Abstract
Supply Chain Intelligence (SCI) is relatively new initiative that provides the capability to improve business performance by utilizing sophisticated analytical tools and collaborative decision making. SCI takes broader, multidimensional view of supply chain in which, using patterns and rules, meaningful information about the data can be discovered. In this chapter, the drivers for the implementation of the business intelligence and performance measurement systems are discussed. Review of the most important literature and research findings provides condensed view of the existing state of the art. Furthermore, the integrated supply chain intelligence system that enables creation of pervasive analytical systems for collaborative planning, monitoring and management of the supply network is described. The SCI system is robust and cloud-based, capable to handle big data analytical tasks. Its flexible and multi-layered architecture enables creation of adaptive supply chain intelligence systems by composing various analytical software components, services and tools.
TopBackground
Today, there are variety of business initiatives and technologies such as joint planning and execution, business intelligence, performance management (PM), data mining and alerting that can be used for more efficient supply chain management.
By applying the concepts of business intelligence to data from SCM systems, SCI technologies seek to provide strategic information to decision makers (Reddy, 2004). Information categories range from what-if scenarios for reconfiguring key functions in sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution to measuring the ability of a supply chain to produce cost-effective products. Table 1 summarizes the main differences between the SCM and SCI systems (Russom, 2010).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Supply Chain: Dynamic, interconnected and collaborative group of companies working jointly on planning, management and execution of cross-company business processes spanning from the first tier suppliers to the end-customers.
Performance Monitoring: Methodology to optimize the execution of business strategy through the real-time and proactive performance measurement and management of the supply network that consists of a set of integrated, closed-loop technologies and tools such as scorecards, key performance indicators, and business activity monitoring.
Supply Chain Intelligence: Process of integrating and presenting supply chain information in order to provide collaborative planning, monitoring, measurement, analysis and management of the supply network. AU33: Reference appears to be out of alphabetical order. Please check
Data Mining: Set of knowledge discovery techniques for intelligent data analysis in order to find hidden patterns and associations, devise rules and make predictions.
Data Warehouse: An integrated data repository system for extracting, loading and transforming data into information.
BI Portal: A specialized web portal that provide a range of analytical services and which enables collaborative decision-making.
Business Intelligence: A set of processes, technologies and tools comprising data warehousing, On-Line Analytical Processing, and information delivery in order to turn data into information and information into knowledge.