Supply Chain

Zoom, Zoom: Driving Supply Chain Execution Software Trends

Feb. 12, 2010

I am definitely not an IT expert, but I know one when I see one. Kevin Hume, who recently joined Tompkins Associates, is part of our Supply Chain IT experts' team.

Last month, Kevin spoke with a variety of supply chain execution (SCE) software practitioners industry analysts, third-party integrators and supply chain software executives to get their take on emerging trends in SCE software over the next three to five years. See the post

I thought the top three trends that he discovered were worth passing on to readers. They are:

Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings Smart companies will move toward a cost-effective solution that can be quickly deployed with minimal investment in software applications and supporting hardware stacks.

Planning & Execution Integration Supply chains will require end-to-end visibility to quickly and easily make adjustments to their planning and execution processes. This need was never more evident than during the rapid economic changes in the past year and a half.

Model Driven Functionality Current and future SCE software customers are looking for a solution that can quickly adapt to emerging fulfillment demands in a zero modification environment. No doubt, this will be a successful tool in the industry.

OK, I think we see a pattern among the top three trends! The common denominator here is speed. And speed combined with Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is driving these emerging trends. Check out Kevin's more detailed outlook in the SCIT Perspectives blog , and let us know what you are seeing today in the world of Supply Chain Information Technology.

Jim
Tompkins Associates

About the Author

Jim Tompkins | CEO

Dr. James A. Tompkins is an international authority on leadership, logistics, material handling, outsourcing, and supply chain best practices. As the founder and CEO of Tompkins International, he provides leadership for Tompkins globally.

His 30-plus years as CEO of a consulting / integration firm and his focus on helping companies achieve profitable growth give him an insider’s view into what makes great companies even better. Listen to an interview of Jim Tompkins on the Business Leader Radio show.

As a high-level business advisor, his unique perspective prepares corporations and executives for the future.

To share his knowledge and provide up-to-date information on supply chain and business trends, he developed the GoGoGo! Blogand Global Supply Chain Podcast.

He has written or contributed to more than 30 books and eBooks, including Caught Between the Tiger and the Dragon, Bold Leadership, Logistics and Manufacturing Outsourcing, The Supply Chain Handbook, andNo Boundaries. Jim has been quoted in hundreds of business and industry magazines such as The Journal of Commerce, Supply & Demand Chain Executive, and FORTUNE, and he has spoken at more than 4,000 international engagements.

Jim has served as President of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, the Materials Management Society, and the College-Industry Council on Material Handling Education, and Purdue has named him a Distinguished Engineering Alum. He has also received more than 50 awards for his service to his profession.