Healthcare Supply Chain Technology and Strategy

The Uberization of Distribution Uber has disrupted the taxi industry.  But how can you copy the Uber model and bring that level of innovative service to your clients?  That question is generating a great deal of discussion among logistics and distribution executives.  Here are some of my thoughts mixed with theirs..  Transporting goods long distances can be done far more cost efficiently than the delivery of the last few miles when goods arrive in congested metropolitan areas. Last mile delivery has taken on added urgency as traditional retailers have embraced omni-channel capabilities as a way to compete with ecommerce giants like Amazon. Omni-channel fulfillment, which spans a variety of delivery flow paths – store to home, delivery from warehouse, etc. – is all about last mile. Uber has definitely created buzz. The company has grown incredibly quickly and has a very high valuation.  Founded in 2009, it is reported that the company may now be wo...

Much like a snowflake, No two companies are alike, and their ERP systems shouldn't be either.  Why your software needs to be unique.. Manufacturing and distribution, in particular, have unique, and uniquely complex, processes and workflows that require functionality a vanilla ERP application can't provide. These types of companies require an ERP application that's designed for their industry, with industry-specific workflows, forms and data formats, in addition to user-friendly tools for customization. While many ERP vendors suggest that it's best to conform to the ERP application's practices, and in truth business practices do make sense when they work for you, however more often than not the the ERP software should be adaptable to the customer. So yes we make the point and we sell the software but what are the important points when you look at your software vendor.  1. The vendor's customer list . Does it already have customers in that industry, and do they sa...

Automation and analytics are all the rage. But how can you get your salespeople to actually use the software tools you give them. Salesforce.com and its brethren in the sales force automation world have done a darn good job selling sales managers on the benefits of their software. According to a Fortune Magazine Survey, Big companies will spend an estimated $29 billion on systems for tracking customer relationships in 2016. That’s more than for any other business application category. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a quota-carrying sales representative who loves updating contact databases regularly, especially when he or she could be closing a deal. That’s one reason you’re hearing Salesforce and rivals like Bullhorn and SugarCRM talk about new features that automate these tasks through artificial intelligence and data analysis. Along those lines it's really about how can you make it easy, painless and match each salespersons style of selling.   The simple answer?  Flexib...

Survey Says...   For those who remember, Richard Dawson called out the magic words "Survey Says" and we were astounded by the answers.(Enjoy the video) , but for now the message is that Zebra Technologies did a survey and not surprisingly they found out that more and more Technology is playing a larger role in the warehouse.  "New technologies are transforming warehouses, particularly those serving e-commerce, a Zebra Technologies survey of logistics professionals finds.Technology is becoming more integral to warehouse operations to meet the needs of e-commerce customers."  Warehouses are undergoing massive changes in labor and technology to accommodate the needs of e-commerce, according to a new report. Because of the increasing complexity of supply chain operations, it took 60.4 hours to train new staff to “full productivity” in 2015, up 26% from 2013, said a report by Zebra Technologies Co., which sells bar code scanners and other technologies to help companies t...