Supply Chain Software

What is the best Supply Chain Software?

Supply Chain software is a system that provides all the powerful tools needed to manage a supply chain, such as: data access, reports, and analysis all the important details about how the goods and products your business relies on get from point A to point B, all in one centralized system.

Supply Chain Management software makes it possible for you to easily access data and create meaningful reports conveying how each aspect of your supply chain is performing. Data visualization capabilities is improving in each iteration of this software, giving companies an array of tools for improving efficiency, identifying and solving issues, and planning for future business growth.

The top features in Supply Chain software include:

  • Supply Chain Planning
  • Demand Planning
  • Inventory Management
  • Warehouse Management
  • Supplier Relationship Management
  • Procurement
  • Sourcing
  • Order Fulfillment
  • Transportation Management
  • Reporting and Analytics
  • Predictive Analytics and Forecasting Tools

The benefits of Supply Chain software are:

  • Improve Synchronicity in Your Supply Chain
  • Reduce Risk and Errors
  • Control (and Often Reduce) Costs
  • Boost Efficiency and Productivity
  • Support Decision-Making
  • Improve Customer Service and Supplier Relations
  • Maintain Data Security and Integrity

There is some overlap in ERP and Supply Chain Management solutions, but generally ERP systems handle a much larger operational data set that’s set up in modules across all the different levels of the company, of which supply chain management is just one component. So often times, supply chain is part of an ERP system, but it’s not the sole function of an ERP.

Supply Chain Management solutions, on the other hand, are specifically designed to the needs of any company managing a supply chain. There is a lot of variation in supply chain management tools, because some are tailored exclusively to particular industries or functionalities (such as transportation management) but the sole focus of supply chain management solutions is, indeed, supply chain.

Efficient systems and sustainable processes eliminating excess waste at point in a company’s supply chain operations are going to be even more heavily scrutinized by executives in the coming year. This focus on sustainable practices is bound to be a competitive differentiator amongst providers as they use this focus to further reduce costs and wasted energy or resources (while improving their environmental footprint at the same time.)

Supply Chain Management is going social. Social media channels have become a main focus for customer service improvements in many businesses, and for good reason. Social media is the most common place where consumers are going to share the experience they’ve had with a brand. Much of a customer’s experience is shaped by your supply chain, from product quality reviews, delivery speed, and overall customer satisfaction. Supply chain managers are starting to focus more on social media for this reason, and this useful data will likely soon become a main component of product management and executive strategy.

Choosing a supply chain software solution that is perfectly tailored to your business is key to maintaining a thriving supply chain and the process of finding and implementing your perfect system should be driven by business goals, supply chain issues, and growth plans for the future.

Top 10 Supply Chain Software

SYSPRO / NetSuite / SAP S/4HANA / Oracle ERP / Aquilon Software / Portcast / Aptean / Logility / IFS / Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

WH Score
9.3
SYSPRO
36reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Syspro is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software that is designed to help businesses streamline their operations and improve efficiency. It integrates multiple business processes, including finance, supply chain management, manufacturing, and distribution, into a single platform. With Syspro...
WH Score
9.0
NetSuite
94reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Oracle's NetSuite is the world's #1 cloud ERP solution. This ERP provides over 40,000 organizations worldwide with a modern, scalable, and unified platform to streamline all crucial back-office processes, from financial management and planning, to warehouse and fulfillment, and beyond. With built-in...
WH Score
8.9
SAP S/4HANA
98reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Developed by the German company SAP SEP, SAP Enterprise Resource Planning software is a robust business management solution that incorporates all operational aspects within an organization under a single integrated system. As of 2015, it is the world’s most widely used enterprise application s...
WH Score
8.9
Oracle ERP
152reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Oracle ERP represents one of the globe’s leading enterprise software organizations. They have built a sophisticated portfolio of business software applications through high-profile acquisitions. The company is well-known for its strengths in the database, and infrastructure systems. It offers ...
WH Score
8.7
Aquilon Software
13reviews
Starting Price:$175 per user / per month
Aquilon Software stands out as an ideal Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution for small to mid-sized businesses, especially in the manufacturing and distribution sectors. Its key strengths include:
WH Score
8.7
Portcast
9reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Portcast offers predictions on the ETA of vessels and cargo demand forecasting      
WH Score
8.7
Aptean
58reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Aptean Enterprise Resource Planning Software is a product of the Aptean Corporation, a company formed in 2012 after the merging of CDC Software and Consona Corp. The highly customizable ERP solution is designed on a flexible framework that incorporates finance, manufacturing, and distribution functi...
WH Score
8.6
Logility
16reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Halo offers a supply chain management analytics platform that helps businesses( specifically those in the target verticals: 3PLs, apparel, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals) plan and forecast inventory needs. Halo offers multiple deployment options including: on-premise, SaaS (Software as a Ser...
WH Score
8.6
IFS
9reviews
Starting Price:N/A
IFS is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solution designed for large and medium-sized organizations. It provides a comprehensive suite of applications for various departments within a company, including finance, supply chain, manufacturing, and human resources. IFS offers on-premise and...
WH Score
8.5
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

505reviews
Starting Price:$0 per user / per month
Microsoft Dynamics Enterprise Resource Planning Software is a line of business management software consisting of four separate products owned and developed by Microsoft Corporation. The products include; Dynamics SL, Dynamics AX, Dynamics GP and Dynamics NAV. While each product has been engineered w...

Learn more about Supply Chain Software

What is Supply Chain Software?

Supply Chain software is a system that provides all the powerful tools needed to manage a supply chain, such as: data access, reports, and analysis all the important details about how the goods and products your business relies on get from point A to point B, all in one centralized system.

How Does Supply Chain Software Work?

Supply Chain Software works by centralizing all the information around production, shipments, and distribution of goods or products so that all factors in moving products from the company to the end customer are in one system for organization, spotting and resolving issues, maintaining vendor relations, and ensuring optimal efficiency in the supply chain. 

What are the Main Types of Supply Chains?

The main types of supply chains include:

  • Products
  • Facilities
  • Fleets and Vehicles
  • Routes

Most companies leverage a combination or all of the supply chain types in order to manufacture and distribute goods.

What is Difference Between Logistics and Supply Chain Management? 

The difference between logistics and supply chain is that logistics refers to the movement and storage of products while supply chain management is focused on the collaboration and tracked movements of goods across a supply chain.  

What are the Common Features of Supply Chain Software?

The common features in Supply Chain software include:

  • Supply Chain Planning
  • Demand Planning
  • Inventory Management
  • Warehouse Management
  • Supplier Relationship Management
  • Procurement
  • Sourcing
  • Order Fulfillment
  • Transportation Management
  • Reporting and Analytics
  • Predictive Analytics and Forecasting Tools

What are the Benefits of Supply Chain Software?

The benefits of Supply Chain software are:

  • Improve Synchronicity in Your Supply Chain
  • Reduce Risk and Errors
  • Control (and Often Reduce) Costs
  • Boost Efficiency and Productivity
  • Support Decision-Making
  • Improve Customer Service and Supplier Relations
  • Maintain Data Security and Integrity

Who Uses Supply Chain Software?

Retailers, manufacturers, logistics companies, agencies, and transportation companies all use supply chain software. 

What are the Challenges with Supply Chain Software?

The challenges with supply chain software can include:

  • Disagreements between suppliers and partners
  • Learning curve involved in learning new systems and processes to optimize the supply chain
  • Lack of experience prior to implementing customized supply chain tools
  • Communication issues
  • Poor customer experience

How to Buy Supply Chain Software?

You can use the following checklist to help you determine how to buy the best Supply Chain Management system for your business.

  • Focus on business needs, supply chain issues, and growth goals driving the decision to get a new or upgraded supply chain management software.
  • Plan for data migration, implementation costs, IT involvement, and any downtime that may impact employees or vendors during the transition.
  • Make a plan to support user adoption through training.
  • Understand the processes you’re looking to streamline and automate.
  • Don’t skip the product demos offered by supply chain software vendors to show features and functionality.
  • Understand reporting and analytics needs
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