Real-Time Information Aids Supply Chains

Tool Time In the next 12 months, will your company make a significant investment in inventory-management tools to reduce the time it takes for operational data to reach key decision makers?

Despite spending constraints, sites continue to improve their supply chains through IT investment. And to ensure the best stock decisions possible, four in five business-technology professionals say their companies will make significant acquisitions in inventory-management tools in the next 12 months to reduce the time it takes for operational data to reach key decision makers.

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Payoffs Reported Have your company's efforts to speed data to key decision makers resulted in supply-chain efficiencies?

Potential vulnerabilities that accompany information sharing, including data corruption, are easier to rationalize when offset by favorable payoffs. Companies seeking supply-chain efficiencies through improved access to more timely information see rewards for these efforts. While a third of large companies boost beneficial returns due to faster information access, more than half of midsize businesses and two in five small companies report results for their real-time supply-chain endeavors.

Making An Effort Is the fact that business partners are unwilling to share information an obstacle in your company's efforts to collect and manage data in real time?

Few executives, if they value their careers, should say no to company alliances that offer increased business opportunities, even if those opportunities depend on shared proprietary information. Yet some companies seeking real-time operations with their business partners are experiencing unwillingness on the part of business associates to disclose pertinent information. Nearly a third of sites report that the problem is so severe that it's hindering efforts to collect and manage data in real time.

Structurally Proficient Are your company's business partners technically able to share information in real time?

Unwillingness to share information isn't the only factor that can prevent improved communications with business partners. Technical compatibility can jeopardize these ambitions, too. About half of companies with annual revenue less than $1 billion, slightly more than the 44% of large companies, say technical compatibility is an issue in realizing a flow of real-time information with business partners.