Supply chain analytics acts as the connection between data and decision-making. This involves analyzing vast amounts of data to detect patterns and reveal insights for informed decision-making within supply chain management. The essential components of supply chain analytics are Data analytics, Data visualization, and Technology platform. Data analytics plays a fundamental role in extracting valuable insights from large data sets. However, the process does not stop there. Data visualization also plays a crucial role in supply chain analytics by visually representing insights through tools like dashboards and diagrams. Given the vastness of data and the limitations of human analysis, businesses rely on a technology platform to capture, store, and analyze supply chain transactions.

Significance of Supply Chain Analytics in Business Operations

In the current volatile market environment, supply chains must prioritize agility, speed, and responsiveness. Amid various strategies being employed to achieve these goals, supply chain analytics stands out as the most effective solution. The importance of supply chain analytics in supply chain management cannot be understated. However, it is crucial to recognize that data is the key factor that determines the success or failure of any analytics efforts. Below are the primary reasons driving companies to adopt supply chain analytics:

• Supply chain analytics is a crucial tool for organizations looking to enhance their supply chain operations. By analyzing data from customers and suppliers, organizations can make better decisions, optimize inventory management, and ultimately improve their overall efficiency.
• One of the key benefits of supply chain analytics is its ability to help businesses predict future demand, optimize inventory levels, minimize stockouts, and reduce excess inventory. This is particularly important considering that inventory is one of the biggest costs for supply chains.
• Furthermore, supply chain analytics can identify inefficiencies, waste, and areas for improvement within operations. By utilizing the data gathered, organizations can streamline their processes, reduce costs, and enhance their overall efficiency.
• Lastly, supply chain analytics plays a crucial role in analyzing customer data to predict future demand, improve production planning, enhance procurement strategies, and optimize distribution effectiveness. This data-driven approach can lead to more informed decision-making and ultimately drive better outcomes for organizations.

Function of Data in Supply Chain Analytics

The effectiveness of your analytics hinges on the quality and accessibility of your data, not just the sheer volume. Therefore, establishing a solid data management practice is crucial for successful supply chain analytics and serves as the foundation for informed decision-making.

Significance of Data Management

Data management plays a crucial role in supply chain analytics, providing the foundation for accurate and reliable decision-making. By maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and availability of data, organizations can minimize errors and inconsistencies, leading to informed and confident supply chain decisions. Implementing effective data management practices is essential for ensuring the quality of information used in analysis.

Types of Data Used in Supply Chain Analytics

A crucial component of data management is having a clear grasp of the different types of data necessary for supply chain analytics. Key types of data include:

• Analysis of customer data, which offers valuable insights into consumer preferences, buying habits, and demand trends, is integral to shaping effective supply chain strategies that cater to customer needs. This data can be sourced from various channels including sales records, CRM systems, invoices, receipts, and customer feedback forms.
• Product data, encompassing details on product characteristics, specifications, and attributes, plays a crucial role in optimizing inventory levels, demand planning, and forecasting. This information can be sourced from inventory management systems, ERPs, POS systems, and other relevant sources.
• Demand data, comprising both historical and real-time information on product or service demand, is essential in forecasting future demand and making necessary adjustments in supply chain operations. Sources of demand data may include historical sales data, customer orders, point-of-sale systems, industry reports, weather forecasts, external news sources, among others.

Data Collection, Cleansing, and Integration in Supply Chain Analytics

Obtaining data is not the most challenging aspect of the supply chain. In reality, almost every supply chain has an abundance of data available. The issue lies in the fact that this data is stored in isolated systems and various formats, hindering effective communication. In the realm of supply chain analytics, proper techniques for data collection, cleansing, and integration are crucial to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the analysis. Following collection, the data must undergo thorough cleansing to eliminate errors, duplicates, and inconsistencies. Ultimately, data integration is the process of merging data from different sources to generate a comprehensive overview of the supply chain.

Techniques and Strategies in Supply Chain Analytics

There are various types of analytics that play a crucial role in different business processes. The field of analytics has significantly advanced over time, leading to the emergence of various terminology within the realm of supply chain analytics. In this article, we will provide an overview of some of the most widely used techniques and strategies within this domain:

• Descriptive analytics is considered the most basic supply chain analytics technique, offering visibility and information by analyzing historical data to understand past performance and trends.
• Diagnostic analytics is a more advanced iteration of descriptive analytics, allowing companies to pinpoint the root causes of issues and inefficiencies in the supply chain by examining relationships between variables and factors.
• Predictive analytics, utilizing historical data, statistical models, and machine learning algorithms, forecasts future demand, supply, and other variables to aid organizations in more effective production, procurement, and distribution planning.
• Prescriptive analytics takes predictive analytics to the next level by providing tailored recommendations for enhancing supply chain operations. It incorporates insights from descriptive, diagnostic, and predictive analytics.
• Cognitive analytics is evolving rapidly before our eyes. This advanced form of supply chain analytics utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to enhance the capabilities of prescriptive analytics. It excels in processing vast amounts of structured and unstructured data, constantly learning and improving itself.

Predictive Analytics in the Supply Chain

Being able to plan for the future is a significant advantage for supply chain professionals in today's competitive and unpredictable environment. Here are some specific instances where predictive analytics proves to be valuable in the supply chain:

• Predictive analytics aids businesses in accurately forecasting demand. By utilizing predictive systems to analyze data related to customer demand, companies can optimize inventory levels and enhance operational efficiency.
• Predictive analytics plays a crucial role in optimizing logistics operations, especially in scenarios involving transportation disruptions, delays, and other logistical challenges. Organizations can minimize costs and improve overall supply chain efficiency by using predictive analytics to optimize route planning.
• Another area where predictive analytics excels is in managing and optimizing inventory levels. By analyzing data from customers and suppliers, companies can minimize stockouts, reduce excess inventory, and efficiently manage their inventory levels.
• Maintenance scheduling combined with predictive analytics allows companies to effectively plan maintenance for equipment and vehicles, leading to decreased downtime and enhanced supply chain performance.
• Predictive analytics aids in supplier risk management by monitoring supplier performance and analyzing data from third-party vendors. This allows companies to identify possible risks and disruptions in their supplier network and take proactive measures to mitigate them.
• Predictive analytics can bolster sales and operations planning by offering precise demand forecasts, which enables companies to align their supply chain strategies with sales objectives and boost revenue.

Benefits of Prescriptive Analytics for Supply Chain

Prescriptive analytics combines predictive analytics with recommendations, making it a crucial component of supply chain management. By providing specific actions for companies to optimize their supply chain operations, prescriptive analytics proves invaluable for supply chain professionals. In every instance provided, the effectiveness of supply chain prescriptive analytics is evident in its ability to not only foresee potential future situations but also offer practical recommendations for addressing or enhancing outcomes. Here are a few examples that demonstrate the benefits of prescriptive analytics in this field:

• A hospital's supply chain data analytics system utilizes predictive analytics to forecast a potential flu outbreak in the coming weeks by analyzing external data sources such as regional flu cases, weather patterns, and historical data. Subsequently, the system recommends increasing the stock of flu vaccines, adjusting staff schedules, and launching a public health campaign to prevent the spread and impact of the flu.
• A logistics company employs prescriptive analytics to predict traffic delays on a primary route caused by road construction and a local event. The system then suggests rerouting deliveries, adjusting delivery time windows, and proactively informing customers of potential delays.
• The electric utility company anticipates increased energy demand in the following week as a result of a looming heatwave. The system proposes effective pricing strategies to regulate demand, recommends the activation of extra power generation resources, and advises on communication strategies to urge consumers to minimize energy consumption during peak periods.

Enhancing Supply Chain Analytics through AI

Supply chain analytics on its own shows much promise. However, when you introduce AI into the equation, the potential for powerful decision-making in the supply chain becomes evident. Let's examine the key contributions that AI brings to supply chain analytics:

• Handling of Vast and Complex Data: AI has the ability to efficiently process and analyze large datasets, including unstructured data such as text, images, and videos. This is an area where traditional analytics often faced challenges.
• Cognitive Decision Support: AI platforms can provide decision-makers with cognitive insights that go beyond raw data analysis. These insights consider factors like context, potential implications, and business strategies, enhancing the decision-making process in the supply chain.
• Real-time Data Analysis and Instant Decision-making : AI systems have the capability to conduct real-time data analysis, enabling instant decision-making. This swift processing speed is crucial in scenarios where prompt responses can prevent stock shortages, handle sudden increases in demand, or adjust shipping routes due to unforeseen disruptions.
• Enhanced Demand Forecasting Capabilities : Utilizing AI technology, businesses can consider a wide array of factors (such as social media feedback, local happenings, and weather patterns) to make more precise predictions regarding product demand.
• Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility and Traceability: AI has the capacity to integrate information across the entire supply chain, encompassing everything from raw material providers to end consumers. This offers a level of transparency and traceability that was challenging to achieve in the past.

Interactive Dashboard for Supply Chain Analysis

Supply chain visualization often takes the form of a dashboard, which provides real-time data on the status of your supply chain. For example, the dashboard displayed below showcases the current stock levels of SKUs, highlighting items that require immediate restocking due to low inventory. Dashboards serve as reports that track key performance indicators, and they should be updated automatically with live data to eliminate the need for manual input. In many cases, it is necessary to explore the data in more detail. A well-designed dashboard will allow users to delve deeper into the information presented. For instance, users can click on individual SKUs within the dashboard to review historical trends in inventory management for that specific item, as well as projected stock requirements based on anticipated demand. By utilizing visualization tools, individuals at every level of your supply chain can easily interpret intricate data patterns, monitor performance, pinpoint bottlenecks, and make knowledgeable decisions. Various types of data visualizations used in supply chain analytics include:

• Time Series Charts: These charts depict trends over a certain period, such as monthly sales, yearly inventory levels, or daily shipment deliveries.
• Heat Maps: Useful for identifying areas of high and low concentration within a dataset, such as regional sales performance or locations experiencing the highest delivery delays.
• Geographical Maps: These maps plot supply chain elements like warehouses, suppliers, and customers on a map. They can showcase transportation routes, shipment statuses, and regional performance.
• Scatter Plots: These plots illustrate the relationship between two variables. For example, they can highlight the correlation between delivery times and customer satisfaction.
• Pie and Donut Charts: Utilize these charts to breakdown categorical data, such as market share of different products or the proportion of transportation modes utilized.
• Bar and Column Charts: These charts are effective for comparing different categories side by side, such as sales performance across various products or regions.
• Gantt Charts: Crucial for project management in the supply chain, these charts display the timeline of tasks, aiding in coordination of activities like product launches or warehouse setups.
• Sankey Diagrams: Visualize the flow of goods or information within the supply chain, illustrating distribution pathways and their volume.
• Tree Maps: Represent hierarchical data and part-to-whole relationships, like breaking down total sales into product categories and individual products.
• Bubble Charts: Similar to scatter plots, but with an added dimension indicated by the size of the bubbles. They can illustrate the correlation between product demand, profit margin, and stock levels.
• Box Plots (Whisker Plots): These plots display data distribution into quartiles, highlighting the median, outliers, and potential anomalies. They are beneficial for analyzing metrics like delivery time variability.
• Radar (Spider) Charts: These charts allow for comparison of multiple metrics across different categories. They are useful for evaluating a supplier's performance based on criteria such as delivery time, quality, cost, and responsiveness.
• Histograms: These graphs illustrate the distribution of a continuous dataset, such as the frequency of delivery times or order sizes.
• Control Charts: These charts are utilized to monitor the stability or variability of processes over time. They play a crucial role in quality control by signaling when a process exceeds predetermined control limits.

Mitigating Risks with Supply Chain Analytics

Supply chain risks are prevalent and companies utilize supply chain analytics to manage and decrease these risks effectively. The key risks being addressed with supply chain analytics include:

• Supply chain analytics aid organizations in forecasting future demand accurately, enabling better production, procurement, and distribution planning to minimize imbalances.
• Through performance monitoring and data analysis of third-party vendors, analytics assist companies in identifying potential risks and disruptions within their supplier network. Proactive measures can then be taken to mitigate these risks.
• Supply chain analytics can optimize logistics operations for companies, reducing the chances of delays, transportation disruptions, and other logistics-related issues.
• Through the optimization of inventory management, supply chain analytics help businesses reduce stockouts and excess inventory, thereby mitigating the risks associated with managing inventory.
• Supply chain analytics also enable businesses to assess the impact of global political unrest, economic fluctuations, and other external factors on their supply chain operations. This information allows organizations to develop risk-based supply chain plans and strategies.
• With supply chains becoming more interconnected and technologically reliant, the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches increases. Supply chain analytics play a crucial role in identifying potential vulnerabilities and implementing security measures to safeguard supply chain operations.

What Lies Ahead for Supply Chain Analytics?

Undoubtedly, the evolution of supply chain analytics will be influenced by advancements in technology, shifting business landscapes, and a growing demand for adaptability, robustness, and effectiveness in supply chains. Here are several upcoming trends and technologies that can be anticipated.

Trends and Innovations in Supply Chain Analytics

Some emerging trends and technologies in supply chain analytics include the integration of advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain to enhance the effectiveness of supply chain analytics. Additionally, there is a growing trend towards autonomous supply chains and automated decision-making, allowing supply chains to operate and optimize themselves based on predefined goals and real-time data. Another significant trend to look out for is the increasing focus on sustainability in supply chain analytics. This involves using analytics to evaluate and improve the environmental impact of supply chains, including tracking carbon footprint, optimizing routes for fuel efficiency, and assessing supplier sustainability practices. This trend is expected to gain traction in the coming years as companies strive to improve their environmental sustainability efforts.

Additionally, as analytics continues to gain significance, there will be a growing need for individuals proficient in data science, AI, and supply chain management. This shift will give rise to new positions focused on making decisions based on data analysis.

Competitive Edge through on-going Improvement in Supply Chain Analytics

In order to maintain a competitive edge, it is essential to consistently enhance your supply chain analytics capabilities. This requires investments in advanced technologies like AI, ML, and IoT to derive actionable insights and support data-driven decision-making. Furthermore, it is vital to foster a culture of continuous improvement and learning within your supply chain team. Professionals should actively seek opportunities to enhance their analytical skills and stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in supply chain analytics. Regular assessment and optimization of supply chain processes will help identify areas for improvement, streamline operations, and enable your organization to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of supply chain management.

Why Nirmalya SCM embedded with Business Intellegence?

Nirmalya's AI-driven Business Intelligence and Analytics platform combines multiple elements to empower supply chain decision-makers in making informed, quick, and confident decisions that impact business outcomes. Nirmalya BI addresses key challenges within the supply chain sector:

• Nirmalya BI delivers ROI promptly, achieving results five times faster than other available solutions.
• Focused on delivering results, Nirmalya BI adopts an outcome-first strategy to tackle complex analytics challenges within supply chains.
• With Nirmalya BI, real-time decision-making is enhanced by maintaining a clear understanding of the context for each decision.
• Nirmalya BI's Demand Sensing tool enhances forecasting accuracy by analyzing short and near-term demand trends.

Various organizations have effectively integrated Nirmalya's supply chain analytics to enhance efficiency and lower expenses. Cost reductions have been achieved through the utilization of Nirmalya BI tailored for supply chain analytics. The following examples showcase how supply chain analytics can effectively lower expenses and enhance operational efficiency. Nirmalya SCM's customers have leveraged prescriptive analytics to optimize their supply chain with numerous successful outcomes.

Some of our retail and distribution clients have successfully executed various cost-saving strategies such as enhancing inventory management and optimizing transportation, resulting in substantial reductions in supply chain expenses. Additionally, certain clients have leveraged supply chain analytics to drive operational efficiencies, improving traceability in the supply chain, enhancing forecasting accuracy to meet customer demands, building customer loyalty, and decreasing inventory costs. To learn more about our Nirmalya SCM integrated with Business Intelligence, please reach out to us.