Most supply chain managers have limited visibility into which of their first-tier suppliers have risks and exposures arising from second and third-tier suppliers. Essentially, they do not know who supplies their Tier 1 suppliers.
Location analytics can identify unknown hidden participants or nodes in supply chains, thus helping to minimize and better control the risks of disruption.
Big Data is transforming the way leaders manage supply chains across all touch points, from manufacturing and provisioning to logistics and customer service.
What is Big Data applied to supply chain?
The application of Big Data for supply chain sustainability is the application of high-level intelligence derived from an organization’s data analytics of its operational processes, from procurement and processing to inventory management, distribution, etc., providing a basis for automation efforts and continuous improvement of logistics operations. Read the complete article here
Unlike historical analytics, predictive supply chain analytics allows you to anticipate and prepare for the future, taking out the conjectures planning processes and improving decision making.
Predictive supply chain analytics use advanced technological tools such as machine learning, geomarketing, data mining that enables organizations to identify hidden patterns, understand market trends, identify demand, establish pricing strategies, achieve a high return on investment, optimize and reduce inventory costs.
The last mile is the journey of a product from the warehouse shelf to the back of a truck and the customer's door, thus being the final step in the operational process, when the package finally arrives at the consumer's door. In addition to being one of the keys to customer satisfaction, last mile delivery is the most problematic part of the shipping process.
It is one of the logistics areas where Big Data can have a real impact on daily operations, offering the opportunity to optimize internal processes and better control external factors, developing qualitative and quantitative improvements in operations, supply chain areas and logistics processes, bringing significant improvements in last mile deliveries.
By analyzing the large volumes of anonymous data generated by mobile devices, it is possible to establish whether a distribution center has a commercial relationship with other logistics complexes, and even with establishments that serve the end consumer.
Using the most advanced Big Data tools, it is possible to understand the behavior of the supply chains of companies in the retail sector, since by monitoring delivery parts and counting mutual visits between suppliers and vendors, it is possible to identify and establish which are the most important relationships between distribution centers and points of sale to the end consumer, such as stores.
Accurately calculating freight costs and delivery times to make online sales profitable for companies are, in this context of the e-commerce rise, some of the most important challenges for the retail sector.
The changes in consumer habits reported in the context of the new commercial reality, which arose quickly as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and the restrictions imposed on mobility, have forced companies to transform the way they operate.
Identifying whether in the logistics chain of crates used for beverage transportation there are possible illegitimate uses and detecting the points in the process where theft is more likely to occur, are part of the problems that can be solved through business intelligence methodologies.
Nowadays, companies and work teams make decisions and design their business strategies through data analysis and the use of tailor-made Business Intelligence solutions.
Small warehouses located in strategic locations that serve to quickly distribute the merchandise sold online, are the type of properties that in this context of new business reality have gained ground.
When analyzing the Guatemalan market, it is reported that one of the geographic regions in which the productive activity of this sector is increasing is composed of Villa Nueva, Villa Canales and San Miguel Petapa, municipalities of the department of Guatemala that are located south of the capital of the country. This area is a commercial node that has developed quickly in recent years.
Due to the imbalance in world trade flows, shipping lines have changed their routes and prefer to move empty containers to Asia, a situation that generates shortages and causes increases in freight rates and raw material prices.
In this scenario of new commercial reality, the operating costs of maritime freight have been impacted, since due to the restrictions imposed in several countries around the world, containers have been stranded.
Reducing delivery times of products sold through digital channels and maintaining different supply and distribution options to face scenarios of trade restrictions are some of the challenges that companies face in this new business reality.
In Central America during 2020, companies had to adjust quickly to the demands arising from the health crisis caused by the covid-19 outbreak, as restrictions on consumer mobility and face-to-face sales were continuous.
Mandatory use of low-sulfur fuel by ships, shortage of containers and priority for medical supplies and vaccines will push up sea and air freight costs.
Maintaining proper inventories to meet demand, having a robust logistics system and an electronic sales channel that protects your customers when they make a purchase, are part of the challenges that businesses face in this new reality.
With "Black Friday" and Christmas approaching, commercial establishments in the region are beginning to apply their sales and promotion strategies, with which they will try to recover part of their income.
The protests in Costa Rica, which affect vehicle circulation in the country and border crossings, will have a short-term impact on intraregional trade and cargo transport costs.
In order to access the $1.75 billion credit that it intends to request from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Costa Rican government proposed to tax financial transactions, raise the tax on the profits of companies and individuals, and increase the tax on real estate.
The abrupt change in consumer habits forced companies to digitalize their operations and sales, but the challenges do not stop there, as companies will have to implement effective logistics systems to reach their customers.
After the difficulties generated by the restrictions imposed by Costa Rica on the entry of cargo from neighboring countries were overcome, the Costa Rican pilots denounce that the authorities of the region, far from applying reciprocal measures, have established "repressive measures."