US Seafood Giant Bumble Bee Foods to Use SAP Blockchain Tech in Supply Chain

North America’s largest branded shelf-stable seafood firm Bumble Bee Foods has launched a blockchain platform for seafood traceability. The project was created in collaboration with German tech company SAP specializing in enterprise software, according to a press release on March 8.

Based on SAP Cloud Platform Blockchain service, the new platform can purportedly monitor the supply chain of yellowfin tuna from Indonesia to end customers.

Read full article here - https://www.google.com/amp/s/cointelegraph.com/news/north-american-seafood-firm-to-use-blockchain-tech-in-supply-chain/amp

Change is good ! ERPGenie is changing ...

In the past ERPGenie has served up many tips, tricks and articles, in the generic ERP and SAP. We like to think that we pioneered the age of sharing information when it wasn't cool to do so!

As a company, ERPGenie LLC, focuses on SAP Supply Chain Management and specifically, we are experts in the traceability and automation space. If SAP EM, OER, GTT, GTS, GBT, TM, EDI, AIF and PI are no foreign to you then you will begin to see a bigger focus on these topics in our blogs going forward. IOT and Blockchain are also near and dear to our hearts as we see the great potential that these technologies are already bringing to the Supply Chain process. Exciting times call for exciting changes... Join us for this new Journey. Discover the new Supply Chain - The 4th Generation Supply Chain with us...

Perfecting the last mile | Supply Chain Dive

Read the full article here on Supply Chain Dive

• Why is the last Mile so inefficient?
• For last mile proficiency, tap the logistics network
• How cities can help supply chains perfect the last mile
• What retailers can do to make the last mile more efficient
• 9 trends in last-mile delivery

Why is the last mile so inefficient? | Supply Chain Dive

Highly customized service, complex routes and various stakeholders make perfecting the last mile a challenge

Editor's Note: This article is part of a series on perfecting last-mile delivery. All stories in this series can be found here.

The last mile is extremely inefficient. It is the final frontier of logistics, a cost so habitual yet burdensome to supply chains that it begs for futuristic ideas, e.g. drones, flying warehouses or self-driving cars, to capture our imaginations. 

Such dreams of a seamless delivery experience are hardly new. The United States Postal Service has been trying to perfect its process for centuries; and United Parcel Service (UPS) and FedEx, for decades. Only now, the digital age has pulled last-mile delivery to the forefront of retailers' minds as e-commerce and the Amazon effect require them to offer fast and free delivery, or become uncompetitive.

Consequently, the industry returns to an age-old question: How can we perfect this process? Except this time, the technology and intent to do so may finally be in alignment.

Read the full story here

New Study Reveals Growth Companies Are Investing In Customer-Facing Supply Chain Solutions To Improve Supply Chain Efficiencies In The Digital Era

In today’s digital supply chain landscape, electronic linkages between customers and suppliers is on the rise, and double-digit growth is expected in 2017 and beyond, according to new research released today from leading B2Bi Managed Services provider DiCentral, in partnership with SAP and the Global Supply Chain Institute at the University of Tennessee (UT) Haslam College of Business. The whitepaper, “Proactive Partnerships: Creating Supply Chain Value in the Digital Era,” helps prepare supply chain and EDI decision makers for digital disruption in the supply chain and highlights how to adopt – and adapt – digital tools to prepare for and protect against this disruption.

In today’s instant-gratification buying culture, buyers and suppliers must be in lockstep. Suppliers operate in a world of slim profit margins and tight deadlines, and late shipments for failing to follow the packaging requirements of a retailer – such as a misplaced barcode – can result in costly penalties. According to 80 percent of survey participants, their customers run an existing EDI compliance program, which can result in penalties, and nearly 75 percent of survey respondents have been subject to fines due to noncompliance. Among those respondents receiving fines, 3 percent report receiving fines of more than $100,000 in a 12-month period. For small- and midsized businesses (SMBs), these fines can have a material impact on profits.

From machine-to-machine communication (such as EDI) and data analytics, to cloud-based solutions and mobile capabilities, disruptive technologies are far and wide, and digital technologies are transforming the way today’s organizations operate. More and more companies are embracing these automation tools and supply chain analytics to remain competitive, reduce costly human errors and improve customer service levels.

Read the full article here

U.S.-bound shipments post strong gains in April, reports Panjiva - Article from Supply Chain Management Review

Data recently issued by global trade data provider Panjiva showed annual and sequential gains for United States-bound waterborne shipments in April.

April shipments at 950,408 saw a 9.7% gain on an annual basis, which Panjiva said represents the fastest rate of growth going back to February 2016, and comes on the heels of a 8.7% annual gain in April that led to a 17.3% annual increase in the U.S. trade deficit.

Panjiva cited various factors for April’s strong performance, including:

• China and European shipments rising 16.4% and 16.1%, respectively;
• Chinese customs data reporting a 12% increase in the dollar value of goods shipped in April, with some arriving in May;
• shipment gains from Europe mark a return to double-digit growth and its fastest rate of expansion since August 2016; and
• imports from South Korea, where the U.S. is threatening to renegotiate the KORUS (U.S. - Korea Free Trade Agreement) saw its second straight month of declines, down 10.6%;

Read the full article here

Gartner Announces Rankings of the 2017 Supply Chain Top 25 - Article from Supply Chain Management Review

Gartner, Inc. has released the findings from its annual Supply Chain Top 25, identifying supply chain leaders and highlighting their best practices. 

Unilever topped the Supply Chain Top 25 ranking for the second consecutive year in 2017, followed by McDonald’s, Inditex, Cisco and H&M (see Table 1). Two new companies made the Supply Chain Top 25, with Nokia rejoining after a seven-year hiatus and Diageo making the list for the first time.

Perennial supply chain leader Amazon joined Apple and P&G in qualifying for the “Masters” category, which Gartner introduced in 2015 to recognize sustained leadership over the last 10 years.

Supply Chain Management software application list

Here is a list of Supply Chain Management (SCM) software applications:

1. SAP
• Small business: SAP Business One (SaaS)
• Medium Business (SaaS): SAP ByDesign, SAP S/4HANA Cloud
2. Microsoft Dynamics 365 - Cloud solution
3. Oracle NetSuite ERP - Cloud solution
4. Epicor Supply Chain Management - On-premise and Cloud solution available
5. Viewlocity Control Tower Platform - Cloud solution

10 Best practices to gain immediate, actionable insight into your supply chain events across your extended supply chain

Article by Kevin Wilson of ERPGenie LLC - Optimizing your Supply Chain.
Extended Supply Chains have the following characteristics:

• Multiple geographies – Where do your customers and partners reside?
• Multiple languages and currencies
• Multiple systems – SAP, EDI, Web site, ...
• Multiple partners – Carriers, freight forwarders, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors
• Varying regulations and compliance requirements – What’s needed to ensure we conduct business legally across the globe?

The benefits of SAP Event Management to the Supply Chain

The benefits of SAP EM are dependent on the specific challenges an organization faces. This blog describes common challenges that we face today and the 2nd part of the blog will show how SAP EM can be leveraged to address this issues.

Keeping Track of your Supply Chain - 8 1/2 key points to ponder

When it comes to the Extended Supply Chain, it is critical to ensure that any issue that occurs during the process is uncovered in a timely manner. Once an issue has been uncovered it then becomes critical to take action on it in order to get the process back on track. Without this kind of actionable insight we will simply running less effectively and ultimately end up paying more for the execution of our Supply Chain. Increased buffer stock to account for Supply Chain irregularities, poorly optimized reorder points and optimal order quantities, and so on... We have lived with chaos and exceptions for so long but there is hope; there is light at the end of the tunnel. We need to take charge of the Supply Chain and it all begins with gaining control through visibility in to what is actually happening.

International SAP Conference on Supply Chain

SAP and T.A.Cook are delighted to invite you to attend the International SAP Conference on Supply Chain
TITLE: International SAP Conference on Supply Chain
DATES: October 1-2, 2015
LOCATION: Darmstadt, Germany
EVENT WEB SITE: http://goo.gl/mZs5nC - use code ERPGSCM15_10 during the online registration, for an exclusive 10% discount for ERPGenie.COM subscribers

Event Highlights Include

• Keynote presentations: Featuring the latest industry news, best practices and innovations. In addition, learn about market opinion from experts in the field and hear from SAP’s customers on their innovative approaches
• Customer case studies: Gain an informed perspective from leading companies on implementing and working with SAP’s SCM applications
• SAP sessions: Hear details of the latest industry trends, solution road maps, developments, and a vision for transformation from senior executives at SAP on topics including HANA and cloud-based innovations
• Live demos: See demos of the applications first-hand and get answers to your questions about the featured SCM solutions from SAP and their partner organizations
• Meet the experts: Get your questions answered. Visit the showfloor to discuss your challenges with SAP solution management, and hear more about new offerings and tools from leading SAP Partners
• Network: In addition you will find ample time to get to know your peers and build lasting relations with subject-matter experts throughout the event.

Discover how SAP’s portfolio of supply chain management applications can support organizations across different business scenarios and industry sectors, while remaining compliant with today's more complex regulations.

Brochure Download the brochure by clicking the image

Early Bird Discount Secure your place by Friday, 28 August 2015 to save on the pass price. Register now and save Use code ERPGSCM15_10 during the online registration, for an exclusive 10% discount for ERPGenie.COM subscribers Key Speakers From Unilever, Mondelez, Whirlpool, Caterpillar, Philips, RWE, Boehringer, Nussbaum, ÖBB, M.Video

RxTrace.com: Estimated Rise in Serialized Drugs in The U.S. Supply Chain, 2015

Dirk Rodgers of rxtrace.com writes "It’s August and that means it is time to check in on the progress toward full serialization of drugs in the U.S. supply chain.  This is an annual look I’ve been doing for five years now.  For my previous essays, see:

• “Estimated Rise In Serialized Drugs In The U.S. Supply Chain”;
• “Estimated Rise in Serialized Drugs in The U.S. Supply Chain, 2011“;
• “InBrief: Estimated Rise in Serialized Drugs in The U.S. Supply Chain, 2012“;
• “InBrief: Estimated Rise in Serialized Drugs in The U.S. Supply Chain, 2013“;
• “InBrief: Estimated Rise in Serialized Drugs in The U.S. Supply Chain, 2014”.

In each essay I produced a graph of my own personal estimate of the likely rise in the percentage of drugs that I thought would result, based on the deadlines that were in place at the time.  Of course, things changed last year because the Drug Supply Chain Security Act had preempted the California Pedigree law the previous November, so last year I made a new estimate that took into consideration the DSCSA dates.

Unilever uses SAP HANA to Enhance its Supply Chain Decision Making

 

Unilever uses COPA Accelerator to accelerate its month-end closing by 30-60%. And will be looking to SAP Business Suite powered by SAP HANA to further overcome supply chain bottlenecks and drive efficiencies, accessing 27 terabytes of data and 4.6 billion records in its ERP system.

Understanding what SAP solutions are provided to help manage your Supply Chain

SAP provides a myriad of solutions covering all aspects of the supply chain. In addition they often provide more than one solution to the same requirement. This makes it quite a challenge to choose the right solution for your scenario. With that being said I'd prefer to have more options to choose from than no option at all...
In this blog I have collected the current suite of Supply Chain solution offerings from SAP and grouped them in to 3 categories:

• Most commonly used solutions
• Less commonly used solutions
• Solutions that cover Supply Chain processes as well as the rest of your ERP needs

At Q Data USA we specialize on these types of solutions so feel free to reach out to us with any questions.

Making the business case for implementing serialization cost-effectively in the supply chain

Read the full article at the Cold Chain View blog.

As part of the implementation of serialization, automation of the process will become law within 10 years. As already highlighted previously, serialization provides accountability and traceability of every item shipped in the supply chain. The need to conform to these new requirements might at first glance look like it would require costly additional investment. But it need not be – and it might even be more cost-effective, once you take into account the additional benefits that could be obtained.

SAP Track and Trace solution – Part 1 – Outbound Logistics

Most organizations deal with the shipment of goods in to and out of their premises. With the increasing demand for a better customer experience it is a challenge to provide a high level of customer service when parts of your supply chain fall somewhat out of your “sphere of influence”. Sure, through contractual obligations, you can try and force your suppliers and carriers to behave in a certain way but as the old saying goes “stuff happens!”. If the supply chain breaks down outside of your 4 walls, are you aware of it? Do you have enough time between when you find out about the issue and the time needed to correct it? Do these issues in the supply chain cause disruption and potentially lead to lost customers and sales?

The key to remedying this issue was discussed back in the 1990’s and was termed Supply Chain Event Management – Give me the ability to monitor the events occurring THROUGHOUT my supply chain as and when they occur – Let me measure these events against what I had expected to occur and if it differs in any way let me know so that I can take proactive measures to correct it.SAP was a part of the “think tank” that came up with the term “Supply Chain Event Management” and created the product SAP Event Management to provide us with this functionality. It went in to General Availability in 2004 so has been around rather a long time…

In this article I want to describe how SAP Event Management forms the back-bone of your Track and Trace requirements and specifically focus on the outbound logistics scenario.

Firstly let me describe what Track and Trace is and how it relates to my issue described above.

Real use case: Supply Chain Maturity Whitepaper

Last year I conducted an analysis of a particular business who’s main focus is procuring, storing and supplying general products to large facilities. The focus of my investigation was primarily around the integration of SAP EDI in to the supply chain and in particular the Procure to Pay (PTP) process with a heavy emphasis on the Advanced Ship Notification and the automation thereof.

SAP Event Management: OnStar® for Your Supply Chain

What are you planning tomorrow… shipments, deliveries, receipts, production of a certain high-demand product, truck breakdown, train derailment, warehouse equipment failure, a computer disaster that prevents delivery processing and stacks up carriers’ vehicles? … the former, most certainly; the latter, probably not.

Research study: Supply Chain Visibility in Business Networks

GTNexus is providing a free research study entitled “Supply Chain Visibility in Business Networks“. Download it by clicking the link. What are they saying?
ERP leads to a 54% visibility performance gap in the supply chain – Company leaders have placed priority on supply chain agility and visibility, yet rank their own performance in these areas as low. Current IT infrastructure and extensive ERP spend are not closing that gap between goal and reality, particularly with external trading partners.

From our perspective we believe SAP offers a very comprehensive solution to Supply Chain visibility in SAP Event Management. It’s just that most SAP customers don’t know that it is there and what it is used for. It is in fact directly aligned with the concept of Supply Chain Event Management dating back to the 1990’s which was put in place specifically to address Supply Chain visibility…