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those departments work with is slim to none. Breaking down siloes brings us to the second stage, creating
an integrated data and analytics environment. With no siloes and a common platform, all parts of the organisation should have a common data set accessible via a modern data warehouse or data lake. At this stage, it is important that organisations ensure that they are collecting data at every stage of their supply chain. Tis seems obvious, but oſten organisations will have digital records for orders and invoices, but the goods delivery records are paper based. Internet of Tings (IoT) devices such as RFID scanners should be used to make sure that everything is digitalised, allowing information to flow between the operational and enterprise parts of the business. It should be noted that, since the introduction of GDPR, many organisations have been forced to evaluate and improve their data estate to ensure they are compliant and this has opened the door to broader optimisations. Te third stage is where
organisations become insight driven. Tis is where the ability to sense and respond starts to come in to play. Tere should be a single version of the truth when it comes to internal data, supplier and customer data and 3rd party data sources. From here, machine learning can prioritise relevant data inputs and data scientists can deliver increasingly accurate insight and models to deliver optimal next best actions to the organisation, with RPA triggering people and processes at the speed of business. From here an organisation can extend into becoming truly data
driven, furthering their investments in AI. Tis can progress into a more pervasive use of AI that spans all parts of the business that would benefit from it, not just sensing demand, but implementing more impactful approaches to sensing customers and their needs. For example, automation capabilities can be enhanced beyond being simply triggered “if this, then that” task oriented automation into more intelligent approaches to routing requests, driving real-time decisions through complex processes and generating insight that doesn’t just support the now. Tis will enable businesses to explore new ways of disrupting their markets through evolving not just their operations but exploring new business models and revenue opportunities.
The missing link With a wealth of evolving technology in this space, it may seem too daunting
www.pcr-online.biz June 2022 | 13 “There are four stages of data maturity
respond to their supply chain.”
that organisations need to work through before they can truly sense and
an opportunity for partners who are not already specialists in this field. However, there are a number of steps resellers and MSPs can undertake to build out a successful supply chain specialism. Firstly, partners should identify relevant verticals that they are well connected into. Effectively managing a supply chain is about addressing business challenges and having this understanding as a starting point is key. It is important to realise that this is not a technology issue, this is about having an outcome-based conversation with a customer about meeting their organisation’s needs. By extension, a lot of this technology sounds new and scary, but it is in fact built upon technology many partners already have a deep understanding of. Once partners have evaluated their current capabilities and strengths, they can explore the best vector of approach in how they build on those capabilities to offer something of value to their customers. Te world of supply chains is a
fragile and ever-changing landscape. Te pandemic is only the latest
shockwave to have given organisations pause for thought when it comes to how they manage the complex web of stakeholders that make up global trade. For the channel, there is a clear opportunity to apply its technical expertise and understanding of data management to this issue. What is important is that
in doing so the four stages of data maturity are always followed. Without the proper adherence to these basic rules, any more advanced application of data analysis and insight are likely to fall down. Get it right, however, and channel partners should be well placed to support a facet of their customer’s business that is central to modern commerce.
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