Tweet

What IT Systems Are Critical for a Retail Supply Chain?

Written by: Jon Hansen

Article Overview: Member Question: Before throwing open its doors for business, what critical IT systems should a retail chain have in place? How long can this process take?

What IT Systems Are Critical for a Retail Supply Chain?

In a widely published article I wrote titled Technology's Diminishing Role in an Emerging Process-driven World I discuss the irrelevancy of technology in the absence of true process understanding and refinement.

As you will note, 85% of all supply chain/e-procurement initiatives fail world wide, and the emphasis on a technology as the critical element of a SC strategy is one of the primary reasons.

Rather than introduce you to the differences (and in some instances shortcomings) of different models such as SCOR, a good starting place would be my 7-Part series, Dangerous Supply Chain Myths. Start with Part 1 titled Recent ISM, CAPS and Kearney Report Perpetuates Dangerous Supply Chain Myths,and continue through to Part 7, Enabling Technology: The Emergence of the Metaprise.

This will help you to establish a good framework for structuring a sound supply chain strategy.

Note: To access the entire 7 Part Series as well as corresponding articles contact the author.

Related Articles
  Are Multiple Supply Chains Important (Survey Response 4)
  Are Multiple Supply Chains Important Survey Response 2
  What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 8)
  What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 6)
  What is the Value in your Supply Chain A PI Q and A

Article Tags: absence, caps, critical element, driven world, e procurement, emergence, enabling technology, instances, ism, models, myths, procurement initiatives, refinement, scor, shortcomings, strategy note, supply chain strategy



Related Forum Posts
Seek Venture Capital & Funding - Hello, Greetings from India. I am Seeking Venture Capital for Offshore Software Company Start-up. Need advise along with Business Model Sample. I have a basic outline for an offshore company. 1. Technology - like Microsoft Dot Net, Java, LAMP 2. Talent Team - Found Good Technology Developers. 3. Where I can get the leads/potential customers - Leads have been identified who are willing to move forward offshore projects. 4. I do not have resources like funding. It is a very critical factor to me Industries: Manufacturing, Real Estate, Retail, Insurance, Distribution & Logistics, Healthcare, Industry Associations and Software Product Development, Agricultural Industries and Etc. Services: Offshore Software Development Company. Offices to be located: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India and USA. Products/Services/Applications in areas like POS & Billing, Sales & Distribution, Production Planning, Material Management, Inventory Control, Plant Maintenance, Purchasing, Accounting and Logistics. Dynamic Web Programming with Database Driven Content Management Systems, Online Stores for E-Commerce, B2B Solutions, Community Portals, Website Redesign and Development, Custom ERP with Enterprise Wide Functional Modules such as Marketing, CRM, Accounting, Inventory Control, Sales & Distribution, Production Planning, Purchase & Stores, Logistics and Supply Chain. Seek your further questions and help. Thank you, Best Regards, Jayapratap.
Happy Worker as of Dec 31 2007 - Here's mine... I'm now off to make an offering to the business planning gods for their help in getting to these goals & beyond. To the combined success of Prophets 2 Profits! ----------------------------------------- 1) Corporate a) Retail - Sales reps covering all major markets (1M or more) - Retail product launch plan - 1 more retail release (TBD) b) The Toy Agency - Systems for: o Creative process o Pricing o Manufacturing o Logistics - Marketing agency strategy in place - 1 new customer every 2nd month (5 new customers); 1 of which will be rev of >= 500K/year c) Business - Creative talent pool management strategy & process - Outsourced and/or weekly bookkeeping - Monthly budgeting & forecasting - Better banking organization (Line of Credit, CCs, automate billing for appropriate vendors) - Team total of 5 - Larger office d) Web site - Daily updates - Start of separation of Blog/TTA/Retail 2) Personal - Most weekends “off”! - Entirely separate personal finances; basic personal financing plan - Family….?
An "Easy Button" - In the US, Staples Office Supply company has a commercial that features an easy button. The idea is that when you have a difficult task, you hit the easy button and the task is easier. Staples is saying that they make it easier. But, my question is, what would you use an "easy button" for?? Chris
CMS - Speaking of Content Management Systems, which one are you going with? I've stubbornly held off going to a CMS, but each time I change something on my pages, such as the Navbar, I have to go back through everyone and cut and paste and it does get time consuming. BUt I like the freedom to alter a single pages layout if I need to to accomodate a certain type of article...
Re: We all embellish, so are we all liars? - [quote="BuzzAroundBooks":3chumhxz]For instance, what if a customer asks you where a specific sales representative is but you don't know where he/she is? Retail expert Doug Fleener says "Rather than appearing not to know what's going on, it's safer to go with the standard reply: 'Dan's (i.e. sales reps' name) not available right now. My name is... May I help you?'" ("The Profitable Retailer" 216).[/quote:3chumhxz] Hi Kevin There have been a couple of businesses in my local area who have done this only to become unstuck when we found out that Dan (or who ever we were after) had not worked there for months and the business (a one man band) was only trying to cover it up to appear larger than it was in reality. My honest opinion was that the business went through a few employees quitting and they didn't want us to think they were an unstable company.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

B2B PR – Planning for Success

Are You My Mentor

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.