Market overview for new entrants

Filed in archive Market Overview

If someone new to SCM field wants to get a quick profile of the industry (solution providers), what should he/she do? Well, the best option is to read this post:

There are different players involved in the industry with the aim of transforming the supply chain with the application of innovative technology.

Traditional supply chain companies offer software solutions to automate various components or relationships within the supply chain. Companies like Ariba, Commerce One, Manugistics and i2 already dominate the supply chain planning market. Manhattan Associates, EXE Technologies and others have claimed the supply chain execution market. Leaders are emerging in the space for handling EDI-like transactions and secure data exchange within the supply chain, such as Mellon Ventures' portfolio company IPNet. Warehouse management system software is fragmented by vertical but somewhat mature as a technology. Companies like FreeMarkets are keeping vendors honest and making the markets efficient. Another Mellon Ventures portfolio company, Xelus, is leading the charge to streamline company's service organizations.

In recent years, a big potential and great opportunity in the market has been combination of software with communication hardware technologies into devices which are sold into the enterprise market. These companies build greater efficiencies in the supply chain by enabling the exchange of real time information regarding product identification and location.

A number of technologies are enabling enterprises to access real time asset information. Examples of a few technologies that we have spent time researching over the last year include:

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology that allows for easier and more precise tracking of inventory and equipment;

GPS enabled technology that tracks mobile assets (i.e. construction equipment, tractor trailers); and

Voice technology used to more efficiently manage warehouse or store inventory.

Well, was it good enough?