2009 Readers' Choice Survey: Supply Chain Execution
Despite being a traditionally quiet market, the Supply Chain Execution (SCE) space garnered its fair share of attention this past year, first due to the cost savings it can create when managed efficiently, second due to JDA Software Group's potential acquisition of i2 Technologies, and third due to its ability to advance sustainable supply chain efforts.
Kimberly Knickle, program director, Emerging Agenda, Manufacturing Insights, an IDC company, comments on the first point: "While we don't like to think of the supply chain as a cost center, as opposed to a customer service-centric organization, being able to identify how costs can be reduced and the customer service implications of those reductions will be key. SCE applications tend to materially influence costs, like inventory, transportation and warehousing, so we expect to see a pretty robust market for SCE over the next few years."
Regarding the future of SCE, Knickle predicts that as long as companies focus on better utilization of existing assets, consumer goods companies will continue to make investments in this category.
Increased emphasis on the "green" movement of late puts even further pressure on companies' logistics operations given their direct impact on the environment. Leading consumer goods companies are now designing programs to produce specific and measurable results as they relate to sustainability initiatives in this space.
"A new breed of solutions is emerging that shifts optimization to the point of order creation and release," says Anil Pahwa, senior principal, Retail, CPG and Logistics, Infosys Consulting. "These solutions employ techniques that perform shipment clustering based on spatial and temporal proximity on orders before they are executed and suggest opportunities to adjust requested delivery dates in real time to drive greater consolidation of loads."
The SCE market has been dominated by the same big players for some time now, but the intended merger between JDA Software Group and i2 Technologies -- which has since been called off -- proved that the category isn't exempt from consolidation. "Clearly the recent non-merger between i2 and JDA suggests that i2 may still be looking for a new home, but it is unclear who might be an acceptable suitor," predicts Knickle.
BREAKOUT FAVORITES
Customer Experience: Leanlogistics
"We're always impressed with the high level of service the LeanLogistics team provides. Their technology provides critical tools that enable our inbound visibility and control. In addition, [their] ongoing support and logistics expertise has become a valuable asset to our entire supply chain management."
-- Scott Dan Prochaska, VP Supply Chain, Ace Hardware
SMB Market: Oracle
"We are pleased to have gone live with Demantra in 90 days."
-- Willard Wayman, Director IT, Sportsman's Warehouse
"We plan to use Demantra to avoid season end excess inventory."
-- Chris Uttgard, President, Sportsman's Warehouse
| Top 10 |
| 1. SAP |
| 2. Oracle |
| 3. Logility |
| 4. Manhattan Associates |
| 5. RedPrairie Corporation |
| 6. i2 Technologies |
| 7. (tie) Infor Global Solutions JDA Software Group |
| 8. Jesta I.S. |
| 9. LeanLogistics Inc. |
| 10. High Jump Software |
Regarding the future of SCE, Knickle predicts that as long as companies focus on better utilization of existing assets, consumer goods companies will continue to make investments in this category.
Increased emphasis on the "green" movement of late puts even further pressure on companies' logistics operations given their direct impact on the environment. Leading consumer goods companies are now designing programs to produce specific and measurable results as they relate to sustainability initiatives in this space.
"A new breed of solutions is emerging that shifts optimization to the point of order creation and release," says Anil Pahwa, senior principal, Retail, CPG and Logistics, Infosys Consulting. "These solutions employ techniques that perform shipment clustering based on spatial and temporal proximity on orders before they are executed and suggest opportunities to adjust requested delivery dates in real time to drive greater consolidation of loads."The SCE market has been dominated by the same big players for some time now, but the intended merger between JDA Software Group and i2 Technologies -- which has since been called off -- proved that the category isn't exempt from consolidation. "Clearly the recent non-merger between i2 and JDA suggests that i2 may still be looking for a new home, but it is unclear who might be an acceptable suitor," predicts Knickle.
BREAKOUT FAVORITES
Customer Experience: Leanlogistics
"We're always impressed with the high level of service the LeanLogistics team provides. Their technology provides critical tools that enable our inbound visibility and control. In addition, [their] ongoing support and logistics expertise has become a valuable asset to our entire supply chain management."
-- Scott Dan Prochaska, VP Supply Chain, Ace Hardware
SMB Market: Oracle
"We are pleased to have gone live with Demantra in 90 days."
-- Willard Wayman, Director IT, Sportsman's Warehouse
"We plan to use Demantra to avoid season end excess inventory."
-- Chris Uttgard, President, Sportsman's Warehouse