Maggie Kelleher

Digital transformation in supply chain management (SCM) refers to integrating advanced digital technologies to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and improve visibility across supply chains.

In the global market, businesses face increasing pressure to adopt digital solutions to remain competitive and responsive. These technologies make supply chains more agile, transparent, and efficient, making them essential for modern business operations.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions that use data and predictive analytics to automate and optimize business processes are referred to as "smart ERP." The principles of integration, constant improvement, simplification, standardization, and waste reduction form the foundation of smart ERP.

Following the company's adoption of VAI S2K Enterprise for Food software with mobile proof-of-delivery (POD) and order entry capabilities, Morton Wholesale, an independent distributor of food and beverage products, shared testimonials highlighting the results.

With current supply chain disruptions occurring including shortages across all sectors, proper data tracking utilizing technologies - such as predictive analytics with embedded AI - can help improve a company’s supply chain management. These technologies provide insight into critical areas of operation. As the supply chain increasingly becomes more data-driven to monitor inventory, customer demand, employee productivity, and delivery efficiencies, companies can leverage technology to better steer corporate planning and growth. Although the sheer amount of data produced by a supply chain can seem overwhelming, advanced technologies can offer real-time insights that empower faster decision-making and dramatically improve the bottom-line.

Moving through 2021 amid COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and a continuation of remote work and schooling structures, the ever-evolving role of technology shapes how our society functions, from entertainment and shopping to education, healthcare, and employment. The rapid pace of technological advancement can be viewed perhaps as a driving force that we seek to adapt to rather than it adapting to us. 

Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which create a network between internet-connected physical devices, are increasingly becoming adopted in the retail setting as a way to digitize the consumer shopping experience and streamline back-end operations. The global expansion of IoT technology in retail is expected to grow from 14.5 billion in 2020 to 35.5 billion by 2025. Despite widespread worldwide economic uncertainty in the wake of the spread of COVID-19, shipments of IoT devices have grown to 10% more in 2020 and reached 718 million units.