{"id":2926,"date":"2024-03-15T09:44:58","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T14:44:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vinturas.com\/?post_type=dt_portfolio&p=2926"},"modified":"2024-03-19T14:53:26","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T19:53:26","slug":"a-data-driven-supply-chain-starts-with-interoperability","status":"publish","type":"dt_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/vinturas.com\/media\/a-data-driven-supply-chain-starts-with-interoperability\/","title":{"rendered":"A data-driven supply chain starts with interoperability"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In my previous blogs, I wrote about the lack of transparency, visibility, and traceability in the automotive finished vehicle industry and others. After that, I wrote about \u2018digitization\u2019 and \u2018digitalization\u2019 in the context of the latter referring to more than just technical solutions. In this blog, I write about the need for \u2018interoperability\u2019 if you require a data-driven supply chain in support of \u2018digitization\u2019 and \u2018digitalization\u2019.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]In general, \u2018interoperability\u2019 means \u2018the ability of different computerized products or systems to readily connect and exchange information with one another.\u2019 In end-to-end supply chain management, interoperability is more challenging or complicated than digitization or indeed digitalization. Increasingly, OEMs, ports\/warehouses\/facilities, and LSPs require collaboration through sharing timely and accurate data to manage their daily supply chains. In addition, they require such information and data in one place to support reporting, performance management, and ultimately the development of generative AI, and overall digitalization.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]While the importance of end-to-end supply chain management has been more recognized than ever \u2018in the board room\u2019 and even to ordinary people as end customers, in today’s world most supply chain management is still being managed with a \u2018spaghetti\u2019 of peer-to-peer connections between systems in combination with MS-Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, email\/phone communication, etc. This complicates the implementation of interoperability in an end-to-end supply chain.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]To develop interoperability, OEMs, and LSPs have been using traditional point-to-point EDI interfaces in combination with MS-Excel file uploads, APIs, and other UI solutions. Creating and maintaining such point-to-point connectivity has been a huge burden for IT departments. This doesn\u2019t apply internally only, but also externally for trading partners who often don\u2019t have the same IT capacity as their OEM clients. This is especially the case when ongoing changes have to be made when replacing trading partners due to network changes, performance issues, RFP\/RFQ decisions, etc.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]In a global supply chain, not all parties possess sophisticated systems or will be able to communicate electronically. Or even when electronic or manual UIs are being accomplished, trading partners\/suppliers may not always use the connectivity. These issues will cause gaps in the required interoperability.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space]