The worldwide market for supply chain management (SCM) software is tipped to grow 8.6 per cent a year to reach over $8.3m (€6.8m) in 2010, driven by the need to streamline supply chain processes and improve productivity.

Pack Wire reported, based on a report by Arc Advisory Group, that Supply Chain Execution (SCE) programs in applications such as collaborative production management, warehouse management, and transportation management will be responsible for fuelling much of the growth.

Supply chain execution requires good management, and SCE software is designed to achieve this, managing the complete order to cash business process, capturing demand, providing inbound and outbound transportation management, and supporting large, complex distribution operations.

Within this SCE segment, growth will be higher among the manufacturing applications than for logistics applications, said the report, titled "Supply Chain Management Worldwide Outlook: Market Analysis and Forecast through 2010".