8 Supply Chain Software Tools (With Features And Tips)

Updated 26 February 2023

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From the storage of raw materials and production of goods to the delivery of the final products to the point of consumption, supply chain management ensures that this flow remains efficient. A robust supply chain management helps a business to minimise its overall cost of production. Learning about some software tools used in the supply chain can help you optimise your supply chain process and reduce inefficiencies. In this article, we learn what a supply chain software is, explore some popular ones along with their features and examine some tips to choose the right one.

What is a supply chain software tool?

Enterprises operating in different sectors use a supply chain software tool for the efficient movement of raw materials and manufactured goods. These tools help businesses utilise the latest supply chain management techniques and streamline their supply chain. From downloadable software to cloud-based programs, these tools use information and communications technology (ICT) to help build a reliable supply chain framework for a business. They offer organisations smart solutions to forecast demand, fulfil sales orders and improve their warehousing and procurement systems.

An efficient and reliable software tool provides a business with capabilities to manage its inventory, process orders and returns, manage vendors and forecast trends in demand and supply. Apart from legacy software solutions, the cloud-based tools in this sector offer advanced real-time analytics, allowing a business to make quick and cost-effective supply chain-related decisions. Equipped with machine learning capabilities, many software tools for supply chain management are capable of self-diagnostics and demand forecasting, allowing businesses to continuously improve their operations.

8 Supply chain software tools

Here are eight software tools for efficient supply chain management:

1. Glaucus Supply Chain Solutions

Glaucus Supply Chain Solutions focuses on serving small and mid-sized companies. With its proprietary supply chain management software application programming interfaces (APIs), it offers great client service and customised integration with the existing supply chain system. Maven, the cloud-based warehouse management system of Glaucus Supply Chain Solutions, streamlines warehouse operations, delivering reliability and productivity. This warehouse management system is a mobile-first system, which you can use to manage business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) orders through a single interface.

2. Ramco Logistics ERP Suite

Ramco Logistics ERP Suite is a single-platform cloud-based software. Services providers, like third-party logistics, freight forwarders and parcel or courier companies, may use this high-efficiency logistics software for end-to-end visibility, planning and analytics. The Ramco Logistics Enterprise Resource Planning Software is a solution hosted on the cloud and fulfils various needs of logistics service providers, like transport management, warehouse management, fleet and asset management, hub management, billing and in-memory optimisation (IPO). Its dashboard offers service providers a detailed view of varied metrics, like new and lost customers, invoice accuracy, asset turnover ratio and fleet efficiency.

3. NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning System

NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning System helps a business streamline its processes and increase efficiency. This all-in-one cloud business management solution helps a business automate its processes alongside offering real-time visibility of operational and financial performance. This system helps an enterprise to access its accounting and operational information from anywhere on any device. Using this cloud business management solution, an organisation can manage its accounting, inventory, orders and customers. It is a fast, responsive and easy-to-navigate solution that allows an organisation of any size to grow its business.

4. Delhivery Supply Chain Services

A web-based end-to-end supply chain solution, the Delhivery Supply Chain Services program offers business owners warehouse management, fleet management, infrastructure management and business intelligence tools. It is a multi-channel order fulfilment solution that provides enterprises with reliable services, like distribution, vendor-managed inventory, returns management, on-demand fulfilment and direct-to-retail temperature-controlled freight solutions. These services are available to businesses operating in various industries, like automotive, consumer products, retail, electronics and health care.

5. Sagar Logistics Management System

The Sagar Logistics Management System software tool helps a business plan, manage and implement efficient storage and movement of goods to the destination. This software allows business owners to strengthen the management of their warehouse, inventory and purchasing. This delivery and freight logistics software enables a business to run its supply chain operations at affordable costs. With this software, a business can also track bulk materials and consumption, monitor operational statistics and strengthen trading partnerships through collaboration.

6. SAP Supply Chain Management

The SAP Supply Chain Management software offers fast, reliable and sustainable supply chain management solutions. The software tool automates warehouse management, optimises global transportation management and helps a business integrate their end-to-end yard logistics processes with cloud technology. Utilising its statistical models and machine learning algorithms, a business can make better forecasts and set inventory targets to boost profitability. It also supports a business to have a low carbon impact on the environment by reducing emissions and minimising waste.

7. Trimble Visual Cargo

A patented and cloud-based consignment management solution, Visual Cargo uses Trimble's Global Positioning System (GPS) and gives a business complete visibility of their in-transit consignment operations. Visual Cargo's tracking solution is a robust mechanism that a business can use to receive data on the location of vehicles, including real-time positioning and the planned or assigned routes. The software sends business owners geo-coded delivery notifications and also notifies them if there are any route diversions. The management information system (MIS) data also enables the user to track performance across metrics, like route adoption and turnaround time.

8. AgES Logistics ERP

AgES Logistics ERP is an integrated transport solution that logistics and transport companies can use to boost the growth of their business. It offers a web-based e-invoicing system for a business to generate e-way bills easily. A business can efficiently plan routes and track fleets in real-time with the help of its GPS integration. This logistics management software sends instant notifications to both consignor and consignee on booking and delivery. The software also notifies the stakeholders in case there is abnormal fuel consumption.

Key performance indicators for supply chain tools

Here are some key performance indicators of software tools for supply chain management:

Workforce productivity: An efficient supply chain program optimises processes by removing operational bottlenecks to save time and increase employee productivity.
Downtime: A software program for supply chain management with a quick response time and low downtime allows for the smooth functioning of supply chain operations.
Accuracy: A good software tool for supply chain management incorporates models to accurately forecast trends in supply and demand.
Customer rating: A software program for supply chain management that enables fast and timely delivery of products to customers results in higher customer satisfaction ratings for the business.
Profitability: A supply chain program contributes to the profitability of the business when it helps minimise the overall cost of its supply chain operations.

Factors for choosing the right tool

Here are some factors you can evaluate to help you select the right package to meet your needs:

Requirements

Different software solutions come with distinct features. Selecting one based on your requirements helps you subscribe to a service that makes the desired impact on the business. For example, if your requirement is for hub management, then selecting a service that focuses on hub management may prove effective. Use the trial version to get familiar with the software and verify that it meets your needs before going for a subscription.

Reliability

The success of the enterprise depends on how well you deliver the products or services to your customers. Before purchasing a software tool, ensure that the vendor has a good reputation. Read reviews online to know more about their services and how dependable they are in the supply chain sector.

Data insights

With a software program that utilises artificial intelligence and machine learning, you may collect data to improve the efficiency of your supply chain processes based on trends and patterns. These supply chain analytics often help you make data-driven decisions and achieve an accurate product demand forecast. In many B2C businesses, machine learning techniques provide automated responses and address imbalances in demand and supply, which helps minimise costs and improve customers' experience.

Interface

A software's intuitive design makes it user-friendly and decreases search time. There are many features of a supply chain program, like data visualisation, network scheduling and warehouse management. It is essential that the software is able to present these features in a way that is easy to interpret visually. Consider requesting a demo of the software before you decide to purchase it.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.