Big data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) sensor data inputs, artificial intelligence (AI), decision engines and data standardization can now provide a single, global "version of the truth" about what's going on in the supply chain, what may occur, and what to do about it. These applications layer on real-time visibility plus decision-making functions and smart analytics - all bundled in a supply chain control tower - to deliver powerful, bottom-line results. These emerging technology and analytics capabilities are known as Supply Chain 4.0 (SC 4.0). SC 4.0, successfully and fully executed, drives proven profitability improvement. But there's a big qualifier in this statement. Most businesses deploy SC 4.0 in their forward supply chain - i.e. the supply chain that delivers new product to customers. That leaves one enormous supply chain completely under-served by SC 4.0: The after-sale/support supply chain.
展开▼
