The Smart Supply Chain Technology Show

The Smart Supply Chain Technology Show (SSCT) is the biennial exhibition for supply chain and logistics professionals to find out what’s new in supply chain products and services, network with colleagues, clients and business partners and build new business relationships. The theme for 2009, “Meeting the Challenge – Logistics Innovation for Operational Efficiency”, recognises the opportunities and demands presented by the current business environment, and identifies innovation as a key to meeting these challenges.

I hope to see you there :)

IBM :Turning Customers into Advocates

A good pdf document from the IBM retail team. ( see link).

The premise is the while retailers are heeding the daily drumbeat of pundits on the importance of focusing on the customer experience, a gap remains between what retailers are delivering and what shoppers expect.

Retailers can close this gap by systematically integrating knowledge of what their best customers want and expect from their brand into every core operational decision.

This is where the bar will be set for retailers - to turn shoppers into advocates and create a sustainable, differentiated advantage.

This is what RSC is all about: making advocates of your customers for your company.

ARC Advisory Group ranks Manhattan Associates as leading supplier of warehouse management systems

Manhattan Associates: WMS solution achieved first place ranking in 15 categories.
ARC Advisory Group released its “Warehouse Management Systems Worldwide Outlook, Market Analysis and Forecast Through 2013” today, with global supply chain optimization provider Manhattan Associates, Inc. ranking as the leading supplier of total warehouse management software (WMS) and services.

ARC Advisory Group produces the annual forecast which follows more than 80 suppliers of WMS solutions and gives a detailed analysis and forecast for the marketplace through 2013. The Manhattan Associates’ WMS solution achieved a first place ranking in the following categories:

Total WMS Software and Services
Suppliers of WMS Software
Base WMS Software
WMS Add-on Software Modules
WMS Implementation Services
WMS Maintenance Services
WMS in North America
WMS in the Middle East & Africa
WMS in Asia
WMS to Tier 1 Customers
WMS to Tier 3 Customers
Pharmaceutical & Biotech Manufacturers
Wholesale/Distributors
Apparel Retailers
Department & General Merchandise Retailers

"Manhattan is the largest supplier of WMS solutions in the world. The company emerged as the leading supplier of WMS in Asia this year for the first time," says Steve Banker, service director, supply chain management for ARC Advisory Services. "Manhattan also made huge strides in EMEA this year, moving up from the #6 WMS provider to the #2 provider of WMS in the region. Not only did Manhattan Associates increase their global footprint, but they increased their solution footprint significantly by introducing some compelling WMS add-on modules — Supply Chain Intelligence (SCI) and Workforce Schedule Optimization. In a marketplace where it is sometimes difficult to differentiate solutions, Manhattan has continued to extend the runway with science-based applications built exclusively for distribution centers."

"Manhattan's ranking in ARC's “Warehouse Management Systems Worldwide Outlook” underscores our commitment to developing the type of solutions that give our customers a short term path to success while also delivering long term value," says Eddie Capel, executive vice president, global operations, Manhattan Associates. "Our entire suite of distribution management solutions is designed to give our customers flexibility and the ability to add complementary solutions such as Supply Chain Intelligence, Total Cost-to-Serve or Labor Scheduling as their supply chain network continues to grow and mature."

Foot note: In my Opinion if you need a SCM/WMS with the lot then MANH is the group to talk too...

Oracle - Beehive Collaboration Software

Oracle announced enhancements to its recently launched Beehive collaboration software in hopes of positioning it more strongly against long-established offerings from Microsoft and IBM. Oracle also slashed its entry-level price for Beehive from $120 to $50 per user, while announcing prices for a cloud-based version.
According to independent analyst Peter O'Kelly, Beehive represents Oracle's fourth attempt to crack the collaboration market, which has been long dominated by Microsoft and its Exchange and SharePoint products, and IBM with its Lotus Notes and Domino software.

Despite its late entrance to the market, Oracle's senior vice president of collaboration technologies David Gilmour asserts that things will be different for Beehive. "The market leaders are groupware products that have grown up," he said. "Collaboration was layered on after the fact, not designed that way in the beginning. Beehive is almost the complete inverse of that."

Warehouse Management Systems - Outlook to 2012

The ARC group has recently published a Five Year Market Analysis and Forecast through 2013. An overview of the report can be found at http://www.arcweb.com/StudyBrochurePDFs/Study_wms.pdf

The outlook is for slow growth off the back of a drop in 2009.
For many suppliers, strategies must be focused on survival rather than growth.

In putting together their strategies, the following kinds of questions need answers.

• How much will the market consolidate?
• How will 2009 compare to 2008?
• When will the market begin to grow again?
• What types of core WMS solutions and add on modules will sell well during the downturn?
• What regions and industries should suppliers focus on?

WMS is often sold as part of a larger supply chain or enterprise suite. How important is that suite? How does the suite offered by leading suppliers need to change so that leading suppliers can maintain and grow their market share?

The full report can be downloaded from this address : http://www.arcweb.com/Research/Studies/Pages/WMS.aspx
There are also similar reports for TMS, planning, Global Trade, SCE etc

Blue Sky - Insight SCM Visibility

Insight™ is a supply chain visibility application that provides the ability to measure key indicators, monitor process improvements, and maintain supply chain performance across the extended supply chain. By linking information between disparate systems, substantial efficiencies can be gained generating a better return on your supply chain investment. Insight also identifies root cause relationships which allows for improved decision making.

http://www.blueskylogistics.com/insight.html

Great product , sits on multiple WMS applications. Contact me for details...