What is Supply Chain Visibility?

What is supply chain visibility? It’s much more than knowing the location of a shipment. Supply chain visibility involves leveraging the latest tracking and monitoring technologies and software platforms to achieve 100% transparency across dozens of end-to-end activities.

However, if it’s really that simple, why do so many companies struggle to achieve end-to-end supply chain visibility? The main culprit may be a lack of understanding of what is available for real-time, in-transit visibility solutions and what each company considers “visibility,” as different companies and industries may require more detailed visibility than others.

This article explores what supply chain visibility is, its various types—including shipment visibility, transportation visibility, supply chain process visibility, and a few others—and some of the benefits of having end-to-end visibility.

Types of supply chain visibility

Tedarik zinciri görünürlüğü sağlayan herhangi bir çözümün merkezinde, ERP, WMS veya TMS çözümleri aracılığıyla tedarikçiler, üreticiler, nakliye sağlayıcıları, lojistik hizmet sağlayıcıları ve diğer tedarik zinciri ortaklarıyla entegre olan çevik, bulut tabanlı bir platform olan bir kontrol kulesi bulunur. . Kontrol kulesi, üç tedarik zinciri görünürlüğü biçiminde kullanılan izleme sensörlerinden gelen gerçek zamanlı verileri toplar.

Shipment visibility: Everyone wants to know where their shipment is at any given time, so any discussion of shipment visibility begins with real-time location tracking. However, this only scratches the surface of what data is available. Shipping conditions such as temperature, humidity, exposure to light, and shock events can also be monitored, recorded, and reported in near-real time or real time. Movement, acceleration, and external interference detection are also possible.

Transport visibility: Of course, this also contributes to answering the question “Where is my shipment?” However, this aspect of visibility also encompasses viewing all processes from product ordering to freight and freight expense management, OTIF status, ETAs, and other transit details such as weather and traffic conditions. Stakeholders should be able to see all important details related to the transport journey at any time, regardless of the mode of transport used.

Supply chain visibility: This takes a much more macro view of supply chain visibility and provides insights into end-to-end processes and milestones, both internal and external. Here, data surrounds sales and purchase orders and internal and external inventory levels across suppliers, manufacturing, and maintenance and repair partners.

Collectively, these three types of supply chain visibility eliminate the silos that typically hinder collaboration in traditional supply chains. The value lies not only in the treasure trove of data that can be shared among stakeholders, but also in what actions can be taken as a result of having real-time data.

Benefits of supply chain visibility

Reliable data and real-time communication capabilities make it easier to explain what supply chain visibility entails. For example, supply chain visibility is agility… and trust… and peace of mind. The ability to make decisions based on reliable real-time data puts stakeholders in a position to move forward with confidence because they know not only what is happening at that moment, but also what will happen in the future. Some of the many other advantages of supply chain visibility include:

Builds greater collaboration: Develop more effective strategies with supply chain stakeholders to improve efficiency, productivity, and accountability.

Encourages greater proactivity: Knowing in advance when and where interruptions may occur strengthens risk mitigation efforts, including sending a new shipment when necessary.

It provides the ability to track shipments: Especially when a shipment is at risk, no one likes surprises. Customized real-time alerts triggered during transit can initiate mitigation efforts. In some cases, such as with pharmaceutical shipments, this can mean millions of dollars in savings.

Improves customer experience: Optimizing fulfillment times and the ability to reduce exceptions in real time helps increase the percentage of on-time, complete orders, which leads to happier customers and greater brand loyalty.

Records and controls costs: Completely reducing or avoiding costly interruptions, strategically managing inventory stock levels and supplier relationships, and utilizing single-use trackers are just a few ways in which end-to-end supply chain visibility can be used to create a positive impact.

The company’s bottom line.

Measurable Return on Investment: Supply chain visibility helps all stakeholders see tangible results in terms of less cargo loss, fewer insurance claims, increased customer retention, higher revenue, lower costs, and reduced capital investment.

Frigga demonstrates the power of supply chain visibility

When everyone is on the same page, proactively focuses on transit shipments, and uses reliable real-time data and updates to minimize potential disruptions, that is the definition of supply chain visibility. Stakeholders who are tightly aligned with real-time supply chain visibility enable continuous improvement, gain greater focus and control, and move toward a more optimized supply chain network that delivers OTIF with greater consistency.

This means they deliver on their promises to customers, which is exactly what Frigga aims to do. Let us show you how our top-tier viewers and software make this happen. Schedule a demo today.