Page 4 - Logistics News - May 2021

T H OU GHT L E A D E R SHIP

Mobile computing – the

‘new’ kid on the block

By Arno Meyer, arnom@richfield.ac.za and
Aveshin Reddy, aveshinr@richfield.ac.za

Managing a supply chain can be a complex and challenging task for even the most skilled managers.

raditionally, firms used to rely heavily on to provide a singular function, i.e. to receive and transmit
intensive manual processes to manage their data. Considering the global disruption of the COVID-19
Tsupply chain operations. However, the fallacy of pandemic coupled with the growing usage of mobile
manually handling all aspects within a supply chain has Internet-connected devices, supply chains have become
been eradicated with the advancement of information more decentralised, more complex to manage and measure,
technology (IT) innovations. and more vulnerable to risks disruptions.

A famous quote by Bill Gates pronounces that, In line with the above, mobile computing provides
“We’re changing the world with technology”. an integrative one-stop shop platform for many
Technological innovations have come a long way since applications or computer software to complete multiple
the 1970s when mainstream computing devices were tasks. One of the most significant advantages of
first introduced. Similarly, mobile computing devices mobile computing is that it enables a ‘connected supply
came into use in supply chain management during the chain’. By leveraging structured and unstructured data
late 1990s and have continued to permeate all aspects generated across the supply chain, mobile computing
of supply chain management. Mobile computing is a improves the connectivity of the supply chain network.
generic term used to describe devices that facilitate This helps firms to connect with their suppliers, vendors
access to data and information without being connected and customers easily.
to a fixed physical link such as a mobile phone or laptop.
The cognitive intelligence and predictive analytics
In the most basic sense, a supply chain consists of offered by mobile computing help firms gain the right
supplier, manufacturer, warehouse, mode of transport, information for decision making at the right time.
retailer and final customer sections. Among these Additionally, mobile computing operates on a flexible,
sections, there are three main flows; product flows, usage-based model. With mobile computing, businesses
can operate their supply chain successfully in a volatile
information flows and financial flows. Satisfying
L O GI S T I CS NEWS customer demand largely depends on efficient and quick resulting in reduced time to market.
market. It enables faster planning and execution
information exchange between these sections.

Firms can gain better access to resources and
Granted, mobile devices such as barcode scanners have
information, enhancing flexibility and responsiveness to
been used since the early 2000s; they were primarily used

2 M A Y 2021 www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a