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Food and beverage supply chains can be particularly complex for a variety of reasons, but most of the complexity can be attributed to the simple fact that consumers now have so many more options for getting their groceries. From home delivery to front-of-the-store pickup, the consumer is completely transforming the supply chain. 

Optimizing your supply chain with warehouse management system (WMS) software that seamlessly integrates with your ERP can sometimes be a challenge. You should have the ability to easily tailor your WMS to your specific business needs without needing to customize the core software. Unfortunately, it’s not always so simple. You either get companies that sell "out of the box" solutions that can’t be modified at all, or you get customizable solutions that are so custom that upgrades can’t be made without significant redevelopment of the original version.

Supply chain forecasting is, in essence, an exercise in supply and demand analysis. Building an accurate forecast very much depends on historical data you’ve collected, types of products you’re selling, the industry you’re in, and specific product lifecycles, including which new products are being launched and which old products are being discontinued.

In this article, we’ll explain some of the other benefits of supply chain forecasting, different forecasting techniques you can use, and how a system like DATASCOPE WMS can keep your supply chain lean and scalable.

In today’s world, the consumer controls the economy. With the rise of Amazon and other e-commerce businesses and platforms -- especially during COVID -- investment in automated supply chain technologies continues to grow as companies aim to meet high customer expectations. Customers want rapid shipping, personalized customer service, real-time order status updates, last-minute order changes, and easy returns... all on-demand. 

Risk identification determines which risk events your supply chain is most susceptible to. A risk assessment will help you predict how those risks will affect your supply chain. Mitigation, meanwhile, is how to prevent those risks from happening in the first place, and knowing how to react in the event those risks are not preventable.

The COVID pandemic has exposed the fragility of medical supply chains during the past year. Healthcare systems all over the world have faced protracted shortages of essential medical supplies and medical supply chains have struggled to meet the increased demand for critical equipment like masks, ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE). But even before COVID, many of these same supply chains were already dealing with other logistical challenges. 

DATASCOPE WMS continues to invest heavily into new software modules and features that can be integrated with SYSPRO ERP software. After a busy 2019 and 2020, all of the software’s newest features are being managed in our 2021 Business Plan, which includes a product roadmap with estimated delivery times and upcoming launch dates.

Prior to the emergence of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), radio frequency identification (RFID), blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT), supply chain optimization emphasized a more efficient design of the supply chain to minimize operating expenses. This translated into optimally-located warehouses, carefully-planned transportation routes and closely-managed inventories. Nowadays, optimization is focused on the challenges associated with adapting to uncertainty, mitigating risk and improving decision making when external factors threaten to destabilize your operations.

One of the most detailed modules in the DATASCOPE software is the sales order wave release. This module is designed to act as the “drum” of the warehouse. In the average warehouse operation, customers would place orders with their ideal ship date and you would take those orders and push them onto the warehouse floor as they come in. Depending on order volume, this can potentially overload or underload the warehouse. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the features of a good WMS software training program, tips for implementing an effective training program, and what DATASCOPE does to make the WMS training process easier for you.