Page 4 - Logistics News April 2021

Thought Leadership

Time to big up data analytics

Big data presents supply chain managers with an unprecedented opportunity to acquire
real-time visibility of goods in transit and part of inventory.

SNAPFULFIL CEO, Don White, says this IoT-style managing sta and resource allocation through the
technology also comes with a set of challenges, targeted data it collects and delivers. Moreover, it
especially the issue of how to manage the resulting enables them to identify business trends and make
flow of information without drowning in data. important operational and fulfilment decisions
“There’s a plethora of data in the distribution based on a strategic version of their truth and solid
centre (DC) right now, with lots of dashboards to analytics.
present the figures, but information overload is When quality labour is at a premium and social
happening. The future – especially coming out of distancing continues to be a requirement, coupled
lockdowns – is all about exception management. with a rapid change in orders, having real-time data
The intelligence of the software will determine the at your fingertips to boost the e ectiveness of your
priority of information. available workforce, their picking performance, plus
“Highly accurate, granular and amalgamated available space is critical.
reports, around the likes of shipping schedules, Additionally, much more data quality helps drive
warehouse heat maps, operator tracking and e’ciency, productivity and profitability – even in
picking performance, provide a holistic overview really challenging times – especially if it’s easily
of the inventory and resources and allow configurable and you can see and understand it all.
decision-makers to create and display bespoke White adds: “Cloud-based technology like
key performance indicators (KPIs) – including WMS can help, because not only is it intuitive and
operational KPIs with the likes of financial and scalable, it has the capacity to deliver key business
supplier KPIs – but it can only be done in real time. performance metrics, while at the same time
“This way the data can be minutely mined and enable operations to evolve in a fast-developing
managed to control the little nuances that go on in environment. O ering responsive support options
a warehouse. Every successful sports coach knows helps change management by allowing the
that a series of marginal gains can deliver huge flow of data and order of operations within the
improvements in performance and it’s in these application to be regularly updated – empowering
small tweaks to the DC where the real savings can management to accurately store, organise, deliver,
be made. Plus, making decisions based on solid and track the accomplishment of work throughout
data is essential with margins tighter than ever.” a facility. Consequently, having access to reliable,
This all translates into quick return on real-time data is a vital link in the supply and
investment and tangible improvements because demand chain, especially as businesses have to
advanced digital software can help DC operators react to volatile and disruptive forces, such as the
keep goods and processes flowing, while current pandemic.” •

2 April 2021 | Logistics News