New paradigms in supply chain: Warehouse management 2.0

Filed in archive Products on February 9, 2009

I guess all of you are familiar with Web 2.0 movements, websites and platforms like Facebook or YouTube and the impact which these socially driven solutions have had on our lives.

Apparently the Web 2.0 has found its way to supply chain as well as I was reading the other day that SmartTurn, provider of on-demand warehouse management systems has launched a new on demand solution with Web 2.0-based functionalities.

The developers of the solution have applied the concepts behind Facebook to the solution and now the users can join partner networks organized by fields (e.g. city, region, and business/industry sector) to connect and interact with others within that network. Companies can add additional partners and customers send messages, and update their profiles notifying them of new offerings and services.

Beyond adding some simple profile, the solution also seems to be able to connect partners, inventory hubs, or simply internal inventory locations and make a change when you decide to change your supply chain (e.g. move a DC, employ a 3PL, change your supplier or reseller channel or inventory location).

I'm not sure how the market is evolving in terms of such capabilities (I will do some investigation) but I appreciate if you let me know if you know other solutions and I will cover them here.