The Future for Cloud-Based Supply Chain Management Solutions

With this survey, we aimed to discover attitudes towards, and plans for the adoption of, cloud-based supply chain management solutions on a global basis by focusing on the criticality of supply chain management (SCM) to the business;

- how SCM helps with attaining business objectives;

- the reasons why cloud-based SCM is adopted or not adopted; and

- what is expected of SCM vendors.

Here are the eight key take-aways:

1. Respondents want to move towards cloud-based, endto-end SCM solutions, seeing a wide range of strategic advantages
2. New technology is a key motivator to adopt a cloudbased SCM solution, with incentives including visibility, metering and monitoring, and integration with nextgeneration technologies
3. Operational efficiency is a key advantage of supply chain management solutions, along with customer-centricity and innovation
4. Many SCM processes already run in the cloud, including product lifecycle management, global trade logistics, and ideation and innovation
5. Challenges to the adoption of cloud-based SCM remain, including security and operational disruption, although these are not seen as insurmountable
6. In terms of outcomes, companies want an end-toend, integrated SCM solution that offers a wide range of functions
7. Vendor support for cloudbased SCM is crucial, although vendors need to do more to justify its adoption, especially with respect to security, certification and integration
8. Although companies are ready to adopt cloud-based SCM solutions, they need to be convinced, particularly over business benefits and full vendor support