good work-life balance and foster friendly relationships among the employees.

 

  1. The HR professional should be dynamic and flexible–

HR professionals do not follow any definite processes/standards in the E-commerce industry. Their objectives changes according to different hierarchies and growth plans. The growth of E-commerce companies depends on their seamless and 24/7 operation throughout the year. Also, E-commerce companies are synonymous with a fast working culture. To be accustomed to this culture, HR professionals have to be flexible. At times, there might be abrupt changes in the recruitment policy and HR operations and the HR professional should adapt to these quickly.

  1. The HR manager should be well-versed with technology and logistics operations-

The working profiles of HR managers in the E-commerce sector are quite different from that of other industries. The E-commerce companies use progressive technology and systems in their operations. The HR managers must be capable of hiring qualified candidates who possess relevant technical know-how and are experts in the field of E-commerce. In the E-commerce industry, the HR managers should work in collaboration with business heads of various fields to find the most eligible employees. They need to use innovative ways to hire the best talents to fit the needs of the company. Successful HR managers of today are selecting candidates through social media as well. In some cases, the HR managers are taking the help of recruitment specialists too. Such methods are not only helping the HR managers in concentrating on their employee development programs but are also fulfilling their hiring needs in the most efficient and economical way.

In the field of E-commerce, back-end supply chain management is one of the essential components for businesses. A third party is essential for storing or shipping of products if there are no brick and mortar storehouse. This is also necessary for basic time management. Thus, The HR managers in the E-commerce industry should have adequate knowledge of logistics as well. Then only they will be able to hire talents to suit the organisational needs perfectly.

  1. The HR team should be able to implement employee development programs–

In this fast growing E-commerce industry, relentless changes are also seen in terms of innovation and disruption. Hence, there comes a need for regular employee training and development programs. This will help the employees to upgrade their skills and keep themselves updated to the latest developments. The old-school methods of training and development policies will not work in this sector. Rather, the HR managers should take responsibility in inviting relevant experts who can provide thorough training for enhancing the skills and aptitude of their employees. Knowledgeable sessions with the industry experts/experienced professionals will broaden their outlook and bring some much-needed variations into their thoughts. Hence, HR managers should care about employee development programs to nurture the employees. This will also make the employees more loyal to the organisation.

How work scheduling is done in E-commerce

Before knowing about how to engage staffs in the E-commerce industry, it is important to have knowledge about the scheduling and assignment of work among the staffs. For every department, there will be a different set of workers assigned to carry out their scheduled tasks. There are a definite set of rules that the workers from every department have to follow.

As an organizational unit, the E-commerce industry holds the responsibility for creation and maintenance. The capabilities of the E-commerce industry cannot be explained in terms of project activities as happens with IT organizations. No such definite organizational work pattern is observed in when it comes to the E-commerce industry. The different set of projects /programs/work assigned in different departments depends on the overall E-commerce objectives of the organisation. The nature of E-commerce sites also varies according to the mode of work or the type of projects being handled. These sites are dynamic in nature and are prone to frequent changes.

There is not a single pattern that describes the method of hiring employees for the E-commerce industry. Selection is done on the basis of their capabilities. However, depending on the type of projects, the nature of requirements differs. For example, the IT-based E-commerce industry will be more concentrating on the employees having greater knowledge in the field of technology. However, the success of any project not only depends on technology but also on the business skills of the company. The combination of both business talents and technology can contribute to the successful completion of a project. In most cases, the organization forms new working operations for their new businesses. This can also be called as the hybrid behavior of the E-commerce industry. It will be great to observe if the recruitment programs of an e-commerce project resemble the other either in structure or content without considering parameters of departmental governance. The type of governance is selected on the basis of the skills of the employees, project needs, the mode of work done and the outcomes required from a particular set of projects.

 

Challenges in personal consulting in e-commerce

Though the E-commerce industry has evolved as a fast-growing industry, it has to overcome a few challenges in personal consulting. These are described below-

  1. Technology challenges- For an e-commerce firm to achieve success in today’s highly competitive world, technology is the most important factor. So, the firm should be able to accept new innovations and technological expertise, which will allow them to overcome threats/hurdles in time.

 

  1. Uncertainty challenge– There is no specific model for an e-commerce firm to get going. The already settled E-commerce organizations also do not have ‘strait-jacket’ corporate mind-sets that hold them back from fulfilling their dreams. There will always be an uncertainty challenge for this industry. This challenge can be overcome if they are able to invest in new innovations, experimentation and also if they are able to tolerate failures.
  2. Integration challenge– To meet the demands of this fast-paced consumer-centric world, the e-commerce industry needs to integrate various systems, the people working therein and different processes in a seamless manner. The personal consulting processes in this industry need to keep this in mind while formulating their HR policies.

 

  1. Speed challenge– The speed of a firm increases very rapidly with the changing demands of people and technology. The traditional businesses consume more time to adapt to these changes but not the ecom businesses. Therefore, the HR operations in the e-com industries need to be more pro-active than their other business counterparts and should be able to adapt to these changes much faster.

 

  1. Project structure challenge– No two projects in the e-commerce industry are the same. Hence the firm should be able to construct a perfect group of individuals for a particular project to ensure efficiency. This may involve constant shifting of people from one project to another. This is bound to put an extra burden on the HR team.

The success of the E-commerce industry not only depends on its demand but also on how it will be able to withstand the HR challenges that are so unique to e-comm operations.

Logistics and of E-commerce: their inter-dependence

The term Logistics means management of the path through which various resources are obtained, gathered and then shipped to their respective destinations. Well-managed plans need to be in place for controlling the mobility and placement of the goods. All these plans and processes come under a system that is designed to obtain the desired organisational goal.

A proper logistics management can help the e-commerce industry in the below-mentioned ways-

  • To find out capable suppliers and distributors.
  • To determine their accessibility and efficiency for the need of business production.
  • To form valuable relationships and discover the most economical solutions for the success of the business.

 

Role of HR personal consulting in logistics/supply chain organizations

Here we will discuss how crucial the role of HR personal consulting can be in different facets in a logistics/ supply chain organization-

  1. Keeping an eye on the overall performance parameters–

The role of supply chain management is to bring the goods in and to keep them ready/forward them for the next phases in the pipeline. In the same way, it is the duty of an efficient HR management to ensure that every employee gets the inputs in a proper manner so that he can execute his assignments properly. This will make both the organization and the employee to grow together in their respective operational areas while keeping a close bond with the values and culture of the organisation. HR does the important function of supervising this entire process. He also ensures that each and every manager is competent enough to understand various processes prevailing in the organization. The HR prepares a periodic MIS on the performance of the employees and also that of the ongoing processes in the organization.

 

  1. HR Role in streamlining the hiring process–

We are well aware of the critical role played by the SCM department in bringing in and sourcing out raw materials. In the same way, HR has to take the responsibility of bringing in outstanding talents which are very essential for ensuring smooth operation of the business. HR teams need to carry out the necessary brainstorming with other departments to make sure that all the significant processes are taking place as per the schedule designed before the functional department makes the all-important final selection. The critical task the HR needs to do here is to make sure that a well-designed and standard capability framework is followed across the organizational lines. The HR needs to keep an eye so that the hiring of deserving talents moves through a consistent process, adhering to the well-established benchmarks of cost-effectiveness.

 

  1. Play the role of a quality checker

 

In a logistics business, it is absolutely essential that the goods should go through a proper quality test before the all-important delivery to their respective destinations. It is the duty of the SCM team to ensure quality assurance before the goods are transferred to the next step in the pipeline.

In the same way, the HR team has to check whether the entire transformation of input to output is happening as per the prescribed design and expectation of the organization. It needs to assume the role of a quality enforcer in some critical business checkpoints. In this way, it can increase the efficiency of every individual.

 

  1. As a Conscience keeper–

HR plays another important role as a conscience keeper of the organisation. It keeps an eye on the organisational operations and does a periodic assessment on whether they are carried out in conformity to the stated organizational values. He should use his authority and intimate all concerned if there is a marked diversion from established organisational objectives. The HR function should be given the authority required so that it can work in close collaboration with the CEOs /top management/leadership teams and convey its findings in a ‘no-nonsense’ manner.

  1. To keep pace with the industry compensation benchmarks 

HR plays an important role in keeping a track of the compensation benchmarks in the industry and to keep the organizational policies in sync with them. It is also their responsibility to implement policy changes in a seamless and consistent manner.  Overall, the HR functionalities in logistics and e-commerce are largely multi-dimensional and are not restricted to their core competencies alone.

Benefits obtained by SCM after applying effective HRM methods

In the above section, we have seen that there are some similarities between the HRM and SCM functions. Some benefits of implementing effective HRM practices can be as follows-

  1. SCMs can use ‘people’ in a more efficient way-

The supply chain is a highly complicated structure which includes the raw materials distributors, suppliers of raw materials, the service providers etc. It is a well-settled fact that the success of a logistics organization depends heavily on the success of the people involved in every step of the supply chain management. The evolving field of HR has initiated some effective methods and processes that not only help the people but also the organization as a whole. These methods and processes can also be applied in the supply chain management as well so as to attain their desired goals in every phase of their operations.

  1. HRM methods can make the supply chain systems more collaborative-

Today’s business environments have become highly complex. This may be due to the globalization of the inventory market, products having smaller life-cycles, product generation and so on. Effective HR methods can ensure high-degree of collaboration between different SCM stakeholders, foster better inter-firm alliances and design valuable knowledge sharing techniques. By this process, the organisations can have a more up-to-date and organized supply chain and achieve the competitive advantage they are vying for.

 

  1. To receive proven benefits of HR strategies

HR strategies are concerned about establishing highly flexible organizational policies and systems and to strengthen the business actions of the company. An amalgamation of these HR strategies in SCM will provide significant benefits such as better coordination with SCM associates, better prognosis of the supply or labor demand across the logistics operations and many more.

Organizations have realized that chalking out a clear career path and providing diverse development opportunities for employees can help a great deal in retention of quality employees in today’s competitive environment.

 

 

Supply Chain Recruiter

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Supply Chain Recruiter

 The supply chain management is the heart and soul of any company. Be it manufacturing or packaging or retail industry, supply chain is a critical component of every business. Every supply chain is a network of multiple related channels of operations like purchase, production, transport, warehouse, inventory, etc.

With ecommerce taking the market by storm, supply chain management is experiencing a shortage of skilled, talented manpower at all levels.The demand for supply chain managementexecutives is growing but specialised and experienced professionals are hard to find. In short, there is a dearth of accomplished and competent manpower in the supply chain management sector. To fill this gap it is essential that a proficient supply chain recruiter is engaged to hire such manpower.

Supply chain recruiters are not just head-hunters, they are analysts too. Supply chain recruiter must predict the supply chain market developments and source candidates matching the profile. Talent supply chain management recruiters must have a sound knowledge of the supply chain management process. They must be active, responsive and must possess thorough knowledge of the supply chain management process.

Requirements of a supply chain recruiter

  1. Process knowledge: A supply chain management recruiter must know the supply chain process on his backhand. Every supply chain is different. They differ in size, complexity and execution. Different supply chains require different proficiency of operations. A supply chain recruiter must recruit candidates not only on the basis of skills and qualifications but also on the basis of job quantum that the candidate has handled. For this, it is essential that the recruiter is well aware of the entire supply chain cycle and related channels associated with the supply chain.

 

  1. Assortment: Supply chain management requires manpower at all levels. From entry level workers to managerial positions, a single supply chain needs discrete individuals for carrying out different work. The man force at different levels need specific skills to run the supply chain smoothly. The supply chain recruiter must be able to source candidates at all levels from junior to senior ranks.

 

  1. Industry updates: With everything getting automated and majority of the tasks carried out by artificial intelligence or with the internet of things, it is necessary that the recruiters keep themselves abreast with the supply chain market developments. They should hire manpower that are tech savvy and trained in the latest technologies being used in the supply chain industry.

 

  1. Cost efficient: Supply chain costs can be a real burden on the business if the system is not strategically aligned. The recruiter must not only be efficient but he must also be cost effective. Due to scarcity of subject matter experts in the supply chain domain, the recruitment cost can upsurge if the jobplanning and allocation is not done properly. The supply chain recruiter must be able to identify the areas in the supply chain which require full time employees and which require part time employees and also areas that can be outsourced to a third party agency to reduce expenses.

 

The supply chain plays a decisive role in meeting the market demands and delivering the goods on time to the user in the right condition. The right candidate at the right place at the right time can make the right difference for your business. So, choose your supply chain recruiter wisely.

Top 10 Future Trends in Supply Chain and Logistics

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Top 10 Future Trends in Supply Chain and Logistics

From the first wheel in the Neolithic age to the modern automated driver less automobiles, the logistics segment is ever evolving. Wheel was definitely one of the greatest invention made by men after the invention of fire.  The invention of the wheel evolved transportation and has given rise to the modern day logistics industries and to the ever growing dimension of the supply chain management. Advanced technologies, globalisationand digitalisation of processes has resulted in immense metamorphosis of the supply chain cycle. Today, we shall discuss 10 future trends that will definitely make an impact on the supply chain segment in the coming years.

  1. Customer segmentation:Logistics industries have shifted from the traditional approach of segmenting customers on the basis of age, gender and occupations. The trends predict that customers must be now segmented on the basis of their purchasing and delivery needs and requirements.
  2. Risk Management: Reduction and mitigation of risks will remain a top priority for Supply chain managers. Legal requirements, risk screening and elevated diligence by interested parties have created immense pressure on the supply chain industry to prioritize risk management.
  3. Digitalization: The application of digital gadgets to redesign the supply chain management operations will remain a popular trend in the logistics industry. Reliability on automated digital applications minimises human intervention and error.
  4. Robotics: Widespread adaptation of advanced technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics will increase across the supply chain cycle. Robotic process automation or Artificial Intelligence allows the logistics companies to cut down on costs, eliminate errors and relieve the workforce from strenuous and repetitive physical tasks.
  5. Reverse Logistics: The supply chain industry has shifted from a linear supply chain to a circular supply chain. Used products are now sent back to the supplier for re-use via reverse logistics. This has brought about higher sustainability and increased customer loyalty in the supply chain industry.
  6. Real time inventory management: Sensors and POS machines can capture inventory at real time. This streamlines the supply chain process and reduces inventory hold time. When everything is tracked through internet sensors, it also minimises loss of products.
  7. Visibility and transparency: Futuristic supply chain leaders can incorporate better visibility into their supply chain process and create transparency to enhance the customer delivery experience. Transparency provides strategic foresight to the business and allows innovation with the suppliers.
  8. Real time tracking: Real time tracking of the cargo and transportation enables the manufacturing plant, warehouse and supplier to work in collaboration and plan their business needs accordingly.
  9. Block chain technology: With the ever expanding global economy, there is bound to be a resource scarcity at many levels. Logistics companies will utilisedecentralised block chain technology as an advanced alternative to substitute for the same. Block chain technology can be used to store records, manage expense statements and verifycustomers at the receiving end by storing their IDs through block chain technology.
  10. Data driven approach: Demand anticipation is now done on the basis of data analysis and not just market prediction. Predictive analysis backed up with data captured from the current buying trends in the market will provide deeper insights into the market demand and supply ratio.

The supply chain industry is highly competitive and fast paced. The wheel has to keep moving forward. Business leaders must plan in advance and apply these trends to keep ahead in the global market.

Top 10 Future Trends in Supply Chain and Logistics

Digitization in supply chain management

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Digitization in supply chain management

Industries nowadays are becoming more transparent with regards to how their management is run and the supply chain is no exception.  Customers are also becoming more demanding for efficient delivery processes and are becoming choosy about the mode of accessing products. The advancement of digital technology has really been the driving force for these changes.

How to make a supply chain system more efficient?

It is quite a difficult task for companies to develop an efficient supply chain system. It is quite impossible for companies to develop a supply chain without a clear idea of the process and applications and a certain amount of strategic planning. The company should try to improve its systems based on their current business situation and also on the basis of evolving business ideas. These new and improved ideas should be implemented in all spheres of their business operations including (but not limited to) the below-mentioned avenues-

  1. Processes– The company need to implement these new and improved methodologies to connects the suppliers and the customers in a better manner. This will help in proper coordination and collaboration between these two important stakeholders.
  2. Performance management system– The company should necessarily set up some specific rules and regulations to enhance the performance of those who have the responsibility to manage the entire supply chain. All the important performance indicators should be measured timely to ensure better results and make the supply chain system more efficient.
  3. Developing the organizational skillsets– the company needs to understand various skills that are required to enhance the performance of the entire supply chain. These may include the skills of problem-solving by optimizing or managing the entire supply chain. This may require strong organisational support to promote relevant communication across different organisational user groups or programs. However, for extracting maximum benefits from such activities, the company has to develop its in-house talent and experiences. Then only it can ensure continuous development of new supply chain applications and processes.
  4. Enhancing stakeholder capabilities– In addition to enhancing the capabilities of their in-house resources, the company also needs to develop the capabilities of its partners and stakeholders. The supply chain just cannot achieve their set objectives of developing a well-oiled system without the help of their partners or the stakeholders such as suppliers, technology providers or even the distributors.
  5. In leveraging advanced technology– as already discussed, the company has to develop a road map for effective implementation of the new and advanced technologies into the supply chain. A few such operations include the integration of the information layer, analytics capabilities the database and the cloud.

 

When it comes to the supply chain industry, most of the companies are delivering their products to their customers through a standardised process. The marketing branch of the company places orders and the ordered products are prepared for distribution. At the same time, the respective customers are given the requisite information regarding their product and its shipment. It is necessary for the operation to take place smoothly so that the customers can expect their shipment on time. But, it does not happen as smoothly as desired, all the time and inadequate information is the ‘culprit’ for the same. For example, at times, the necessary data which is necessary for forecasting may remain insufficient. In some of the cases, the manufacturing branch of the company may not get sufficient help from the suppliers or other relative partners due to lack of timely information in critical links of the supply chain and there arises a gap between the operation process and the requirement. The whole supply chain is interrupted this way.

Digitization in supply chain management

How can digitization help?

There can be many concrete examples of benefits brought about by digitization into a supply chain system. Enhancing productivity and growth of work are two broad benefits of digitizing the supply chain.

Given below are a few of the benefits digitization can bring to the supply chain management-

  1. In the process of capturing data-

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a boon of modern technology that is capable of making data available in a more transparent manner. Thanks to IoT, manufacturers are now able to gather data with the help of sensors. These data are essential for monitoring important supply chain assets. This results in lower downtime in data capturing and helps the company to manufacture products so as to meet the demands of their customers.

Data captured so efficiently brings transparency to transportation and logistics as well. Barcoded products manufactured by a company can be tracked by both the company and the customers alike. Moreover, internet of things has also enabled new tracker facility that can track not only the location but also can capture data regarding the temperature, orientation, humidity and other such variables that can cause a positive impact on the entire delivery system.

  1. In analysing data–

Digital concepts such as e-commerce are providing big data and it helps in the improvement of process management, product customization, market trend predictions, quality levels and customer personalization. For example, this new-found process of analysing data can help in providing new data routes for freshly observed patterns which, in turn, can identify more routes with fewer shortcomings.

  1. In integrating data–

The most significant contribution of digitization to supply chain is perhaps achieving higher levels of clarity at all stages of the process. Data is contained in different ‘blocks’. It is necessary to capture the required data, integrate them and then analyse them effectively in certain specified steps. The method of integration may involve the following steps depending upon conditions-

  • systems involved in integrated planning and its execution
  • advanced analytics
  • logistics visibility
  • smart procurement and the warehousing

Advanced features of digitization are employed in all these stages to bring the much-needed transparency into the supply chain.

  1. In accessing data–

The integrated units of any supply chain management depend on data accessed. These data need be transferred eventually to the end-customers. With the advent of digital technology, the data transferring process has also become quite easier. Now, the customers can keep track of their shipping experiences from their own comfort, thanks to features of digitization.

  1. In interpreting data–

If real-time data can be obtained, it proves to be very useful for any supply chain management. But, one of the major drawbacks here is the achieving of the desired accuracy level and reliability of data. Digitization has been of tremendous help here as it has offered the facility of correcting the data automatically and even enhancing reliability in supply chain technology.

  1. Comprehensive integration of solutions involved in the supply chain– as the supply chain is a vast territory, companies nowadays often vary in the planning or reporting of production related data. Digitizing the process of the supply chain is a great approach that removes many hurdles faced in all SCM systems down the line. But it requires a strategic approach for the digitization plan to be executed properly. If such a strategy is executed properly, there can be many benefits for the company and many inherent faults can be eliminated, which, if not eliminated, have the potential to deviate the processes from reaching the organisational goal. Digitization helps in setting certain benchmarks and fixing of organisational goals properly. Such integration helps the works to be accomplished in a proper manner. But, it is very important for the companies to keep a track on such integrated solutions and measure the performance at every stage, in order to avoid eventual failures.
  2. Helps in better handling of data- The Internet of things has reached its greater heights with time and, in recent times, has become an integral part of supply chain management. Better solutions to perennial supply chain issues have been possible now, thanks to IOT. Now, the supply chain can be digitized involving operations such as collecting of data, sorting and finally evaluating the data. As a result, it helps the managers or the planners of the company to make more effective planning ideas. Effective methods of data connection are also helping the managers or planners to deal with circumstances which used to plague the management a lot in earlier times. The IoT based technologies employed to supply chain involves a lot more detailing, and hence can save the management from critical situations happened earlier due to lack of attention to such details. Now, IoT based data handling methods enables the management to deal with all such issues and complex datasets in a more efficient manner.
  3. Helps in enhancing collaboration– Digitizing the entire supply chain may not prove to be an easy task at all. Of course, it involves hurdles and complexities while implementing it across the organisational spheres. But, it is more than worth doing so as through digitization, the planners can share the data within themselves and within the supply chain stream to ensure smooth functioning of the operational cycle. Digitization facilitates more interactions and such a collaborative approach can save the organisation from breakdowns or disruptions. A digitized supply chain actually works a kind of central hub that includes a lot of data which can be accessed through multiple nodes. Unlike the traditional system, no one has to wait for days or months to collect or gather the requisite data. Results can be obtained much faster, rather than waiting for months. Thus supply chain digitization can deliver proven benefits for the supply chain companies.

Steps or phases involved in digitizing the supply chain process-

One of the important ideas involved in digitizing a supply chain is to be clear about its sustained benefits and whether the existing SCM processes in the company are capable enough for implementing and integrating changes likely to facilitate by digitization. Therefore, any supply chain company may go through the following five major stages in the process of digitization-

  1. It should understand the present position of itself– the company should be able to assess its current position and the level of maturity it has attained with time. It should also be able to identify the areas that need further improvement and maturity.
  2. It should be able to define its strategies properly– The company should be able to set a target for the supply chain management well before the implementation of digitization starts. It should also envisage the possible strategies and planning involved in the process of digitization.
  3. It should develop a proper road-map – The company should be able to define the necessary steps required for digitization and sketch a detailed road map accordingly.
  4. It should develop small pilot applications with end to end scope– A company may devise some small pilot applications that can be helpful in digitizing the entire supply chain in due course. These pilots should be able to carry out the necessary steps within its scope, however small they may be. Such a pilot application will help in assessing the capabilities of the company for digitization. But, the company needs to keep in mind that such pilots should be used in integrating the digitization in supply chain only, rather than for fixing other organisational goals.
  5. The company should do rollouts and monitor their development– After successfully developing pilots, the company should do a few rollouts in certain segments. Then it should monitor the progress of these rollouts and assess which segments are benefitted the most from the digitization. This rollout can even be extended either to some important regions or particular customer segments as desired by the company management.

 

Assessment of maturity in the supply chain-

Most of the supply chain companies in the present day have successfully implemented certain levels of digitization in their operations. Before extending higher levels of digitization, it is very important for the companies to study its current maturity level in order to devise a specific plan for the next level of supply chain digitization. The maturity of a supply chain can be witnessed in four stages as discussed below-

  1. Digital novice– It indicates an immediate need for improvement to sustain in the business. Companies at this stage need to proceed further to the next level of supply chain digitization at the earliest.
  2. Vertical integrator– At this stage of digital maturity, the companies manage to integrate various processes of supply chain digitization into different departments or functions within their spheres of operations.
  3. Horizontal collaborator– The companies, at this stage of their maturity, have gathered required information that can help their supply chain partners to set up their goals and objectives. Such expertise and control help all stakeholders to carry out their processes easily and to bring the much-needed transparency into the entire supply chain operations.
  4. Digital champion– At this stage, the company has achieved the greatest level of digital expertise possible in association with its partners and has managed to be more transparent in their operations as well. This has been done by developing some beneficial digital processes and techniques and implementing them seamlessly in the entire supply chain management.

 

Some examples where digital technology has been helpful

A wide range of ideas of various technologies are mentioned below, which are integral parts of digitization. These have come to immense help to the industries.

 

  1. 3D printing – 3D printing is used in widely used in manufacturing these days. The scope of 3D printing in the field of pharmaceutical and healthcare logistics has enforced a dramatic change to the supply chain strategy involved therein. Many production industries like Johnson and Johnson, Invisalign etc have leveraged 3D printing technology into good effect and have excelled to greater heights of late. Other companies are also following suit and the concept is 3D printing is expected to grow even more in a foreseeable future.
  2. The fast growth of ‘Uberization’– When Uber first came into the market with its unique concept, it was not able to penetrate that much into the existing market share. But, with time, Uber has been able to leverage the technology disruptions to good effect and made distinct changes into their operations, to accommodate modern technology. It helped their operations so much that, in two years, the worldwide market share of Uber rose from 8% to 27 %.
  3. Internet of Things and machine learning – These technologies are among the most evolving technologies in modern times. These are being leveraged in the SCM industry to fulfil the needs of the digital supply chain for the future. These technologies offer various advantages related to costs, operational efficiency etc to the supply chain companies.
  4. Advantages of cloud computing– Cloud computing came to prominence after 2016. A cloud provides distinct advantages when a supply chain organisation wants to set a benchmark in its data acceptance level. It is because cloud computing enhances the computing power and application systems of a supply chain. A cloud computing framework also increases the efficiency of the software systems. But, its development requires a lot more time.

 

Digitization is nothing short of a revolution nowadays. Transforming everything to digital is challenging indeed. There are many avenues of digitization that may find a place in supply chain systems.  Advanced robotics, 3D printing, drones, internet of things etc fall under this category. But, it would have been better, if such technologies can be customised to some extent. Also, the capital involved in the maintenance of these technologies is still a concern for the companies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding the Relationship between Human Resource Management (HRM) on Supply Chain Management (SCM)

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Understanding the Relationship between Human Resource Management (HRM) on Supply Chain Management (SCM)

While supply chains have been playing a crucial role in several industries for many years, it is only in the past few years that supply chain management (SCM) has been treated as a separate strategic branch which can be improved to benefit businesses.

As soon as SCM started receiving its due importance, there began a search for the factors that affect supply chain and its functioning. While factors like inventory control, product design, industry standards, procedure costs, and distribution strategies were some of the few that were initially discovered to abundantly impact SCM, human resource management (HRM) is the latest to join the list.

While there have been a few studies done in the past to understand the impact of HRM on SCM, the research by the Department of Business Administration of University of Barcelona, Spain, clearly pointed out the relationship between the two.

The purpose of the study was to understand the impact of HRM on SCM which in turn also impacts organizational performance (OP) and customer satisfaction (CS), factors which play an important role between SCM outcomes (SCMO) and HRM.

The study used the previously validated structural equation model (SEM) which is based on five attributes including SCM implementation (SCMI), HRM, organizational performance, customer satisfaction, and SCMO. A survey was conducted on the basis of this model and 231 responses were recorded.

The study confirmed the significant impact that HRM, directly and indirectly, has on the SCMI and SCMO. Overall, the study suggests that successful implementation of SCM can not only help improve SCMO directly but it indirectly also increases OP and CS.

These findings make a very strong case for organizations to apply proven HRM practices to their supply chains to improve SCM to an extent where it starts functioning as a competitive edge. While businesses never thought of SCM as something that could be impacted by HRM, understanding the relationship between the two is simpler than it looks.

Working of a Supply Chain

If the complicated terminologies are sidestepped for a minute, supply chains are nothing but people. The entire chain is a group of organizations which work in downstream or upstream flows of services and products to deliver the final product to the customers.

This ‘group’ of organizations can be within a single company where delivery or supplies and production of products occur or can also be a very complex network of 3rd party suppliers, distributors, sales outlets and service providers. SCM aims to enhance the overall performance of the supply chain along with that of individual firms.

While several organizations have now started recognizing how important SCM is, most of them are yet to understand the fact that successful SCM relies on the people who are part of the supply chain. It is on the basis of the efficiency of the members of the supply chain that the supply chain would function.

There are already several studies that have confirmed that impact of HRM on the performance of the employees. The same practices can be adopted by the human resource department for the people who are part of the supply chain to improve their efficiency and performance.

From recruiting and selection, training and development, to compensation and incentive there are several practices in HRM that can be successfully used to improve the overall SCM.

If all of this is to be said in simple words, it basically means that the performance of the supply chain relies in the hands of people who are part of the chain and HRM is an efficient tool to improve the efficiency of the supply chain members and ultimately improve the supply chain and overall functioning of the organization.

 

Understanding the Relationship between Human Resource Management (HRM) on Supply Chain Management (SCM)

 

Improving Customer Satisfaction with HRM

While the positive impact on SCM through successful HRM practices is clear now, how the same can also help in improving customer satisfaction as the University of Barcelona study suggests?

This relationship too if pretty straightforward. Supply chains are only as strong as their weakest link. For instance, let us assume that you run a business in the USA and import products from China. You’ve selected an exporter and have successfully moved the products through customs and then to the distribution center sooner than expected.

But what if the distribution center delays the delivery to the customers? Your customers would surely be unhappy and this means that the supply chain of your company has failed. It is not difficult to understand that the retail industry relies mostly on customer satisfaction. In other words, the success of your supply chain has a deep relation with how happy your customers are.

So, you see there is an indirect relationship between HRM and CS too. With the help of successful HRM practices, you can improve your supply chain which in turn will help you improve customer satisfaction. There are a few time-proven ways in which supply chain can be improved for better CS. Some of them are-

  • Selecting the right transportation partners
  • Improving logistics planning
  • End-to-end supply chain analysis
  • Using technology for improving visibility and tracking inventory
  • Linking back-end and front-end deliveries
  • Measuring supply chain performance on a consistent basis

While all of these steps revolve around SCM, HRM is indirectly involved in implementing them and making sure that they deliver the expected results.

Conclusion

HRM was always considered a strategy of managing the workplace culture and environment. It is with the help of studies that its impact on other crucial business processes has come to light. With businesses now focusing on SCM to gain a competitive edge, improvements to HRM seems to be an efficient way to directly improve the supply chain and gain added benefits with respect to organizational performance and customer satisfaction.

With the rising competition across every industrial sector, businesses are now searching for innovative ways to improve their performance. Working on SCM is a new and effective way to not just bring more transparency to the business practices but also improve your reach through better customer satisfaction.

Even the traditional HR practices like recruitment and planning, training, and performance appraisal can be applied to the supply chain in order to attain larger benefits which would help organizations gain significant benefits over time.

 

 

 

The Similarities between Human Resource Management and Supply Chain Management

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The Similarities between Human Resource Management and Supply Chain Management

Human resource management is an effective management of the workforce in an organisation. This is the backbone of any business that gives it a competitive edge over others. The quality and productivity of the workforce determines the progress and sustainability of the business. A human resource management system is very similar to a supply chain management system because human resource management handles a chain of inter related departments with diverse job responsibilities working with an aim to achieve a common objective.

Recent times have noticed great developments in the supply chain industry in terms of automation, cost cutting, software aided operations, automated vehicles, etc. The introduction of these new concepts can be beneficial for the Human Resource department too. There is a lot that the human resource management system can imbibe from the supply chain management system.

Supply chain management system works on modularization. This means that the links within a supply chain management are commutable, interchangeable, compatible and exchangeable. The supply chain management system cannot allow any breakdown in the movement of goods and services. Similarly, the human resource management system must also incorporate the concept of modularization in their workforce. This will enable the human resource management system to ensure a continuous flow of workforce and prevent scarcity of manpower. Just as the demand for products is a regular affair so is the demand for talented manpower.

It has to be kept in mind though, that no matter what, humans and products cannot be equated in the same manner and so, the principles and metrics of supply chain management may not necessarily fit in to the human resource management system. The human resource management system will definitely hold its own defined techniques, procedure and practices. The modus operandi is bound to be different for both the systems. However there are certain common modularization practices that the human resource management system can incorporate in its operations:

  1. Outsourcing: Supply chain management involves a lot of channel or outsourced partners. Many HR functions can be outsourced too. Third party deployment can be done for security services, housekeeping, web development, etc. Even a part or all of the hiring requirements can be outsourced to job consultancies.

 

  1. Automation:

    Video Interviews or Interactive Voice Questionnaire can be used to select and filter candidates in the first round. This increases the efficiency of the operations, minimises biasness and saves time on the part of the recruiter. Automated mails can be used to notify candidates about job openings and also to share feedback of the interview to the candidates.

 

  1. Creating Human Inventory:

    Most job openings witness a large number of applicants compared to the number of vacancies. As a result, many good candidates are waitlisted for the next opening. These waitlisted candidates can be kept as reservoir or human inventory. A human inventory will consist of a pool of shortlisted applicants who are qualified and suitable for future openings. This minimises time and effort of the selection process.

The Similarities between Human Resource Management and Supply Chain Management

Every process is unique in its own way. We can derive many useful concepts for every process, be it supply chain or manufacturing. These concepts can be further modified and modulated into process specific approaches and used for overall growth of the business.

Supply Chain Gets Smart with Artificial Intelligence

by


Supply Chain Gets Smart with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is truly revolutionizing every aspect of the world, from public institutions to private, affecting each and every industry. Logistics is no exception to the universal reach of AI. Therefore,  supply chain can overcome many of its risks and gaps by the applications of AI.

Artificial Intelligence is simply intelligence that is displayed by machines. The machines’ learning and action-based potential copies the autonomy unlike conventional process-oriented intelligence. In other words, AI is the simulation of human intelligence by computers. The 3Vs of big data or the core of AI is the ability to recognize volume, velocity, and variety. This in turn is used to find correlation among massive data.

Most experts categorise AI into two blocks-Augmentation and Automation. The former assists and aids human beings with their routine tasks while the later operates independently without having to rely on human intervention.

Supply Chain Adapting to AI

Back in 2010, a research predicted that supply chain management would gain immensely from the applications of artificial intelligence. The research suggested various ways in which this could happen-setting inventory safety levels, transportation network design, purchasing and supply management, etc. Thanks to the exponential growth of AI over the last decade, these things have been made possible.

The tools that AI offers in the sphere of logistics have been deemed to have huge potential for augmenting the top-line and bottom-line value. There are the 6 applications of artificial intelligence that supply chain management can foster:

  • Forecasts and Analysis

Any industry is highly dependent on the supply chain planning which forms an important part of the respective business’s supply chain strategy. Artificial intelligence steps in when it can enable forecasting within the inventory, or demand and supply. Additionally, machine learning can boost the agility and optimization of the decision-making involved in supply chain management.

With artificial intelligence, the SCM industry can come up with the best possible plan of action which is determined out of algorithm and machine-based analysis.

If a business sells sanitary equipment, it can use an AI based tool to predict the demand of each of their products on a daily basis. AI does so by analyzing the historical sales data of all the models and the data so delved into includes date and time of purchase, number of items purchased, and other information.

The machine learning tools can learn the peculiar trends in terms of seasonality, or type of product and it also considers factors like weather data and news events that might have affected the sales of a particular period.

  • Warehouse Execution System

A reliable warehouse and inventory management is one of the most significant aspects of supply chain planning. An industry-specific yet universal challenge that businesses incur is either overestimating or underestimating the required stock.

Artificial intelligence based algorithms and data have such a streamlined predictive capacity, that it can forecast supply and demand as mentioned before. This feature of AI can be applied to supply chain management for overcoming issues that lead to shortage or excess of inventory.

Another way in which AI can be used for this industry lies in using the tools of localization and mapping. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in warehouse management have had issues in the past but with a machine vision, AGVs can operate automated material handling in a traditional space like buildings.

In fact, Warehouse Execution System (WES) utilizes AI to make the supply chain systems more efficient.

  • Logistics and Shipping

In today’s day and age, customers and clients expect accurate and timely delivery. But that has pressurized the companies to the extent that they now look to better their shipping and logistics facilities. Companies indeed prefer to mark an improvement here because they benefit while making customers satisfied at the same time.

Artificial intelligence enables faster and more accurate shipping which lowers the transportation expenses. In the present context, AI has also allowed companies to turn to environmental friendly operations and reduce labour costs. The best examples have been set by Amazon and pizza delivery chains which have turned to AI based drones to deliver their products to their customers.

  • Choosing Suppliers

Profitable supplier selection and maintenance of a sound professional relationship with suppliers is yet another important work for businesses. With the advent of certain factors like sustainability, CSR and supply chain ethics playing a role in the decision making of supply chains, businesses have to choose the perfect supplier.

Even a slight complacent decision can snowball to reduction in goodwill and bad PR. Thankfully, AI and its almost magical use of intelligent algorithms has enabled firms to have access to supplier-related data. The companies can now check real-time data about their suppliers like history of operations, location, previous clients, etc.

  • Chatbots for Customer Satisfaction

Companies are always in dire need of a reliable but foolproof system of customer communication and correspondence, which can at times determine their reputation and rapport with their past, present and future clients. Customers often face forced waiting time for answering their queries or have to converse with people multiple times.

 

AI gives a solution to this problem by providing conversational interfaces (or chatbots) which could provide multiple advantages to businesses. To name a few, chatbots can reduce the cost of transactions, sales cycle time, as well as enhance customer loyalty. The chatbot response machine powered by AI has a multi-dimensional interface in which it considers factors like the context of the issue, the history, and customer response management.

 

  • Decipher Untapped Information

AI and Machine Learning have a versatile set of elements and one of them is used to convert foreign data in a standardized format. This element is called Natural Language Processing (NLP).

NLP is an immensely resourceful application for logistics. NLP navigates through data of customers, competitors, regulators and suppliers to find compelling answers for business needs. In fact NLP is versatile in itself as it can be utilized for speech recognition, question answering, reputation monitoring, ad placements, market intelligence, and regulatory compliance.

 

In the supply chain management sector, NLP is most useful in deciphering data that is in a different language, thus enabling companies to understand more about a foreign subject like a supplier.

Supply Chain Gets Smart with Artificial Intelligence

Evolving SCM with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence has made its presence felt in a positive way across every sector and industry. The challenges faced by supply chain management strategies and operations are now dissolvable with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The system and algorithms put forth by AI grows and evolves with every unit of data, making it more and more independent of human intervention whilst being as close to human behavior as possible. The future is right in the hands of those who utilise the wonders of artificial intelligence, and supply chain management can bag this opportunity.               

 

Reference Link Provided: https://medium.com/@KodiakRating/6-applications-of-artificial-intelligence-for-your-supply-chain-b82e1e7400c8

 

Reference Link Used:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247523024_Artificial_intelligence_in_supply_chain_management_Theory_and_applications

https://www.spendedge.com/blogs/5-ways-ai-can-enhance-supply-chain

https://www.techemergence.com/natural-language-processing-business-applications/

 

 

Supply Chain Gets Smart with Artificial Intelligence

by


Supply Chain Gets Smart with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is truly revolutionizing every aspect of the world, from public institutions to private, affecting each and every industry. Logistics is no exception to the universal reach of AI. Therefore,  supply chain can overcome many of its risks and gaps by the applications of AI.

Artificial Intelligence is simply intelligence that is displayed by machines. The machines’ learning and action-based potential copies the autonomy unlike conventional process-oriented intelligence. In other words, AI is the simulation of human intelligence by computers. The 3Vs of big data or the core of AI is the ability to recognize volume, velocity, and variety. This in turn is used to find correlation among massive data.

Most experts categorise AI into two blocks-Augmentation and Automation. The former assists and aids human beings with their routine tasks while the later operates independently without having to rely on human intervention.

Supply Chain Adapting to AI

Back in 2010, a research predicted that supply chain management would gain immensely from the applications of artificial intelligence. The research suggested various ways in which this could happen-setting inventory safety levels, transportation network design, purchasing and supply management, etc. Thanks to the exponential growth of AI over the last decade, these things have been made possible.

The tools that AI offers in the sphere of logistics have been deemed to have huge potential for augmenting the top-line and bottom-line value. There are the 6 applications of artificial intelligence that supply chain management can foster:

  • Forecasts and Analysis

Any industry is highly dependent on the supply chain planning which forms an important part of the respective business’s supply chain strategy. Artificial intelligence steps in when it can enable forecasting within the inventory, or demand and supply. Additionally, machine learning can boost the agility and optimization of the decision-making involved in supply chain management.

With artificial intelligence, the SCM industry can come up with the best possible plan of action which is determined out of algorithm and machine-based analysis.

If a business sells sanitary equipment, it can use an AI based tool to predict the demand of each of their products on a daily basis. AI does so by analyzing the historical sales data of all the models and the data so delved into includes date and time of purchase, number of items purchased, and other information.

The machine learning tools can learn the peculiar trends in terms of seasonality, or type of product and it also considers factors like weather data and news events that might have affected the sales of a particular period.

  • Warehouse Execution System

A reliable warehouse and inventory management is one of the most significant aspects of supply chain planning. An industry-specific yet universal challenge that businesses incur is either overestimating or underestimating the required stock.

Artificial intelligence based algorithms and data have such a streamlined predictive capacity, that it can forecast supply and demand as mentioned before. This feature of AI can be applied to supply chain management for overcoming issues that lead to shortage or excess of inventory.

Another way in which AI can be used for this industry lies in using the tools of localization and mapping. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in warehouse management have had issues in the past but with a machine vision, AGVs can operate automated material handling in a traditional space like buildings.

In fact, Warehouse Execution System (WES) utilizes AI to make the supply chain systems more efficient.

  • Logistics and Shipping

In today’s day and age, customers and clients expect accurate and timely delivery. But that has pressurized the companies to the extent that they now look to better their shipping and logistics facilities. Companies indeed prefer to mark an improvement here because they benefit while making customers satisfied at the same time.

Artificial intelligence enables faster and more accurate shipping which lowers the transportation expenses. In the present context, AI has also allowed companies to turn to environmental friendly operations and reduce labour costs. The best examples have been set by Amazon and pizza delivery chains which have turned to AI based drones to deliver their products to their customers.

  • Choosing Suppliers

Profitable supplier selection and maintenance of a sound professional relationship with suppliers is yet another important work for businesses. With the advent of certain factors like sustainability, CSR and supply chain ethics playing a role in the decision making of supply chains, businesses have to choose the perfect supplier.

Even a slight complacent decision can snowball to reduction in goodwill and bad PR. Thankfully, AI and its almost magical use of intelligent algorithms has enabled firms to have access to supplier-related data. The companies can now check real-time data about their suppliers like history of operations, location, previous clients, etc.

  • Chatbots for Customer Satisfaction

Companies are always in dire need of a reliable but foolproof system of customer communication and correspondence, which can at times determine their reputation and rapport with their past, present and future clients. Customers often face forced waiting time for answering their queries or have to converse with people multiple times.

 

AI gives a solution to this problem by providing conversational interfaces (or chatbots) which could provide multiple advantages to businesses. To name a few, chatbots can reduce the cost of transactions, sales cycle time, as well as enhance customer loyalty. The chatbot response machine powered by AI has a multi-dimensional interface in which it considers factors like the context of the issue, the history, and customer response management.

 

  • Decipher Untapped Information

AI and Machine Learning have a versatile set of elements and one of them is used to convert foreign data in a standardized format. This element is called Natural Language Processing (NLP).

NLP is an immensely resourceful application for logistics. NLP navigates through data of customers, competitors, regulators and suppliers to find compelling answers for business needs. In fact NLP is versatile in itself as it can be utilized for speech recognition, question answering, reputation monitoring, ad placements, market intelligence, and regulatory compliance.

 

In the supply chain management sector, NLP is most useful in deciphering data that is in a different language, thus enabling companies to understand more about a foreign subject like a supplier.

Supply Chain Gets Smart with Artificial Intelligence

Evolving SCM with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence has made its presence felt in a positive way across every sector and industry. The challenges faced by supply chain management strategies and operations are now dissolvable with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The system and algorithms put forth by AI grows and evolves with every unit of data, making it more and more independent of human intervention whilst being as close to human behavior as possible. The future is right in the hands of those who utilise the wonders of artificial intelligence, and supply chain management can bag this opportunity.               

 

Reference Link Provided: https://medium.com/@KodiakRating/6-applications-of-artificial-intelligence-for-your-supply-chain-b82e1e7400c8

 

Reference Link Used:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247523024_Artificial_intelligence_in_supply_chain_management_Theory_and_applications

https://www.spendedge.com/blogs/5-ways-ai-can-enhance-supply-chain

https://www.techemergence.com/natural-language-processing-business-applications/

 

 

How to attract supply chain employers through social media profiles

by


How to attract supply chain employers through social media profiles

In today’s world, we cannot imagine our lives without social media and recruiters are no exception as well. Recruiters spend enough time on social media like most of us do and they use social media platforms (in addition to job portals) to search qualified individuals for various openings in the supply chain portfolio.

This is the reason why it is imperative for you to have a strong presence on multiple platforms in order to enhance your chances of being spotted on the next drive by supply chain recruiter. You should make it a habit to use social media for your own professional networking and try to present yourself as a consistent ‘brand’ by optimizing your profile.

Here are a few tips to do so in an effective way-

  • Have your photograph taken by a professional and use as your profile picture in all online platforms
  • Make sure to use the same handle, name or description across all

your profiles on the social media. For example, if ‘SCM Expert’ is your handle, make sure to place it in all your profiles. If anyone searches for ‘SCM Expert’, your profile stands a good chance of appearing in the first page of his search.

  • Do set a ‘Google Alert ‘on your own social media accounts to find out what potential recruiters or employers would find if they go through your profile. If you can spot anything negative, correct or delete that piece of information from the profile so that it cannot be obtained through an internet research.
  • Make sure to use SCM centric keywords with your profile. Identify some of the most used search terms that may be linked to your supply chain qualifications, experience or skill set and incorporate them into each one of your online profiles. For example, if your expertise is in logistics, you may very well include keywords such as 3PL, transportation, intermodal, warehousing and so on.

While doing so, do make sure that there exists a natural flow of these keywords and it does not look to the reader that these keywords are ‘stuffed’ in an attempt to improve the search rankings.

With such a method- your profile stands a very good chance of getting a higher ranking when a recruiter is going through a targeted search for qualified candidates on Google or Linkedin and with a certain keyword or skill.

 

Some top social platforms for recruiters to search for supply chain talent.

 

LinkedIn

It is one of the most widely used platforms used by recruiters to search for supply chain talent. Recruiters search for parameters such as years of experience, degrees, skills and other specific keywords and look for potential candidates suitable for their requirements.

In order to obtain maximum benefits, you need to have a complete profile and need to be participating actively in this platform. You may do the following things to show up on the radar of a recruiter-

  • Comment on articles, contribute to discussions and engage in posts. In this way, you can gain the attention of potential employers and will be able to build your own network in a foreseeable future.
  • Update your profile on the setting “Open for new engagement/opportunities”. It will invite SCM recruiters to have a look at your profile as they would be aware of the fact that you are looking for new career opportunities.
  • You should follow the potential organizations you want to work for.It will keep you posted for news items or new job postings for these organizations.
  • Include yourself in a sizeable number of LinkedIn groups, more precisely, in popular SCM LinkedIn groups.

 

Facebook

Though Facebook is more popular as a personal or recreational platform to associate with family members and friends, it also provides a useful opportunity for professional networking.

Here are some tips for you to attain maximum advantage from this platform-

 

  • Complete the education and work sections of your profile so that potential employers may find it easy to know more about you.
  • Include yourself in groups related to your industry and experience. You may join facebook groups such as ‘Logistics and SCM professionals‘, ‘SCM Jobs ‘ and so on.
  • “Like” the pages of your potential employers, target companies or supply chain associations in order to keep track of their news, job postings, related contents, and suggestions.
  • Make it a point to ‘clean’ your profile and remove inappropriate or negative images and posts that could air a negative impression about you.
  • Be a regular part of the new job posting platform launched by Facebook.

 

Twitter

 

It is another important way to keep track of news and views about the constantly evolving supply chain industry as well as the new job openings. Here are some tips for you to attain maximum advantage from this platform-

 

 

  • Include important keywords( to highlight your expertise) in the Twitter bio to be more discoverable to your potential employers.
  • Tweet or retweet regularly about news and topics related to your functional area.
  • Use catching hashtags like #logistics, #supplychain, #manufacturing, #procurement and so on.
  • Try to follow each and every company on your target list. Some companies maintain separate Twitter handles for tweeting about their upcoming jobs. Always be in touch with these as well.
  • It is another good idea to use trending social media tools such as Hootsuite. This will help you automate your tweets so that you can optimize your presence on such social media platforms.

How to attract supply chain employers through social media profiles

Websites/Blogs

Blogging is a great way to let your thoughts known to the world.  You can express your views or thoughts on topics related to supply chain and highlight the professional skills in an opportune moment.  You can make use of WordPress, the widely used blog hosting site. It includes a lot of plug-ins to help you create a highly optimized site.

 

Conclusion:

By nature, the supply chain industry is built on relationships, networks, and communication and, being ‘social ‘ is the key for you to make inroads and be successful in this industry. Therefore, it is key for you to recognize and use the enormous potential of social media to meet the demands of this evolving industry.