Abstract
The main purpose of this chapter is to examine the role, importance, and actual usage of emerging information technology solutions that support and have potential to enhance supply chain management in practice. The role of information technology in supply chain management is discussed through the lens of several selected emerging management tools, namely collaborative innovations, corporate blogs, radio-frequency identification, and shared services centers. Results are also reported for several selected management tools utilization in selected worldwide regions, like North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, as well as for two emerging economies from Central and East Europe, namely Slovenia and Croatia. The chapter provides practical implications, emphasizing the benefits of studied emerging information technology solutions in practice.
TopBackground
There are many possible ways to examine the role of information technology in supply chains (Beamon, 1998; Simchi-Levi et al., 2009; Christopher, 2011; Chopra & Meindl, 2013). In this paper, we adopted an approach that is based on the typical development phases of the supply chain. In that framework we outline typical development phases and the role of information technology in each of these phases. Next, in line with the aims of our paper, we put our focus on examination of the role, importance and actual usage of information technology solutions that support supply chain management and customer relationship management in organizations worldwide.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Radio-Frequency Identification: Enables wireless identification of objects and allows tracking the movement of the material flow within the supply chain.
Emerging Solutions: Is an information technology supported tool, which support information exchange, collaboration and processes in supply chains. Typically, these solutions are novel and less used in business practice. Most commonly emphasized emerging solutions are collaborative innovating, corporate blogs, radio-frequency identification, and shared services centers.
Shared Services Centers: Reduce costs, since one or several operations are consolidated into shared operation and used by multiple divisions, organizations, users, etc.
Information Technology Solutions: Are different types or applications of information technology that support processes in organizations. In terms of supply chain, information technology solutions are aimed to support customer and supplier relations, as well as internal processes in single organizations involved in the supply chain.
Corporate Blogs: Are defined as a way in which organizational members participate in collaborative actions, like collaborative innovations.
Customer Relationship Management Solution: Is an information technology supported tool, which enables organizations to collect and manage large amounts of data about customers.
Collaborative Innovations: Enable innovation processes and generation of innovations in all areas, like product and service improvement, processes improvement, with the support of information technology platforms to easier gather ideas.
Supply Chain Management Solution: Is an information technology supported tool, which enables synchronization of the efforts of all parties involved in supply chain, from suppliers, through manufacturers, distributors, dealers, to end customers.