One of the new technologies helping to transform the supply chain and cope with post-pandemic shocks is Robotic Process Automation (RPA). The supply chain industry is slowly recovering and adjusting to the “new normal.” Implementing RPA has provided automated solutions and greatly benefitted business processes. Continue reading to know more.
Traditional Supply Chain Management Vs. Supply Chain Automation
Supply chain automation differs vastly from traditional supply chain management systems. ERP and CRM are some tools used in conventional workflow systems. Traditional workflow systems perform tasks with limited conditions and fixed sequences. It uses APIs for backend integration. Through UI, robotic process automation (RPA) works with a rule-based engine to complete various tasks, including replaying and recording user activities.
In the traditional workflow, knowledge management relies on manual processes. In contrast, in Supply Chain Management, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can automatically capture data patterns for specific situations and leverage them for future analysis and enhancements. Unlike the traditional approach, RPA introduces self-learning capabilities through machine learning and artificial intelligence, enhancing accuracy and adaptability to diverse scenarios. Additionally, traditional workflows cannot handle unstructured data effectively, whereas RPA employs features like OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to capture and process such data efficiently.
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Advantages of Automated Supply Chain Management Systems
Automated supply chains have many benefits, including order processing and payments, tracking, onboarding, invoicing, transportation technology, shipment scheduling, customer services, etc. Automating supply chain processes also provides your employees ample time to solve problems requiring brainstorming. Let us know some benefits.
Communication of Shipment Status
One benefit is that RPA can open and read emails sent by parties and extract information for future processing. It can sign into Oracle/Sap portal to fill in the extracted data from the emails. It can also examine shipment status, reply, and continue.
Vendors-Suppliers Performance
RPA can constantly keep track of the supplier’s performance by cross-checking with their legal agreements. It generates an alarm if any deviation is detected. Such mechanisms are used for other cases within the organizations.
Vendors-Suppliers Relationship
RPA can prepare a request for a quote or a request for a proposal. After the communication of RFQ/RFP with the vendors, it analyzes the documents received, evaluates the vendors’ suitability, and finally selects the vendor.
Automation of Manual tasks
Supply chain automation can take the job of the entire transportation and streamline it with the expectation of cutting costs that don’t require a team dedicated to figuring out complex truck and transport details.
How Can Your Business Adapt To The Change?
RPA has a huge amount of potential in supply chain management systems. Let us learn a few prerequisites that should be considered before executing RPA.
1. Regulated Process
The process that should be automated must not be complicated and evolving. It must be stable with limited checks. Executing RPA for a complex process is impossible as it consumes more time and cost.
2. Hefty Information Infrastructure
Information technology infrastructure depends on whether RPA must be implemented or not. An unstable IT infrastructure may create issues and halt activities. The processes are a lot codependent on each other in the supply chain network.
3. Managing Changes
Not everyone within your business might agree to the change. It will resist if the change can cause a threat to the job positions. You should ensure that the expectations of the stakeholders must be met. RPA can bring adverse effects, and employees must upgrade themselves.
John Kotter, a renowned change management expert and a professor at Harvard business school, suggested an eight-step change model. His book “Leading Change” was published in 1995.
Conclusion
RPA has game-changing power in the global supply chains in the post-pandemic world and can help the industry transform for the better. Violin Technologies, the best vendor consolidation partner, can help you develop supplier quality metrics to onboard the right supplier, adhering to your quality standards. Contact us today and explore the services we provide.
Amulya Sukrutha
About the Author
Amulya Sukrutha, passionate computer science engineer specialized in Data science field. I also describe myself as a enthusiastic strength and endurance trainee. I have played professional Tennis during my early years and found my path in Software development and machine learning later. I’m also passionate about creating content, and learning about new technologies.