How can you embark on your journey into digital supply chain planning?
Digital planning is such a new topic offering so many possibilities that it can be difficult to know where to start. However, in view of the ever-widening gap between the businesses that work with digital planning and those that don’t, plus the fact that the next supply chain disruption is inevitably just around the corner, this is no longer something that you can afford to put off until tomorrow. So how can you get your digital planning transformation journey underway?
Any transformation project can seem like a daunting prospect at first, and digital planning is no exception. In fact, digital planning is so new that many companies don’t even really understand what it is and why they should be thinking about it. But once you’ve understood the benefits and recognized the need to change, what should you do next?
Digital planning transformation calls for a new mindset
Over the years, we have developed proven step-by-step approaches to transformation projects and created blueprints for successful implementations. However, because digital planning is still so new and so broad, it is unfortunately not simply a matter of looking at what has been done before and copying it in your situation; you need to carve your own path. Therefore, a digital planning transformation calls for a new mindset. It requires you to commit to the ambition of making better use of all the available data – in combination with new digital technologies – in order to improve your supply chain resilience and safeguard the long-term success of your business. You should see yourselves as pioneers on a journey of discovery!
Inspiration for a digital supply chain
In view of the ever-growing number of digital planning tools on the market, we believe it’s better to focus on one objective at a time rather than attempt to ‘do it all’. Do you want to open up all your data sources to tap into new possibilities to increase sales, margins or profits, or to work more sustainably – such as by reducing inventory, waste, miles or working capital? To define your own objective, you could start by looking to others for some inspiration. There are various examples of how digital planning is being used in practice, and we would be willing to share our insights with you in more detail if you wish, so feel free to reach out to us.
Exploratory phase is key
This ‘exploratory’ phase is key in order to clearly define your objective and determine which KPIs are involved. After all, as we’ve seen in the blockchain hype cycle, there’s little point in simply deploying technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence merely for the sake of it. The real challenge lies in considering the ‘benefit logic’ and putting digital planning to good use to actually generate some kind of value. Therefore, the first starting point is to identify which problem you are trying to solve. Only then can you think about whether – and if so, how – digital planning tools could help you, before finally moving on to actually selecting the solution that will generate the most value for you.
Agile approach to implementation
In the past, planning tools have frequently been associated with lengthy implementation times and a higher risk of failure. One of the great things about today’s digital planning toolsets is that they support an agile approach to implementation. This is particularly beneficial in the current climate, in which things are changing so rapidly. An agile approach enables you to get started quickly while staying responsive and adaptive as you progress. So why not set up a small-scale pilot project to test the value of the technology in practice? This will give you hands-on experience and generate valuable lessons learned that will enable you to continuously fine-tune your solution and also stay one step ahead of your competitors.
“Get started as soon as possible, because the technological advancements – and your competitors – are not standing still”
It is important to devote enough time and effort to the exploratory phase; this will save you a lot more time and effort in the long run by improving your resilience and responsiveness in the event of future supply chain disruptions. We also recommend that you get started as soon as possible, since the technological advancements – and your competitors – are not standing still.
Feel free to contact Victor Breugem for help with embarking on this exciting digital planning journey of discovery!
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