How supply chain management software can improve business operations

Research three OSCM software packages from different companies. For each package, write -500 words explaining the capabilities and limitations of that package. Additionally, include a short introduction paragraph and conclusion with your overall impressions and recommendations for OSCM software.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the fragility and sensitivity of supply chains due to unexpected market shocks. Around the world, supply chains are reeling from the result of a litany of factors coalescing together to interrupt global supply chains. These factors include abrupt business closures and shutdowns, travel restrictions, hybrid work environments, and government intervention. Each of these elements impacted supply chains in varying degrees and in varying manners. By virtue of their disruption to supply chains, OSCM packages became a much more vital element to the international operations of firms with complex supply chains. Here, not only did businesses need to reactivate supply chains, but they needed to do so in a manner that would ultimately help benefit unprecedented demand for goods and services from consumers (Albertson, 2007). As of this writing, countries around the world are still grappling with large delays and disruptions to supply chains. In particular, technology firms are dealing with a large reduction in computer chip demand as the ability to manufacture these products requires substantial lead times. The disruption in computer chips has led to cascading impacts to other industries such as gaming consoles, auto manufacturing, smart appliances, laptops, and other electronics. Although one node in the supply chain, this example illustrates how one critical component can have a severely adverse impact on other nodes within the supply chain. As a result it is critical to have strong OSCM packages to help mitigate the lower the adverse impacts associated with abrupt and protracted disruptions to supply chains. Software helps to better anticipate demand, while also lower the probability to excess inventory that could potentially become obsolete. It also has the potential to be engrained with other emerging technologies such as data analytics and even artificial intelligence to provide businesses with even more information to make better informed decisions (Ammer, 1989). Companies such as Alibaba and Amazon are already using artificial intelligence as a means to “predict” consumer behavior and adjust supply chains according. Artificial intelligence has also been known to better predict consumer purchasing behavior prior to the actual purchase, thereby adequately keeping inventory levels during peak demand periods. Once these innovations and methodologies become common place with the overall supply chain network of the world, the issues society is currently facing as it relates to the current COVID-19 pandemic will diminish (Abdinnour-Helm, 1999).

To being the first OSCM software package is that of E2Open. This software package is one of the highest rated OSCM packages online with an aggregate editor score of 9.5 and an aggregated user rating of 8.0. Here the package offers supply chain monitoring, supply chain analytics, supply chain planning, and inventory management solutions. A very unique function of the E2Open product is its accessibility. Here, the product can be integrated when transitioning or replacing other OSCM software. This accessibility makes the software a preferred choice for businesses’ looking to switch providers while also look in to minimize business disruption. This also provides the added benefit of retaining all prior data which can then be leveraged by E2Open’s software. Another unique feature is that of the products supply chain monitoring software. This is particularly powerful as the tool enables integrated shipping notifications throughout the supply chain to help better prepare inventory levels at each node of the chain. Through integration with all supplies, operations are much more efficient when using this software package. For example, if certain components are needed by a specific supplier for a particularly product, other suppliers within the chain can leverage their own excess inventory to use in the production process. Here, the suppliers would receive compensations for sending their excess components, the products can be manufactured, and the pending product demand can be met more efficiently. Likewise, through shipment notifications, global firms are better able to implement such as “Just-in-time” inventory management to lower their overall cost structures. This software also offers the more routine functions related to order processing, billing, and returns management. The limitations of the software are that it doesn’t offer transportation and logistics management that many other software providers have in their offerings. Another limitation is that the software also doesn’t offer shipping compliance management. However, according to the company website, these innovations are coming to the next update to the program (Agarwal, 2003).

Next, Oracle offers an OSCM software that also has some of the higher user ratings as it relates to “Advanced Features.” Here the aggregate score of the software was a 9.3 specifically for this category. It also scored a 9.5 on the “Performance” attribute. Here, Oracle SCM provides more advanced and customizable features for large global organizations. A critical limitation of the software is that it is not catered towards smaller businesses that have lower sales values and revenue. Instead the OSCM software is optimized for large, global organizations that require a customized suite of operations to manage their supply chain needs. For example, unlike the other product offerings the software offers full warehousing and transportations needs for all vendors within the supply chain. The product also offers product lifecycle management systems which are critical components for organization that need to innovate, develop, and commercialize profitable products within their business operations. Just like E2Open’s offering, the software does provide order management provisions that can leverage artificial intelligence. This system leverages the cloud which enables manufactures to better connect with warehouse managers, drivers and in certain instances, customers directly. Much like E2Open, this product can also help each vendor within the supply chain plan both demand and subsequent supply of their products goods and services. This ultimately, enables companies to lower inventory costs while also ensuring that orders are managed effectively throughout the supply chain.

The third OSCM software product is created from SAP. Of the three software products reviewed, this offering received the lowest score from users with an aggregate rating of 6.3. However it did receive an editor rating of 8.8. As it relates to the other two offerings, the software offers many of the same features. It looks to help streamline transportation management processes, work with multiple vendors in the supply chain, and combine sales forecasts into one coherent product offering. Here, the product is limited as it is catered to small and medium sized businesses. As a result its limitation are related to a lack of customization that the Oracle product has. Likewise, it also lacks many of the more sophisticated features that the Oracle product has as well (Alvarado, 2001).