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Introduction
Wholesale distribution operations are becoming more complex, with ever-changing customer requirements, global and electronic marketplaces, multiple distribution channels, and compliance initiatives adding to the perennial challenges of delivering accurately and on time. Successfully meeting these challenges in ways that provide competitive advantage requires tight synchronization of business processes throughout the supply chain and across the entire enterprise. Traditional warehouse management or enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions are not enough. True distribution effectiveness means streamlined processes and timely access to the information necessary for moving goods at maximum speeds. Tracking technologies such as radio frequency (RF) and radio frequency identification (RFID) eliminate manual labor but by themselves cannot make up for awkward workflows, redundant handling, or errors. Operational efficiency is the key to increasing inventory turns, improving order fulfillment rates, reducing cycle time, and eliminating chargebacks. This white paper addresses business and technical decision-makers facing these issues for ambitious companies in which product distribution and transportation play key roles in daily operations and profitability. It describes how the comprehensive, integrated management solution represented by Supply Chain Execution for Microsoft Dynamics AX, formerly Microsoft Business Solutions?Axapta, can help build an integrated logistics solution.
Overview: A Solution for Supply Chain Challenges
Supply Chain Execution for Microsoft Dynamics AX integrates information from your business and the entire supply chain to help synchronize real-time product movement and improve productivity within distribution operations. This comprehensive, fully integrated business solution helps companies to balance the demands of extended supply chains and move product more efficiently to increase sales, improve fill rates, and decrease costs. Building on the multilanguage, multicurrency functionality provided by Microsoft Dynamics, Supply Chain Execution for Microsoft Dynamics AX offers a powerful competitive advantage for companies distributing across a global marketplace. The supply chain solution can be most beneficial to organizations that seek to improve current distribution operations or to manage new initiatives for the following:
- Distribution capacity
- Transportation optimization
- Delivery service improvement
- Retail compliance
- International expansion
- Implementation of barcode and RF data collection
- Global supply chain visibility
- Trading partner collaboration
With the ability to handle single-byte and double-byte languages, international currency exchange, various warehouses, and multiple companies, Supply Chain Execution for Microsoft Dynamics AX can manage entire supply networks. As organizational needs change, the Microsoft Dynamics AX three-tiered, scalable system architecture make it easy to tailor the solution both for today's requirements and for the future growth of the business.
Key Solution Benefits
- Improve order fulfillment and accuracy
- Eliminate inefficient processes and excess inventory
- Enhance workload balancing and planning
- Enable compliance with industry standards
- Reduce transportation costs
Supply Chain Execution for Microsoft Dynamics AX delivers a flexible, modular approach, which offers cost-effective options for taking advantage of the functionality that can best enhance your operations. Extended Warehouse Management options streamline receiving, slotting, picking, and order fulfillment. RFID-enabled technology helps ensure Electronic Product Code (EPC) compliance with customer requirements and increases product visibility to facilitate tracking and inventory management while improving cross docking and expedition of back orders. Strategies and tools for selecting optimal product placement enable you to increase efficiency, shorten order fulfillment cycles, and eliminate user error. By balancing workloads, setting performance targets, and deploying resources, companies can achieve maximum work force productivity. Tracking all warehouse activities, sharing key performance indicators, and measuring against baseline standards help ensure a company's operations are performing at full potential. With integrated Transportation Execution options, companies can simplify and speed transportation management tasks. Efficient load building, automated carrier assignments, and quick generation of compliant documentation boost efficiency, eliminate errors, and reduce costs. Shipments can be confirmed and tracked as needed to maintain visibility throughout distribution and help ensure timely delivery and customer satisfaction.
Specific Benefits
Extended Warehouse Management and Transportation Execution together can provide these specific benefits:
- Increased warehouse productivity
- Reduced labor, transportation, and administrative costs
- Improved space utilization
- More accurate inventory
- Higher fill and throughput rates
- Enhanced utilization of assets (such as forklifts or pallet jacks)
- Optimal transportation service levels
- Stronger distribution capacity
- Enhanced customer service through improvements to:
1. Order fill rates
2. Order accuracy
3. On-time delivery rates
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