Supply chain FORECASTING now top of the agenda

Information technology will need to keep up with the fastchanging logistics industry to ensure efficiency in the long term. According to Anthea van Breemen of Macro 2000, computer systems have long been in place in the logistics industry, monitoring the f low of goods between origin and end user. “Planning and controlling the efficient f low of goods is part and parcel of what a good system does. It also includes aspects such as storage and related services along the way.” But, says Van Breemen, have systems become more than that? “Outsourced, or third party logistics companies are starting to become more involved with the supplier as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems take on a more in-depth approach.” ERP, a business management software – usually a suite of integrated applications – is used to collect, store, manage and interpret data from many business activities. “ERP systems are starting to look at resource planning to include logistics suppliers’ resources,” says Van Breemen. “Supply chain forecasting is also at the top of the agenda. Then there is the new wave of looking at improving efficiency through the supply chain. Included in this should also be an often-overlooked area – reverse logistics. This can include not only the supply but also the recycling of goods, or the recall of goods should this be necessary.” She says having the ability to offer a full ERP suite is an advantage for logistics and warehousing software suppliers such as Macro 2000. “In this way we are able to offer our customers modules that can interface into our logistics systems which would normally form part of a full ERP package. For example a sales and forecasting module integrated into our warehousing module for a customer is then easy to accomplish.” INSERT & CAPTION ERP systems are starting to look at resource planning to include logistics suppliers’ resources. – Anthea van Breemen