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The end of Excel in supply chain management
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Excel has long been the best friend of purchasing, procurement, and supply chain managers who have become proficient in pivot tables. It's a powerful tool, certainly, but not really suited for managing constrained flows reliant on the collaboration of numerous stakeholders and requiring the management of abundant and varied information. Let's take stock of the limitations of Excel in managing supply flows!
Limits of Excel and Supply Flows
- Data overload: No one can maintain a clear overview when data volumes become gigantic. As numerous raw materials from various suppliers are involved, the number of information exchanges only continues to grow. To stay afloat, you need smarter tools focused on exception management, designed to help you make the right decisions instead of overwhelming you.
- Collaboration: Often, members of your team will spend more time collecting data than structuring it. Manual management of information and updates can lead to delays and data reliability issues, thus affecting the quality of service to your customer. Supply chain management relies on the collaboration of your various stakeholders, and it is essential that your tools reflect this collaborative dimension.
- Limited tracking: Some industries face strict regulations requiring complete traceability from production to delivery. Excel cannot provide the visibility and tracking necessary to comply with these rigorous standards. It's like trying to drive with a dirty windshield. You lack clarity and visibility on what is actually happening. Today, transport management systems (TMS) or transport management platforms (TMP) are no longer sufficient. To navigate, you need more powerful tools.
Automation and Operations Management: An Undeniable Advantage
Imagine managers, carriers, and suppliers being able to interact in real-time on data, processes, and operations, all from a single centralized platform. This approach promotes transparency, reduces response times, and strengthens trust between logistics partners. Let's review their many benefits:
- Work convenience: Repetitive and tedious tasks are eliminated, freeing up time for higher value-added analysis activities.
- Time-saving: Processes are in real-time, speeding up management and shortening lead times.
- Decrease in error and dispute risk: Automation reduces human errors and ensures increased compliance with regulations.
- Supplier performance tracking: Key performance indicators (KPIs) provide specific data for each supplier, such as delivery rate, product quality, delays, etc.
- Transparent communication: Communication is facilitated with the ability to exchange information, documents, and comments directly within the platform, promoting transparent and effective communication.
Today, easily integrable and highly ergonomic, once mastered, the collaborative platform becomes a powerful ally for logistics optimization.
In conclusion, logistics management is evolving rapidly, and Excel is no longer up to par with the increasing complexity of the modern supply chain. Collaborative platforms offer a promising alternative, fostering collaboration and automation. To remain competitive, it is time to consider transitioning to collaborative platforms and strengthen your relationships with your suppliers for more agile and efficient management in this constantly evolving logistical environment.
