Supply Chain

It's Time to Get Back on the Supply Chain IT Horse

April 9, 2011

Every day, we hear about the latest gadgets, software, electronics and technologies that promise to enhance our lives.

And what you buy as cutting-edge today can be old hat tomorrow. So yes, new technologies are infiltrating our lives with constant upgrades and improvements that are hard to keep up with, but they have also proven to be useful in many ways.

Unfortunately, while the rest of the world has been advancing, a number of companies were forced to go extremely lean during the recession. They cut back on supply chain information technology and ultimately became stagnant in ways that would really serve to boost their profitability and customer service.

While it may have made sense to cut back in the past few years, now is the time for companies to regain that competitive edge and strategically set priorities for IT. It's a prime time to decide whether you will upgrade or replace your technology, establish the next step in your WMS strategy, and get a handle on SaaS and the Cloud.

The list doesn't stop there. Read more about industry experts' Top 11 Priorities for Supply Chain IT in 2011 and figure out how your company can act now to secure profitable growth this year.

What are your 2011 IT goals for supply chain? Do you have others that are missing from this list?

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.