E-Supply Chain Management Assignment Help

E-Supply Chain Management Final Test

Question 1

The onset of technological advancement has revolutionized the way warehouses operate in today’s modern world. Use of technology has made warehouse management more efficient and to some extent easy too. In most of the middle-sized enterprises, warehouses are partially automated. They do rely on technology, but their operations are not fully automated. The technology that they use is not cutting-edge either. However, this does not mean that development of technological tools such as advanced robotic systems have not disrupted warehouse management and operation. They indeed have altered the way warehouses function and operate on a day-to-day basis. For instance, Carlsberg makes use of automated forklifts to carry around 500 pallets per hour in one of its distribution centre in Sweden. This is just one example, but the phenomenon holds true for millions of enterprises. Just imagine the number of people who must have become employed because of the adoption of such advanced technology in warehouses around the world! Multi-national corporations present a different picture altogether. Their warehouses are usually fully-automated as they have an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). In such a system, everything is linked to the centre’s Warehouse Management System. Cranes automatically go up and down the aisles. Full automation in warehouses guarantees high level of productivity. Nevertheless, the capital cost of full automation is quite high and not all firms can afford it.

 

 

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Front-end technology is any technology which the client or customer interacts with directly. In case of businesses, front-end technology mostly refers to websites, e-commerce sites, and business apps. These are the technologies which help businesses in connecting to and reaching out to customers. On the other hand, back-end technology is the technology that powers the front-end technology. It is akin to the generator that provides power to all the electronic appliances in a building. In case of a business website, back-end technology refers to the programming language that has been used to design the website. Both, back-end as well as front-end, business technologies are equally important. Even though the customers only get to see the front-end technologies, the role played by back-end technologies cannot be undermined. Front-end and back-end technologies interact with each other for business decisions. For instance, if an e-commerce website crashes whenever customers add more than three items to the cart, it means there is an issue with the back-end technology that has been used to develop the website. In order to fix this issue with the front-end technology, the business needs to tackle the issue with the back-end technology. This may even require the business to take the decision of changing the company it has outsourced its back-end technology to. Such a business decision might sound too trivial, but in reality decisions like these can significantly impact the performance of a business. If the business decides to switch to another developer company, the problem with its website might get fixed and eventually it will help the business by increasing its sales volume. 

Question 2

                Six emerging technologies that have some potential for logistics application are as follow:

1. Robotics: Robots can proficiently perform several duties at a time simultaneously, that too with utmost efficiency. This feature differentiates them from automated machinery, and is exactly what makes robots quite useful and attractive for the logistics industry. They can be used in a number of different ways within a single warehouse, depends on the need of the warehouse. Robots have been particularly of high importance for the e-commerce businesses. The reason being that such businesses have the potential of sudden increase in online sales volume. Therefore, they need the assistance of robots to meet the sales requirement efficiently and quickly. The trend started off with Amazon when it established its monopoly on Kiva robots in the year 2012.
2. Wearable technology: Wearable technology refers to those technological gadgets that can be worn by the users on their body or can be incorporated in their clothing in order to use them with convenience and without mobility issues. Experts are forecasting that in the coming time wearable technology will become a pre-requisite in the logistics industry. The benefits of wearable technology in the logistics industry became apparent when DHL carried out a pilot study. In this study, it made all the workers in its warehouse wear a wearable technology gadget. The results showed that wearable technology not only improved the efficiency of workers, but also increased their work satisfaction.
3. Drones: Drones have proved their potential to benefit the logistics industry time and again. One of the latest manifestations of their potential has been seen in consumer delivery. They can help businesses deliver products in a range of different localities, ranging from rural landscapes to densely-packed urban areas. Multinationals as well as start-ups are keen to try on this emerging technology.
4. Self-driving vehicles: Self-driving vehicles have been adopted successfully by numerous businesses. These vehicles do not require a driver. They drive on their own within the warehouses and help in transporting goods in bulk from one place to another. This technology helps in reducing the time required to shift goods from one place to another along with reducing the chances of human error. Hence, it improves the quality of communication within the organization.
5. Cloud computing: Cloud computing has the ability to benefit the logistics industry tremendously. It helps the business in getting to know real-time pricing, real-time inventory, equipment and utilization patterns, accurate merge in transit model, and office resource mobility. Flexport, a Silicon Valley start-up, is selling cloud computing solutions to businesses across the globe successfully.
6. Internet of things: Nowadays, internet of things (IoT) is all the rave. It basically connects physical goods to internet-enabled devices. This technology is used for various different purposes in the industry, ranging from humidity sensors to technological innovations that can point out the packages that have been tampered. Internet of things is particularly beneficial for business intelligence as it helps the business in forecasting future trends.

 

 

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Question 3

Anticipatory and responsive business models are both apt at fulfilling customers’ demand. Still, some businesses prefer one business model over the other. Anticipatory business model is based on forecasting the future demand of customers in advance so that goods can be manufactured accordingly in order to meet the market demand. This model relies on working on the future demand way in advance so that arrangements can be made before time. However, critiques of the model point out that such a model is heavily based on uncertainty. Forecasts are almost never 100% accurate. This makes the anticipatory model highly risky for the business. The actual demand might be a bit higher or a bit lower than the predicted demand. Mostly, the cause of uncertainty is little or no exchange of information between different parties involved in the supply chain. In both the cases, the business will suffer. On the other hand, responsive business model focuses on meeting the demand when it arises. It encourages swift exchange of information between all participants of the supply chain so that the demand of customers can be met as soon as it arises. This model is praised for reducing the uncertainty factor as the firm only produces as much goods as are being demanded in the market. There is no chance of under-production or over-production of goods. Hence, the firm can play safe. Some people even refer to this model as a “customer-centered” model as it is the end-customer’s demand that is the driving force behind this model.

Since responsive supply chains are focused on swift communication and increased efficiency, technology is a key component of such supply chains. If a business wishes to switch to a responsive supply chain, it needs to digitize all the processes. Responsive business model relies on greater visibility. For that, the business will have to incorporate technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Bluetooth technologies, GPS tracking, and other similar technological systems. This model also calls for a holistic approach. Mostly, all the parties involved in the supply chain are not able to equally benefit from the information that is being generated along the supply chain. This is because the businesses have not figured out a way of doing so. One such way is to share information through mobile phones. For instance, if there is a physical meeting planned to share information regarding an order, but all the partners cannot be present physically at one place. Then, the information regarding the meeting can be shared through mobile. No physical meeting will be needed. Even virtual meetings can be arranged with partners along the globe using apps such as Skype. In fact, it has become a common place practice to carry out meetings using apps. Hence, responsive business models are based on responsive supply chains and responsive supply chains in turn rely on technological systems that can facilitate the supply chain. Technology enhances the efficiency of responsive supply chains by enabling them to respond to customers’ demand on time.