Visibility in the Import Supply Chain

Leading importers are reaping the benefits of end-to-end global supply chain visibility and control. They are gaining competitive advantage over their rivals, by:

• Operating with less overhead and inventory
• Reacting to fluctuations in demand or disruptions to the supply chain more quickly
• Managing risk more effectively

A new generation of on-demand, Web-based supply-chain management technology gives them the edge. This technology connects shippers, suppliers, and logistics partners through a Web-based, centralized data network, making end-to-end global supply chain visibility a reality.

Companies with these capabilities are putting themselves in a different league than their less tech-savvy competitors. Visibility technology offers more than just track and trace. These systems enable fundamental, strategic improvements in operations, with bottom-line impact:

• Improved supplier collaboration
• Increased global supply chain agility and reliability
• Reduced transportation spend
• Enhanced compliance with regulations and customs requirements
• Shortened product lead-time and lowered inventory carrying costs
• Augmented transparency into actual landed costs as they are incurred

Those who use today’s Web-based visibility platforms to address high-impact supply chain improvement opportunities see their costs go down and performance go up. They also achieve improvements in agility and responsiveness that translate into greater profitability, lower risk, and better customer service across the board.

This paper describes why visibility is so important, how Web-based supply chain visibility systems work and why they are so critical for success in the inter-company world of global trade. Using concrete examples from the field, this document will focus on specific areas of the import operation and show how a clear view of the end-to-end supply chain can deliver unprecedented value to the bottom line.