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Business
Supply Chain Description
The supply chain for many companies can be interrupted by different things such as weather, seasons and high demands. One main example that has affected supply chain is the weather. For instance, last Christmas, deliveries were delayed to customers because of extreme weather conditions and snow storms that affected transportation. Amazon, BestBuy and other business are not to be blamed, but the couriers. Distributors use different shipping couriers such as UPS, USPS, FedEx and others. Ground shipping is commonly used because it is easier and more affordable. During Christmas, consumers shop for gifts for their families and loved ones and delivery is of the essence. Customers want their packages to arrive a day before the holidays or even sometimes on Christmas day, especially when Christmas falls on a weekday. For Instance, Amazon had to find ways to compensate their customers because of the delay in deliveries by UPS, consumers are usually furious when there is a delay in delivery. Another instance is Black Friday. Walmart, BestBuy, Amazon and other are swarmed with thousands of orders and sometimes their supply chains cannot handle them. Amazon, for instance, have had to expand their supply chains due to consumer purchase rates. I have never been impacted by the delay in shipping during the holidays, this is because I usually go directly to the stores to shop. One way companies such Amazon, BestBuy, Apple and others can avoid these disruptions is by planning head. In order to do so, they can start using air mail during the holidays or they can tell their customers to order at some certain time frame if they want their package to arrive on time.
Bombardier ERP Case
Logistics is a vital part of every company. Implementing logistics technology in every company is important, but can also prove to be a difficult challenge. One way to measure the success of a logistic technology is when the company can ensure proper communication between the couriers and timely deliveries to the consumer. A logistic technology can be creating a software that has the delivery times of the couriers that the company uses. For instance, if a company uses USPS, they should have a software that tracks the times and deliveries to the location of the customer. This technology should both be able to serve the company, the courier and the consumer. Companies that have different delivery times such as 1-day shipping, 2-day shipping and others need a technology that will ensure that deliveries between those periods are possible. When creating this technology, it is important to maintain proper communication between the company and the courier. This technology should setup a specific time during the day that the courier would come and pick-up packages for 1-day, 2-day and 3-5 day shipments. When a pick up time is set, then communication between the company and the courier can be established. The only way to measure the success of this technology is when there is proper communication between the company and the courier, and the courier and the customer.
Warehouse Technology
The technology in warehouses has changed from manual to computerized quickly. The change from manual to computerized or automatic is helping in making distribution and deliveries easier. The technology being used in warehouses today is very good and they should be geared towards a more advanced technologies. Today, technology, has taking over manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and deliveries. The technology in warehouses is headed for advancement; they are looking to move forward rather than going back. In the warehouse, I don’t think there is such a thing as “too much automation”. Using technology is to make work easier and faster. I would say there is too much automation if there mistakes being made using automated procedures. The automated process is helping warehouse workers work efficiently and allows specialization. Due to where warehouse technology is headed I don’t think Amazon or Apple will go back to using manual process due to larger inventories. This does not mean that the manual process is not good, but the automated process is much easier to work with and makes work easier and faster. Manual process can be used in small warehouses that have no need for technology. Manual process is an old procedure and I don’t think any warehouse that uses automated technology will go back to using manual process because timely distribution is important. A company’s investment in distribution is an important factor to its supply chain and corporate strategy. Many companies that have invested in their distribution have been very successful and highly rated by customers. For instance, Amazon has invested millions of dollars into their distribution and they one of the best supply chains in the market. Amazon relies on its supply chain for the growth of its business, this is a perfect example of how a company benefits from investing in distribution.
Transportation Technology
The visibility of supply chain is important because it shows a wide range of data, events and trends that relates to automation. A visible supply chain shows how a firm can handle information on distribution of products to the end user, the consumer. Amazon, Apple and others have visible supply chains because it easier to track all the information and data as well as increasing distribution methods. As of now transportation technology are trains and trucks for deliveries. The next big thing in transformation technology will be drones. There has been a lot of talk recently about using drones and testing them for the delivery of packages. Drones are more efficient and faster than robots. They are remote controlled and because they can fly it will get to its destination much faster, great for same day deliveries. Amazon have informed the public about using drones for deliveries. Drones will catch on much quicker than robots or RFID because there is more technology geared towards developing them. The truck/trailer transportation is very reliable and are mainly used. I don’t think there is anything that is going to transform the truck/trailer transportation, they serve a purpose and even if drones or any other technology should catch on I think distributors will still use them.
