2009 Top 10 Supply Chain Software Vendor Report - Independent Research

Top 10 Supply Chain
Management Vendors - 2009
Profiles of the Leading SCM Vendors
Find the best supply chain management software
for your company.
For more information visit Business-Software.com/SCM.About Supply Chain Management Software
An efficient and agile supply chain is critical to success. Companies must be able to quickly respond to the rapidly changing needs of customers, while keeping the cost of goods produced down to increase profit margins and ensure maximum profitability. Supply chain management (SCM) software can help businesses achieve this by enabling them to better predict demand trends, negotiate the best possible deals with suppliers, optimize inventory levels, and better coordinate distribution channels.
The need for SCM solutions is so great that the market continues to grow at a rapid pace. The worldwide market for supply chain management (SCM) software topped an estimated $6 billion in 2006, and is expected to reach or exceed $8 billion by 2010, according to the most current estimates from AMR Research
What is Supply Chain Management?SCM is a combination of science and software that encompasses all operations within the supply chain, including the sourcing, acquisition, and storage of raw materials; the scheduling and management of work-in process; and the warehousing and distribution of finished products. With SCM solutions, businesses can streamline and automate the planning, execution, and control of these key activities.
Additionally, since there are often many third-parties involved throughout the end-to-end supply chain, SCM software is designed to enhance communication, collaboration, and coordination with vendors and suppliers, transportation and shipping companies, intermediaries, and other partners by enabling faster bi-directional information sharing.
AMR's research found that the typical U.S. manufacturer is managing on average more than 30 contract relationships. Supply chain management solutions allow enterprises to handle that complexity while still responding to increasingly demanding customers.
Key Benefits for Your CompanyWith a supply chain management solution in place, a business can:* More effectively manage its entire network by overseeing all activities across all suppliers, production plants, and storage and distribution facilities. * Streamline and centralize their distribution strategy, to eliminate the logistical errors and lack of coordination that can lead to delays.
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* Increase visibility and enhance collaboration across the entire supply chain by sharing valuable information such as demand trend reports, forecasts, inventory levels, and transportation plans with suppliers and other partners.* Minimize storage costs and improve cash flow by better managing inventory levels. * Improve logistics tracking, to correct break-downs, inefficiencies, or problems in the supply chain before they become unmanageable.
A recent benchmarking study by AMR Research demonstrates that companies with better demand forecasting accuracy (something that can be easily achieved with SCM software), can reduce unneeded inventory by as much as 15%, improve perfect order ratings, and shorten cash-to-cash cycles by 35%.
Does My Company Need Supply Chain Management?Supply chains are becoming more and more complex, and as a result, companies are finding them increasingly challenging to manage. Any manufacturer with a multi-faceted supply chain can realize dramatic benefits from SCM software, which facilitates smoother, more efficient, and more timely execution of supply chain activities by connecting all vendors and other partners into one cohesive, cooperative network.
But, SCM isn't just for factories and production plants anymore. Retailers across the globe are also putting SCM applications to good use, boosting supply chain efficiency and gaining greater visibility into their distribution networks and inventory levels across stores and outlets. Additionally, many types of service providers today maintain sophisticated delivery channels that include numerous partners. Businesses like these can also achieve significant return on investment from the use of SCM software.
Common Supply Chain Management FeaturesSCM solutions of... [download for more]