Understanding The Supply Chain Distribution Continuum

The reason is that the cost associate with data collection, data cleansing and analytics is incurred up front in the information management process, while the benefits that are derived from the former can only be realized if the information is in the hands of the right people.

Figuring out who needs the data, what form it will be in, and how it will be delivered is usually left to evolve on its own, and ends up being a mess. Understanding ahead of time where and how data is used can help businesses avoid a short circuit, what has proven to be a very lengthy and costly exercise. The following offers a model to classify the different areas where data is disseminated.

Siloed Users
At the core of data consumption are people in job functions that require supply chain data access directly or indirectly (through IT). They need this information to answer specific questions they have regarding their very specific scope of responsibilities. Much of these requests are considered “one-off”. And sometimes even take on the name of the data consumer…e.g. “Jim’s report”

Departmental
Organizations that are slightly more mature usually need data disseminated by department. Data and key performance metrics are able to be measured at the departmental level allowing departments to track their activities, operate more effectively and optimize their supply chain. Departments using BI data usually have some type of formal or informal collaborations that take place based on the reports and analytics they receive.

Enterprise
More mature companies empower their entire enterprise with data so that everyone makes decisions based on one version of the truth. Activities are coordinated between departments and individuals on key metrics where interdependencies occur. This helps optimize and streamline supply chain operations and aligning critical efforts across the business.

Suppliers
Giving access to business intelligence information to supplier networks is the next big thing in data dissemination. Providing supplier’s access allows visibility of problems that occur in the supply chain beyond the organization’s boundaries, giving suppliers, vendors and distributors the ability to proactively address those issues. This helps optimize the entire business ecosystem to function more effectively and profitably.

Customers
Another effective use of dissemination is to empower customers with data so that they can ask and answer their own questions as they relate to your business. Although on the forefront of the continuum, dissemination of data to customers is an interesting twist to the mobile BI movement. Giving customers access to self-service BI metrics and data empowers them to make better business decisions, resulting in higher levels of satisfaction and increased customer loyalty.

How mature is your Supply Chain Data?
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About the Author
Ray Major is the Chief Strategist of Halo Business Intelligence. A data scientist, economist and statistician by training, he’s a life-long practitioner in the mysterious arts of data intelligence and analytics.

You can contact Ray by email at [email protected] and also follow him on Twitter at @majorbi