Some more thoughts on using Web 2.0 in supply chain...

Filed in archive Point of view on November 11, 2008

I received an email recently from Dr. Aitor Urzelai, a professor of supply chain at MONDRAGON University (Spain) as a response to my earlier post on We 2.0 enabled supply chain post.

So I decided to give the subject more though and write about some of the possible applications of Web 2.0 in supply chain. Here comes some more ideas:

- Wikis: Standard Operating Procedures used for performing different business processes can be created in Wiki space; this lets company's employees to easily have access to a unified version which can be edited freely by everyone and improved.

RSS: The interesting information related to supply chain management can be gathered from relevant sources and brought to supply chain people. Automatic update of the RSS feeds allows the users to have access to the most recent news and information related to their field of expertise.

Search Technologies: Can be used for finding pieces of knowledge not only in structured data category but also in unstructured data such as emails, photos, etc.

Discussion Forums: Can be used as a simple tool for mass-problem solving. People can post their questions in the forum, modify and discuss their ideas and reach solutions rapidly.

Social Network: Permits SCM individuals to link to other supply chain people outside the walls of the company and exchange knowledge with them.

Of course at the operating/implementation level, there are some details such as incentive structures and security issues which should be taken into account but personally I'm in favor of using Web 2.0 for knowledge management in the enterprise.