How Digital Agility Can Help Prepare Your Supply Chain for Anything
Businesses’ ability to successfully navigate unexpected events is a large part of an overall successful supply chain. Many companies have found ways to mitigate the effects of events like hurricanes and blizzards. However, most organizations were not prepared for the implications of a pandemic like Covid-19 and its long-term impact on global supply chains.
In a survey conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit, 50% of respondents cited that digital agility is their greatest opportunity for post-Covid-19 resilience. Understanding the full impact of the crisis and learning from the many unexpected circumstances the pandemic has caused will help companies strengthen their supply chains moving forward.
Digital agility is formally defined as “the ability to move quickly and easily by applying and leveraging digital technology and tools.” By utilizing technology, businesses can secure their supply chains by improving real-time visibility, securing last-minute capacity, tracking KPIs dynamically, and generally setting themselves up for the best chance to weather ‘the unexpected.’
The most effective technology for digital agility that’s designed to better logistics operations while offering a number of benefits is a transportation management system based in the cloud. With an advanced TMS, companies can plan and book freight across all modes, find the best route and carrier, manage payments and so much more! Below are a few of the features a well-rounded TMS must have to help companies improve the digital agility of their operations:
The Latest Cloud Technology
The best transportation management systems leverage the latest cloud technology. TMSs that are cloud-based store data in the cloud rather than on a local server or computer. Storing information on the cloud makes for a faster start-up, lower usage costs and greater flexibility. Installing updates doesn’t require an in-person visit and the process of troubleshooting is simplified. A TMS that operates on the cloud helps supply chains stay digitally agile and prepare for the unexpected.
Complete Supply Chain Visibility
Companies that have complete visibility throughout their supply chains are able to continuously improve. Transportation management systems that provide real-time information on the location and estimated arrival time of shipments improve logistics operations, digital agility and customer service. Companies can leverage visibility to answer questions from partners which makes for better collaboration. Visibility throughout the supply chain helps companies strengthen their logistics operations and prepare for the unexpected.
Detailed Reports and Dashboards
It’s important that data is collected and organized in a way that companies can utilize it to make better informed decisions both during and after unexpected events. With a transportation management system, data is collected and used to generate detailed reports and dashboards that digitally agile companies can leverage to improve their logistics operations and address issues as they arise. Data can be overwhelming and difficult to understand, but a transportation management system makes it easy.
Truckload Spot Market
Having a diverse selection of carriers and potential truckload volume is a key component of a flexible supply chain that’s able to adapt to adversity. Companies looking to strengthen their digital agility need an alternative for when situations arise where they can’t get their freight covered by a traditional negotiated rate but have a delivery date that needs to be met.
Kuebix TMS users gain access to Community Load Match, Kuebix’s load matching platform and shipping community. Community Load Match leverages Trimble MAPS to provide advanced matching capabilities and map visualization. Since it’s built inside Kuebix TMS, shippers can meet all of their truckload shipping requirements on the same platform that handles the rest of their shipping needs.
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Staying digitally agile is especially important for companies in such an unpredictable environment. Implementing a transportation management system that leverages the latest technology like Kuebix TMS ensures companies are prepared for anything. Click here to learn more about the benefits Kuebix can bring to your supply chain.
