Supply chain automation:
Reducing complexity, improving efficiency

Supply chain automation refers to systematizing part or all of a retailers workflow to streamline, eliminate, and offload a number of processes traditionally run by individuals:

• Payments and invoicing
• Order fulfillment and inventory updates
• Tracking generation and email confirmation
• Picking and/or packing through warehouse robotics

The supply chain-related tools and technology emerging today allow businesses to centrally manage a complex web of working parts more quickly and cost-effectively—and with less manual investment, overall.

Automation and order management complexity

According to a report from Capgemini, 42% of supply chain teams see order management complexity as a top challenge for their business. 

In diving a bit deeper, respondents pointed to three areas of order management that lend to this overall complexity:

• Multichannel ordering: Companies often report difficulties in keeping track of orders as they come in from various sources, such as their eCommerce website, Amazon, and any other platform they sell on.

• Dropshipping: Many wholesalers also work with dropshippers, who basically operate as an inventory-less retailer. Wholesaler must implement an entirely new supply chain process to cater to their dropshipping partners and their customers.

• Value-added service: As customers increasingly expect a higher level of service at every touchpoint, businesses face pressure to provide faster and more personalized order fulfillment to maintain a competitive edge.

Here, automation technology can be implemented to:

• Ensure that orders are processed accurately and in near real-time
• Develop an optimal workflow for each incoming order
• Analyze the effectiveness of current processes
• Make improvements as needed

Automation and the global supply chain

Adding to the complexity of the modern supply chain is the fact that they often operate globally at least to some degree.

On one side of the process, companies often rely on international manufacturers for different parts and materials. On the other side, modern companies often strive to reach as wide an audience as possible—potentially doing business with customers located in every corner of the world.

It’s inherently more complicated to keep track of inventory-related information as it comes and goes from various sources. Automation technology simplifies these processes, ensuring your supply chain team always has access to the information they need, right when they need it.

Additionally, automation can ensure all supply chain processes go through “without a hitch,” no matter where in the world they’re being taken care of. This goes back to optimizing workflows and ensuring as little friction as possible when fulfilling a given customer’s needs.

Some examples of how automation allows companies to effectively serve a global audience include allowing for the processing of multiple currencies and providing multiple, dynamic delivery options to customers.

Automation and customer expectations

As customers increasingly expect a higher level of service at every touchpoint, businesses face pressure to provide faster and more personalized order fulfillment to maintain a competitive edge.

Automation can help companies meet the fulfillment-related needs of their customers in a number of ways—the two most important being:

• Streamlined service: The modern consumer expects to be able to go through the process of purchasing and receiving their orders with as little friction as possible. With automation at the helm on the company’s side, the end-user should easily be able to get what they came for, just as they expected to receive it.

• Increased transparency: Supply chain teams can also automate the communication of important information related to a customer’s order. By keeping the customer “in the know” as their order goes through the various stages of fulfillment, companies can build even more trust with their loyal customers moving forward.

It’s also worth mentioning that, because automation takes care of the more menial tasks associated with supply chain processes, teams will have more available resources to invest into more essential, hands-on initiatives.

In turn, these organizations can focus on enhancing their customers’ overall experience with their brand.