Supply-Chain operations, associated data & Predictive Logistics

If we see the amount of data stored by most of the organisations across globe on different IT platforms, it will be very hard to make sense out of data and its relevance to ensure the success of organisation in future. 

Presently, massive piles of data are lying with both customers & logistics companies (online & off-line both), which leads to indecision, as different teams are required to make sense out of data, which again kills the time, money, precious resource etc. By the time you make any sense out of the data, either that data becomes irrelevant (as decision has been already made) or priorities of team changes (due to change in business dynamics).  

To add further burden to available massive data, various IT vendors will keep suggesting different solutions (from ERP to BI tools etc.) to both industry & logistic companies, which again makes the entire situation complicated, as everyone will be there to prove their point & show the rosy picture. In the end, organisations continue to play cat and mouse game forever.

With changing times, organisations need to change their traditional approach towards logistics and associated infrastructure. Future will be won by the people who see supply-chain as digital asset as compared to physical asset. Organisations across the world from Amazon, Alibaba, Walmart to Zara etc. are using predictive-logistics as their major tool to minimise the risk & ensure supply-chain robustness to conquer new frontiers across Globe.

Now, we have reached a stage where futuristic organisations don’t track the cargo. Instead, they are more focused on- Where, Why, When & How much (W3H). Other things can be taken care-of very well, if your team knows your W3H.      

As an organisation with growth ambitions, you need to answer few tough questions before you commit any resources to make your logistics smarter and predictive. For that, you have to be loyal & committed also without any hidden agenda. Some of the questions which you need to answer are:-

1. What are my “real” pain points ? (PS: line managers will never tell you the real answer here). 
2. Whether I am using existing resources (IT & non-IT both) to run current operations or to conquer new frontiers ?
3. Whether my IT vendor is futuristic & ready to add value with innovative solutions, rather than providing standard solution ? 
4. How I will survive in future & keep making profits at consistent rate ?
5. Who are my well wishers ? Do I know them & seek their advise ? (PS: avoid being blind towards sycophants) ..... And many more ! 

We have seen in past that, sometimes organisations don’t require any new logistic system, but just a course correction in their existing path. Various people will be there to take advantage of your innocence/ignorance, so it’s always very important to be awake, informed and don’t let others to take free ride. Sometimes, most of the problems are internal, which one must identify at earliest.