In the past years, the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and events beyond have illuminated the need for supply chain resilience.
The conventional supply chain model is transforming to meet the demands of a changing world. In the last few years, the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and events beyond, have illuminated the need for supply chain resilience. That’s where the concept of the extended supply chain comes in, revealing how Oracle users can transform their supply chains into agile, cooperative networks. There are a number of strategies to reposition your supply chain for the 21st century and unlock the potential of seamless collaboration with customers, suppliers and stakeholders – let’s run through some examples:
Setting the scene: A radical change in supply chain management
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities within supply chains, compelling businesses to reset their approach. The extended supply chain addresses these challenges by emphasizing collaboration with key trading partners (customers and suppliers), real-time communication and technology adoption to achieve visibility across the entire network. Amid unprecedented global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations across industries faced a severe test of their supply chain resilience.
As companies navigated through the complexities of the crisis, several pivotal case studies emerged, underscoring companies’ dependence on a robust and agile supply chain network. One such noteworthy example is the case of XYZ Electronics. Due to the sensitive nature of the client’s industry and business, we refer to this customer, a leading player in consumer electronics, as XYZ Electronics.
The fragile links exposed – XYZ Electronics’ unforeseen supply chain challenges during COVID-19
Before the pandemic, XYZ Electronics had a well-established global supply chain network that spanned multiple countries and continents. The company sourced components and raw materials from various suppliers across Asia, Europe and North America. XYZ Electronics was proud of its lean inventory management approach, relying on just-in-time production to keep costs low and maintain high efficiency.
Challenges faced during the pandemic:
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, XYZ Electronics faced a series of challenges that exposed the fragility of its supply chain.
First, it experienced supplier disruptions: Many of XYZ Electronics’ suppliers were located in regions heavily impacted by the pandemic, leading to factory closures, labor shortages and disruptions in the supply of critical components. Next came transportation restrictions: nationwide lockdowns and travel restrictions hindered the movement of goods, causing delays in transporting products and components. Air freight capacity reductions further exacerbated the situation. Then, the company faced inventory shortages. The company’s lean inventory approach backfired as unforeseen disruptions prevented the replenishment of materials, resulting in shortages and production halts. Finally, there was a lack of visibility. The complex, multi-tiered supply chain lacked transparency, making it challenging for XYZ Electronics to predict and respond to upstream disruptions.
Impact on operations:
As a result of these challenges, XYZ Electronics faced severe repercussions, such as production delays due to which the company was unable to meet customer demands due to a lack of key components and materials, leading to significant production delays. Furthermore, it experienced reduced revenue, making it unable to fulfill orders and meet customer expectations. Because of this, XYZ Electronics experienced a loss of market share to competitors that had more resilient supply chains. Additionally, the business had to deal with increased costs: the disruptions forced the company to expedite shipments and source materials from alternative suppliers at higher costs, eroding profit margins. The company was also struck by reputational damage because the extended delays and shortages damaged customer trust and brand loyalty.
Adapting and reshaping the supply chain:
In response to the challenges faced during the pandemic, XYZ Electronics undertook several initiatives to strengthen its supply chain resilience. To begin with, XYZ Electronics diversified its supplier base to reduce dependency on specific regions, ensuring a more flexible and robust sourcing strategy. Then, the company included its top five customers and top ten suppliers (in revenue and spend rate, respectively) as an extension of its supply chain and shared forecast numbers and the projected supply chain plan. Consequently, the organization implemented risk management protocols to identify potential disruptions and develop contingency plans to mitigate their impact. The company also invested in its digital transformation and adopted technology solutions that provided end-to-end visibility into its supply chain, enabling proactive monitoring and rapid response to disruptions. In the end, XYZ Electronics revisited its inventory management strategy, striking a balance between lean inventory and buffer stock to mitigate the impact of supply disruptions.
Conclusion:
The case of XYZ Electronics serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of supply chains in the face of unforeseen disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for organizations to reassess their supply chain strategies and embrace resilience through collaboration, diversification and technology adoption.
Furthermore, it shows that extending a supply chain is more than just desirable, it’s essential. As technologies improve rapidly over the next several years, companies cannot afford to sit idle and continue the current communication methods. Companies must embrace the change, meet their key trading partners more than halfway and facilitate true collaboration. By learning from past experiences, companies like XYZ Electronics are better equipped to weather future storms and ensure the continuity of their operations.
The extended supply chain concept: Enhancing resilience and efficiency
The extended supply chain concept refers to the expansion of traditional supply chain management beyond an organization’s boundaries. It integrates suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, customers and third-party service providers into a collaborative and integrated network. This concept aims to enhance efficiency, visibility and responsiveness, fostering better coordination and communication among all stakeholders.
Among the fundamental aspects and benefits of the extended supply chain concept is the emphasis on collaboration with top suppliers and customers. Information sharing leads to more realistic and better-informed decision-making and enhanced responsiveness to changes. Furthermore, technologies like cloud computing, IoT, and data analytics provide real-time visibility, leading to reduced lead times and improved efficiency. Involving customers and suppliers in the planning process also ensures accurate demand forecasts, reducing the risk of overstocking or stockouts. Additionally, collaboration and information sharing enable quicker development of mitigation strategies in risk management.
Another benefit is that real-time information sharing and streamlined processes result in shorter lead times. Companies in industries with short product life cycles must ask key suppliers for their commitment to their supply chain plan. On top of that, strong supplier relationships lead to better negotiations, improved terms and innovative solutions, while improved visibility and communication lead to optimized inventory management, reducing excess inventory and carrying costs.
Finally, information sharing promotes environmentally friendly choices and waste reduction, contributing to sustainability considerations, and collaboration fosters innovation and adaptability by tapping into a wider pool of expertise and resources.
Leveraging Oracle technology: Bridging the gap
Oracle cloud applications act as a cornerstone of the extended supply chain. Businesses can bridge logistics and supply chain planning by integrating the Oracle transportation management cloud and Oracle supply chain planning cloud for a comprehensive solution.
To make the most of your Oracle ecosystem, partners such as us at Accelalpha can introduce a systematic approach empowering customers to view the entire extended supply chain. Aligning logistics and supply chain planning provides insights for informed decision-making, proactive risk management and optimized inventory control.
Benefits of an Extended Supply Chain Solution include better communication and faster decision-making with top suppliers and key customers through real-time collaboration. Moreover, an interconnected network with key trading partners (top customers and suppliers) treated as equal team members enhances stability and agility when responding to market changes. What’s more, seamless collaboration internally and externally reduces lead times and optimizes inventory management. Ultimately, proactively engaging customers in the supply chain process enhances overall customer satisfaction and loyalty.
With collaborative technology, customers can overcome challenges like breaking down silos and supplier relationships: the extended supply chain breaks down silos for cross-functional collaboration internally and externally with key suppliers and customers, while technology facilitates open supplier communication, improving relationships.
Pioneering the future of supply chain management
In all, the extended supply chain concept – and therein the inclusion and open invitation to your key suppliers and top customers – powered by Oracle Cloud applications, reshapes it. By embracing collaboration and technology, companies are more resilient, agile and customer-centric, and with implementation partners such as Accelalpha, organizations can be empowered to navigate 21st-century supply chain challenges and reimagine their Oracle approach.
