---
title: Supply Chain Management Archives
description: "Home > Supply Chain Management What is Supply Chain Management (SCM)? SCM Helps You: Improve information flow across the supply chain Optimize the physical flow of goods and materials Cut costs across the board Plan for and manage demand Reduce errors and automate financials Improve information flow across the supply chain What is supply chain management (SCM), and how can SCM software increase the efficiency of a supply chain? Firstly, before we dive any deeper, supply chain management is a group of processes that see a product from manufacture to final delivery to a customer. So, where does a management platform fit into all of this? Well, the short answer is everywhere. One of the most valuable things supply chain management can accomplish is providing detailed information across the entire length of a supply chain. By increasing data visibility, owners and managers can discover areas that need improvement, plan for the future and optimize the entirety of their supply chains. Supply chain management software leverages analytics and logistics tools that drill down into daily processes in search of data. This data is automatically loaded into customized reports that are displayed on easy-to-access dashboards for users to view. Information is king, and the right supply chain management tool can feed you valuable data pulled from everyday processes. Efficient communication is another important tool that can optimize supply chain tasks. By collaborating, team members can discuss improvements, meet up to discuss incoming data and discuss the future. Customizable reports Analytics tools Dashboards Data management Supply chain KPIs Collaboration tools Optimize the physical flow of goods and materials The flow of information is obviously important, but getting physical products from manufacturers to customers is the real goal here. Supply chain management includes many features focused on improving accuracy, speeding up delivery and increasing trust between businesses, clients and customers. The storage of goods and materials is also integral to a functionally competent supply chain. Features that speed up pick-and-pack, make multi-tenant or multi-warehouse operations less complex, and support third-party logistics can turn a slow warehouse around. Communication is important here as well. Many systems include functions that automatically release information to customers and clients as their product moves from production to distribution. This way, customers know exactly where their product is and when they can expect it to arrive. The fewer questions a customer has the better, and a proper management system can keep them in the loop and worry-free. When looking for a management system, keep these features in mind: Transportation management Product lifecycle management Warehouse management Value-added services Third-party logistics support Maintenance management Cut costs across the board As a product moves from manufacture to delivery, supply chain management systems are always on the lookout for ways to cut costs. There are multiple processes a system can capitalize on in order to shrink costs across the entirety of the supply chain. Features that boost the accuracy of, well, anything are always good to have. Depending on the mistake, both time and money can be drained in order to make up for whatever the issue was. If a customer gets a package late, they may seek business elsewhere. If an employee is given the wrong picking information, the manager will have to incur return and reship costs. A driver may not be given an optimized route and could end up wasting funds on fuel or extra days spent on the road. By leveraging supply chain management, users can gain insight into beneficial sales channels, reduce fulfillment times and save money at nearly every step of the way. Automatic features can order more supplies as necessary to avoid out-of-stock situations while also managing replacement parts for machinery. SCM is all about saving money, so make sure some of these features, if not all, are available when selecting a system: Pick-and-pack optimization Manual entry automation One entry input Supply re-orders Omnichannel fulfillment Supplier networking Risk management Plan for and manage demand Keeping up with customer demand is another key tenant of successful supply chain management. An optimized supply chain can deal with the ups and downs of the market without storing too much useless product or running out at an inopportune moment. Many SCM tools include features that organize and help users build a storage system that keeps the most valuable products readily available. As demand grows and shrinks, your supply chain should be ready to scale up or down at a moment’s notice. Forecasting tools help managers estimate how best to tackle future markets. Supply chain management platforms analyze trends in real time to give users an idea of what to order, when to order it and how to best stay stocked. The visibility into inventory processes provided by these tools takes the surprise out of managing a proper amount of stock to meet customer demand. A successful solution should provide procurement and inventory support to stay competitive. Because of this, you’ll want to keep an eye out for these helpful features: Inventory management Forecasting tools Agile/scalable platforms Procurement management Reduce errors and automate financials No one wants to put pen to paper and write out a budget. Many supply chain management platforms include accounting support that can automate much of the process. By eliminating the need for manual entry and calculation, businesses can expect fewer human errors and less time spent rectifying budget inconsistencies. Instead of spending large amounts of time tackling budget issues, employees can refocus on more important tasks. This is another point where single entry accounting calculations are an advantage. Certain systems allow users to enter data only once before it automatically distributes it to necessary portions of the budget. Businesses that suffer from accounting errors or slow data entry should search for systems with these features: Tax support Budget support Calculation automation Save preferred suppliers by price Audit tools FAQs How is automation affecting the landscape of supply chain management? Technology is always pushing forward, and the rise of automation has important implications for the world of supply chain management. The use of robotics and AI is rising among warehousing operations and is even starting to show up in the transportation of goods and products. Drones are being utilized to quickly pick and transport goods through warehouses and automated trucking is taking its first tentative steps toward being a widely adopted option. In order to keep up with the complicated and ever-changing world of global trade, supply chains need to be ready to adopt new technologies to stay competitive. Once far-fetched ideas like augmented reality may become widely accepted tools in the future. How has the cloud revolutionized supply chain management? Cloud-based deployment strategies are on the rise for good reason. Implementing a cloud-based system comes with a number of inherent advantages over their on-premise peers. Users that leverage the cloud benefit from secure backup, real-time upgrades, easy file exchanges and a lower cost of entry. Outside of these common benefits, here are a few more ways the cloud boosts supply chain operations: Cloud-based analytics and manufacturing intelligence improves cycle times Cloud-based applications automate compliance and reporting to free up time Diverse application integrations and systems using APIs scale manufacturing strategies quickly Businesses can measure order performance with software inclusions Quality management features are increasing customer satisfaction across the board How Do I Select SCM Software? Finding the right supply chain management tools can be tough. The best way to approach the problem is by asking a few questions about your unique requirements as a business. Consider a few things before jumping into the wide market of vendors out there. Think about what kind of deployment strategy works best for your business; does an on-premise or cloud-based application fit your business better? How much room is there in the budget for a new system? What size is your operation and how complex does your solution need to be? By asking these probing questions, you can drastically narrow down the field of vendors. If you need a bit of guidance getting started, our Supply Chain Requirements Checklist can get you started, or our list of Essential Supply Chain Management Tools. Read More Resources for Software Selection SCM Software SCM Software Requirements Template In-Depth Comparison Report Pricing Guide Inventory Management Procurement Management Transportation Management Warehouse Management Most Popular Articles The 5 Best Supply Chain Management (SCM) Tools of 2026 1 view The 5 Best Supply Chain Visibility Software Solutions in 2026 1 view What Is A Global Supply Chain? A Comprehensive Guide 1 view Recent Articles Recent SCM PostsEDI vs API in the Supply Chain5 KPIs for Supply Chain Analytics and the Tools to Find ThemWhat is Supply Chain Analytics? Ultimate GuideMobile Supply Chain: A Comprehensive GuideHow Cloud Supply Chain Software Revolutionizes OperationsWhat Is A Global Supply Chain? A Comprehensive Guide See More Confidence Comes from Data SCM software selection is complex and beset with problems for both IT buyers and solution providers. We do three things to make it fast and simple: FREE Software Selection Platform Our platform provides best-practices, including requirements templates & vendor comparisons, to help you make the right decisions for your unique needs, in a fraction of the time. Try it FREE. Start Selecting Software Aggregated Reviews We have collected every software review available online, crunched every last word using our proprietary Sentiment Analysis algorithms, all so we can tell you how a software product is viewed in its marketplace, retrospectively. Get SCM Software Reviews Professional Analysis We relentlessly collect and analyze data about software, then compile and share it so every company in has the same access to the information. The information we gain is then used in our Software Selection platform to help you find the right software. See Analyst’s Top SCM Software Picks Your Guides Our industry journalists proudly distill the helpful information you read on SelectHub, always on the mission to share what matters so you can make your best decisions independently. SCM articles are written and edited by: Zachary Totah Content Manager As SelectHub’s Content Manager, Zachary Totah leads a team of more than 35 writers and editors in their quest to provide content that helps software buyers find the right system for their company. Show More Pooja Verma Content Editor and Market Analyst Pooja Verma is a Content Editor and Market Analyst at SelectHub, who writes content on Endpoint Security and Supply Chain Management. Show More Anwita Dhar Technical Content Writer Anwita is a Technical Content Writer at Selecthub. She writes content for endpoint security and supply chain management. Show More Thought Leaders SelectHub has sought out and invited thought leaders to contribute to our SCM industry articles and resources. These thought leaders ensure we deliver quality content with the most accurate information, focusing on what matters most. No thought leader is compensated for their contributions, but shares our belief that information should be democratized so everyone can make the best decision. Erik Kiser CEO, Orderful At 25 Erik started a consulting firm focused on writing EDI and B2B integrations for manufacturers. Show More × Erik Kiser CEO, Orderful At 25 Erik started a consulting firm focused on writing EDI and B2B integrations for manufacturers. Through scaling the company he realized that there is a great opportunity to improve business for the manufacturers by providing a software hub approach. Orderful, Erik's second venture, started a few years later. Orderful has successfully raised funding from prestigious venture capital firms including Andreessen Horowitz, and is on a path to improve B2B and EDI trading for the world. Cathy Morrow Roberson Market Analyst, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC Cathy Morrow Roberson is a market analyst with a research and economics background. Roberson began her career as a librarian; she was then an analyst at an e-commerce start-up for a couple of years. Show More × Cathy Morrow Roberson Market Analyst, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC Cathy Morrow Roberson is a market analyst with a research and economics background. Roberson began her career as a librarian; she was then an analyst at an e-commerce start-up for a couple of years. After that, she was an analyst at UPS Supply Chain Solutions supporting market, competitive and mergers & acquisition research and analytic needs for 11 years. After a brief stint with specialized consulting firms, Roberson now manages the logistics-focused market research firm, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Chris Cunnane Senior Research Analyst, ARC Chris’ key areas of research include transportation management systems, omni-channel logistics and fulfillment, business analytics, and retail technology. Show More × Chris Cunnane Senior Research Analyst, ARC Chris' key areas of research include transportation management systems, omni-channel logistics and fulfillment, business analytics, and retail technology. Prior to joining ARC, Chris was a senior analyst at Aberdeen Group covering retail and hospitality technology. He also has years of experience in the retail and wholesale industries in a number of sales, marketing, inventory management, and customer service roles. Steve Hopper Trusted Supply Chain Advisor Are your warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, and distribution operations as efficient and cost-effective as they can be? Are your operating costs as low as possible? Show More × Steve Hopper Founder, Acacia HR Solutions Are your warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, and distribution operations as efficient and cost-effective as they can be? Are your operating costs as low as possible? Are your customers getting your products quickly and accurately? Do you have sufficient capacity for growth? If not, I can help. The mission of Inviscid Consulting is to help businesses plan and improve supply chain operations to drive down operating costs, boost capacity, improve service levels, and mitigate risk. I'll show you how you can streamline your mission-critical supply chain to eliminate waste and inefficiency. As a result, you'll save money and time in your operations. My in-depth industry expertise includes: Supply chain industrial engineering Strategic distribution network planning & site selection Supply chain facility planning & design Economic evaluation & justification of alternative solutions Design, evaluation, estimation, specification, selection, & implementation of material handling systems & supply chain technology Lean supply chain operations planning, process improvement, & reengineering Improvement of capacity, labor productivity, & service levels Evaluation & selection of third-party logistics (3PL) providers Inventory reduction & optimization Suman Sarkar Partner, Three S Consulting Suman Sarkar is a partner with Three S Consulting and an international consultant who has advised more than forty Fortune 500 companies in strategy and operations. Show More × Suman Sarkar Partner, Three S Consulting Suman Sarkar is a partner with Three S Consulting and an international consultant who has advised more than forty Fortune 500 companies in strategy and operations. His new book, Customer-Driven Disruption (Berrett-Koehler, 2019), is a blueprint for showing how companies must adapt to ever-changing global demographics and markets. It draws on the author’s extensive experience and features case studies from companies around the world that have thrived in volatile, highly competitive marketplaces. He has published numerous articles in business journals and his first book, The Supply Chain Revolution, is an Amazon top-seller in its genre. Kelly Barner Owner, Managing Director at Buyers Meeting Point, LLC Kelly Barner has held numerous roles in procurement since 2003. She is the Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point and MyPurchasingCenter. Show More × Kelly Barner Owner, Managing Director at Buyers Meeting Point, LLC Kelly Barner has held numerous roles in procurement since 2003. She is the Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point and MyPurchasingCenter. Starting in 2009, she has covered procurement news, events, publications, solutions, trends, and relevant economics. Kelly is also the General Manager at Art of Procurement and Business Survey Chair for the ISM-New York Report on Business. Kelly has her MBA from Babson College as well as an MS in Library and Information Science from Simmons College and she has co-authored three books: ‘Supply Market Intelligence for Procurement Professionals’, ‘Procurement at a Crossroads’, and 'Finance Unleashed’. Joanna Martinez Founder at Supply Chain Advisors LLC Joanna Martinez helps businesses being battered by disruptive forces, creating innovative ways to reduce costs or grow bottom-lines. Show More × Joanna Martinez Founder at Supply Chain Advisors LLC Joanna Martinez helps businesses being battered by disruptive forces, creating innovative ways to reduce costs or grow bottom-lines. She is also an advisor and a frequent speaker on disruption and digitization. Joanna was named a Distinguished Alumna by Rutgers College of Engineering. Thinkers360 designated her a Top Global Thought Leader and Influencer in multiple categories. Her book, A Guide to Positive Disruption, focuses on her experiences implementing change and provides a framework to follow to become a force for positive change yourself. Joanna’s current project is an online learning program for people interested in improving their understanding of digital concepts. Most Recent Articles"
---
[Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) > Supply Chain Management
# What is Supply Chain Management (SCM)?
## SCM Helps You:
- Improve information flow across the supply chain
- Optimize the physical flow of goods and materials
- Cut costs across the board
- Plan for and manage demand
- Reduce errors and automate financials
### Improve information flow across the supply chain
What is supply chain management (SCM), and how can [SCM software](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/) increase the efficiency of a supply chain? Firstly, before we dive any deeper, supply chain management is a group of processes that see a product from manufacture to final delivery to a customer. So, where does a management platform fit into all of this? Well, the short answer is everywhere.
One of the most valuable things supply chain management can accomplish is providing detailed information across the entire length of a supply chain. By increasing data visibility, owners and managers can discover areas that need improvement, plan for the future and optimize the entirety of their supply chains.
Supply chain management software leverages analytics and logistics tools that drill down into daily processes in search of data. This data is automatically loaded into customized reports that are displayed on easy-to-access dashboards for users to view. Information is king, and the right supply chain management tool can feed you valuable data pulled from everyday processes. Efficient communication is another important tool that can optimize supply chain tasks. By collaborating, team members can discuss improvements, meet up to discuss incoming data and discuss the future.
- Customizable reports
- Analytics tools
- Dashboards
- Data management
- Supply chain KPIs
- Collaboration tools
### Optimize the physical flow of goods and materials
The flow of information is obviously important, but getting physical products from manufacturers to customers is the real goal here. Supply chain management includes many features focused on improving accuracy, speeding up delivery and increasing trust between businesses, clients and customers. The storage of goods and materials is also integral to a functionally competent supply chain. Features that speed up pick-and-pack, make multi-tenant or multi-warehouse operations less complex, and support third-party logistics can turn a slow warehouse around.
Communication is important here as well. Many systems include functions that automatically release information to customers and clients as their product moves from production to distribution. This way, customers know exactly where their product is and when they can expect it to arrive. The fewer questions a customer has the better, and a proper management system can keep them in the loop and worry-free. When looking for a management system, keep these features in mind:
- Transportation management
- Product lifecycle management
- Warehouse management
- Value-added services
- Third-party logistics support
- Maintenance management
### Cut costs across the board
As a product moves from manufacture to delivery, supply chain management systems are always on the lookout for ways to cut costs. There are multiple processes a system can capitalize on in order to shrink costs across the entirety of the supply chain. Features that boost the accuracy of, well, anything are always good to have. Depending on the mistake, both time and money can be drained in order to make up for whatever the issue was. If a customer gets a package late, they may seek business elsewhere. If an employee is given the wrong picking information, the manager will have to incur return and reship costs. A driver may not be given an optimized route and could end up wasting funds on fuel or extra days spent on the road.
By leveraging supply chain management, users can gain insight into beneficial sales channels, reduce fulfillment times and save money at nearly every step of the way. Automatic features can order more supplies as necessary to avoid out-of-stock situations while also managing replacement parts for machinery. SCM is all about saving money, so make sure some of these features, if not all, are available when selecting a system:
- Pick-and-pack optimization
- Manual entry automation
- One entry input
- Supply re-orders
- Omnichannel fulfillment
- Supplier networking
- Risk management
### Plan for and manage demand
Keeping up with customer demand is another key tenant of successful supply chain management. An optimized supply chain can deal with the ups and downs of the market without storing too much useless product or running out at an inopportune moment. Many SCM tools include features that organize and help users build a storage system that keeps the most valuable products readily available. As demand grows and shrinks, your supply chain should be ready to scale up or down at a moment’s notice.
Forecasting tools help managers estimate how best to tackle future markets. Supply chain management platforms analyze trends in real time to give users an idea of what to order, when to order it and how to best stay stocked. The visibility into inventory processes provided by these tools takes the surprise out of managing a proper amount of stock to meet customer demand. A successful solution should provide procurement and inventory support to stay competitive. Because of this, you’ll want to keep an eye out for these helpful features:
- Inventory management
- Forecasting tools
- Agile/scalable platforms
- Procurement management
### Reduce errors and automate financials
No one wants to put pen to paper and write out a budget. Many supply chain management platforms include accounting support that can automate much of the process. By eliminating the need for manual entry and calculation, businesses can expect fewer human errors and less time spent rectifying budget inconsistencies. Instead of spending large amounts of time tackling budget issues, employees can refocus on more important tasks.
This is another point where single entry accounting calculations are an advantage. Certain systems allow users to enter data only once before it automatically distributes it to necessary portions of the budget. Businesses that suffer from accounting errors or slow data entry should search for systems with these features:
- Tax support
- Budget support
- Calculation automation
- Save preferred suppliers by price
- Audit tools
## FAQs
### How is automation affecting the landscape of supply chain management?
Technology is always pushing forward, and the rise of [automation](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-automation/) has important implications for the world of supply chain management. The use of robotics and AI is rising among warehousing operations and is even starting to show up in the transportation of goods and products. Drones are being utilized to quickly pick and transport goods through warehouses and automated trucking is taking its first tentative steps toward being a widely adopted option.
In order to keep up with the complicated and ever-changing world of global trade, supply chains need to be ready to adopt new technologies to stay competitive. Once far-fetched ideas like augmented reality may become widely accepted tools in the future.
### How has the cloud revolutionized supply chain management?
[Cloud-based deployment strategies](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/10-ways-cloud-computing-revolutionizing-supply-chain-management/) are on the rise for good reason. Implementing a cloud-based system comes with a number of inherent advantages over their on-premise peers. Users that leverage the cloud benefit from secure backup, real-time upgrades, easy file exchanges and a lower cost of entry. Outside of these common benefits, here are a few more ways the cloud boosts supply chain operations:
- Cloud-based analytics and manufacturing intelligence improves cycle times
- Cloud-based applications automate compliance and reporting to free up time
- Diverse application integrations and systems using APIs scale manufacturing strategies quickly
- Businesses can measure order performance with software inclusions
- Quality management features are increasing customer satisfaction across the board
### How Do I Select SCM Software?
Finding the right supply chain management tools can be tough. The best way to approach the problem is by asking a few questions about your unique requirements as a business. Consider a few things before jumping into the wide market of vendors out there. Think about what kind of deployment strategy works best for your business; does an on-premise or cloud-based application fit your business better? How much room is there in the budget for a new system? What size is your operation and how complex does your solution need to be? By asking these probing questions, you can drastically narrow down the field of vendors. If you need a bit of guidance getting started, our [Supply Chain Requirements Checklist](https://pmo.selecthub.com/scm-requirements-site-vers/) can get you started, or our list of [Essential Supply Chain Management Tools](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/13-essential-supply-chain-management-tools/).
Read More
## Resources for Software Selection
[SCM Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/)
[SCM Software Requirements Template](https://pmo.selecthub.com/scm-requirements-site-vers/)
[In-Depth Comparison Report](https://pmo.selecthub.com/top-scm-software-site-vers/)
**Pricing Guide **
[Inventory Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/inventory-management/)
[Procurement Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/procurement-management/)
[Transportation Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/transportation-and-logistics-management/)
[Warehouse Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/warehouse-management/)
## Most Popular Articles
- [The 5 Best Supply Chain Management (SCM) Tools of 2026](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/13-essential-supply-chain-management-tools/) 1 view
- [The 5 Best Supply Chain Visibility Software Solutions in 2026](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/gaining-supply-chain-visibility-software-tools/) 1 view
- [What Is A Global Supply Chain? A Comprehensive Guide](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/global-supply-chain/) 1 view
## Recent Articles
Recent SCM Posts
- ### [EDI vs API in the Supply Chain](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/edi-and-api-supply-chain/)
- ### [5 KPIs for Supply Chain Analytics and the Tools to Find Them](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/5-kpis-supply-chain-analytics-tools/)
- ### [What is Supply Chain Analytics? Ultimate Guide](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-analytics/)
- ### [Mobile Supply Chain: A Comprehensive Guide](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/mobile-supply-chain/)
- ### [How Cloud Supply Chain Software Revolutionizes Operations](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/10-ways-cloud-computing-revolutionizing-supply-chain-management/)
- ### [What Is A Global Supply Chain? A Comprehensive Guide](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/global-supply-chain/)
[See More](#moreArticles)
## Confidence Comes from Data
SCM software selection is complex and beset with problems for both IT buyers and solution providers. **We do three things to make it fast and simple:**
### FREE Software Selection Platform
Our platform provides best-practices, including requirements templates & vendor comparisons, to help you make the right decisions for your unique needs, in a fraction of the time. Try it FREE.
[Start Selecting Software](https://www.selecthub.com/about/start-free-selection-project-site/)
### Aggregated Reviews
We have collected every software review available online, crunched every last word using our proprietary Sentiment Analysis algorithms, all so we can tell you how a software product is viewed in its marketplace, retrospectively.
[Get SCM Software Reviews](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/)
### Professional Analysis
We relentlessly collect and analyze data about software, then compile and share it so every company in has the same access to the information. The information we gain is then used in our Software Selection platform to help you find the right software.
[See Analyst’s Top SCM Software Picks](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/)
## Your Guides
Our industry journalists proudly distill the helpful information you read on SelectHub, always on the mission to share what matters so you can make your best decisions independently.
SCM articles are written and edited by:
[![Zachary Totah]()](https://www.selecthub.com/author/zachary-totah/)
### Zachary Totah
Content Manager
As SelectHub’s Content Manager, Zachary Totah leads a team of more than 35 writers and editors in their quest to provide content that helps software buyers find the right system for their company.
[Show More](https://www.selecthub.com/author/zachary-totah/)
[![Pooja Verma]()](https://www.selecthub.com/author/pooja-verma/)
### Pooja Verma
Content Editor and Market Analyst
Pooja Verma is a Content Editor and Market Analyst at SelectHub, who writes content on Endpoint Security and Supply Chain Management.
[Show More](https://www.selecthub.com/author/pooja-verma/)
[![Anwita Dhar]()](https://www.selecthub.com/author/anwita-dhar/)
### Anwita Dhar
Technical Content Writer
Anwita is a Technical Content Writer at Selecthub. She writes content for endpoint security and supply chain management.
[Show More](https://www.selecthub.com/author/anwita-dhar/)
## Thought Leaders
SelectHub has sought out and invited thought leaders to contribute to our SCM industry articles and resources. These thought leaders ensure we deliver quality content with the most accurate information, focusing on what matters most. No thought leader is compensated for their contributions, but shares our belief that information should be democratized so everyone can make the best decision.
![Erik Kiser]()
### Erik Kiser
CEO, Orderful
At 25 Erik started a consulting firm focused on writing EDI and B2B integrations for manufacturers.
[Show More](#open-modal-2)
[×](#modal-close "Close")
![Erik Kiser]()
### Erik Kiser
CEO, Orderful
At 25 Erik started a consulting firm focused on writing EDI and B2B integrations for manufacturers. Through scaling the company he realized that there is a great opportunity to improve business for the manufacturers by providing a software hub approach. Orderful, Erik's second venture, started a few years later. Orderful has successfully raised funding from prestigious venture capital firms including Andreessen Horowitz, and is on a path to improve B2B and EDI trading for the world.
![Cathy Morrow Roberson]()
### Cathy Morrow Roberson
Market Analyst, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC
Cathy Morrow Roberson is a market analyst with a research and economics background. Roberson began her career as a librarian; she was then an analyst at an e-commerce start-up for a couple of years.
[Show More](#open-modal-6)
[×](#modal-close "Close")
![Cathy Morrow Roberson]()
### Cathy Morrow Roberson
Market Analyst, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC
Cathy Morrow Roberson is a market analyst with a research and economics background. Roberson began her career as a librarian; she was then an analyst at an e-commerce start-up for a couple of years. After that, she was an analyst at UPS Supply Chain Solutions supporting market, competitive and mergers & acquisition research and analytic needs for 11 years. After a brief stint with specialized consulting firms, Roberson now manages the logistics-focused market research firm, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
![Chris Cunnane]()
### Chris Cunnane
Senior Research Analyst, ARC
Chris’ key areas of research include transportation management systems, omni-channel logistics and fulfillment, business analytics, and retail technology.
[Show More](#open-modal-10)
[×](#modal-close "Close")
![Chris Cunnane]()
### Chris Cunnane
Senior Research Analyst, ARC
Chris' key areas of research include transportation management systems, omni-channel logistics and fulfillment, business analytics, and retail technology.
Prior to joining ARC, Chris was a senior analyst at Aberdeen Group covering retail and hospitality technology. He also has years of experience in the retail and wholesale industries in a number of sales, marketing, inventory management, and customer service roles.
![Steve Hopper]()
### Steve Hopper
Trusted Supply Chain Advisor
Are your warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, and distribution operations as efficient and cost-effective as they can be? Are your operating costs as low as possible?
[Show More](#open-modal)
[×](#modal-close "Close")
![Steve Hopper]()
### Steve Hopper
Founder, Acacia HR Solutions
Are your warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, and distribution operations as efficient and cost-effective as they can be? Are your operating costs as low as possible? Are your customers getting your products quickly and accurately? Do you have sufficient capacity for growth?
If not, I can help. The mission of Inviscid Consulting is to help businesses plan and improve supply chain operations to drive down operating costs, boost capacity, improve service levels, and mitigate risk.
I'll show you how you can streamline your mission-critical supply chain to eliminate waste and inefficiency. As a result, you'll save money and time in your operations.
My in-depth industry expertise includes:
- Supply chain industrial engineering
- Strategic distribution network planning & site selection
- Supply chain facility planning & design
- Economic evaluation & justification of alternative solutions
- Design, evaluation, estimation, specification, selection, & implementation of material handling systems & supply chain technology
- Lean supply chain operations planning, process improvement, & reengineering
- Improvement of capacity, labor productivity, & service levels
- Evaluation & selection of third-party logistics (3PL) providers
- Inventory reduction & optimization
![Suman Sarkar]()
### Suman Sarkar
Partner, Three S Consulting
Suman Sarkar is a partner with Three S Consulting and an international consultant who has advised more than forty Fortune 500 companies in strategy and operations.
[Show More](#open-modal-4)
[×](#modal-close "Close")
![Suman Sarkar]()
### Suman Sarkar
Partner, Three S Consulting
Suman Sarkar is a partner with Three S Consulting and an international consultant who has advised more than forty Fortune 500 companies in strategy and operations. His new book, Customer-Driven Disruption (Berrett-Koehler, 2019), is a blueprint for showing how companies must adapt to ever-changing global demographics and markets. It draws on the author’s extensive experience and features case studies from companies around the world that have thrived in volatile, highly competitive marketplaces. He has published numerous articles in business journals and his first book, The Supply Chain Revolution, is an Amazon top-seller in its genre.
![Kelly Barner]()
### Kelly Barner
Owner, Managing Director at Buyers Meeting Point, LLC
Kelly Barner has held numerous roles in procurement since 2003. She is the Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point and MyPurchasingCenter.
[Show More](#open-modal-3)
[×](#modal-close "Close")
![Kelly Barner]()
### Kelly Barner
Owner, Managing Director at Buyers Meeting Point, LLC
Kelly Barner has held numerous roles in procurement since 2003. She is the Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point and MyPurchasingCenter. Starting in 2009, she has covered procurement news, events, publications, solutions, trends, and relevant economics. Kelly is also the General Manager at Art of Procurement and Business Survey Chair for the ISM-New York Report on Business. Kelly has her MBA from Babson College as well as an MS in Library and Information Science from Simmons College and she has co-authored three books: ‘Supply Market Intelligence for Procurement Professionals’, ‘Procurement at a Crossroads’, and 'Finance Unleashed’.
![Joanna Martinez]()
### Joanna Martinez
Founder at Supply Chain Advisors LLC
Joanna Martinez helps businesses being battered by disruptive forces, creating innovative ways to reduce costs or grow bottom-lines.
[Show More](#open-modal-5)
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![Joanna Martinez]()
### Joanna Martinez
Founder at Supply Chain Advisors LLC
Joanna Martinez helps businesses being battered by disruptive forces, creating innovative ways to reduce costs or grow bottom-lines. She is also an advisor and a frequent speaker on disruption and digitization. Joanna was named a Distinguished Alumna by Rutgers College of Engineering. Thinkers360 designated her a Top Global Thought Leader and Influencer in multiple categories.
Her book, *A Guide to Positive Disruption*, focuses on her experiences implementing change and provides a framework to follow to become a force for positive change yourself. Joanna’s current project is an online learning program for people interested in improving their understanding of digital concepts.
## Most Recent Articles
[EDI](https://www.selecthub.com/category/electronic-data-interchange/), [Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
It’s hard to imagine an effective supply chain management solution that doesn’t rely on EDI or API. They both allow you to quickly and securely exchange data from system to system, which is a huge part of the supply chain management process.
But even though both API and EDI are widely used across many different business software solutions, they do have their differences. These differences need to be understood in order to make an educated choice when choosing a software solution that best suits your business needs.
Kim O'ShaughnessyEDI vs API in the Supply Chain
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/edi-and-api-supply-chain/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Making sure a complex system such as supply chain management runs smoothly is a difficult process. It involves multiple organizations, each of which have their own objectives and practices. Tracking shipments and monitoring inventory levels are just a few of the key aspects that need to be closely followed in order to ensure that orders are handled effectively.
SelectHub5 KPIs for Supply Chain Analytics and the Tools to Find Them
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/5-kpis-supply-chain-analytics-tools/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
The world and its economies are always in a state of flux. New trade regulations are put into place, disasters upset the flow of goods, stock markets rise and fall, and supply chains struggle to keep up with these chaotic changes. By implementing supply chain analytics and [supply chain management software](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/), businesses can attempt to capture and study the huge amount of data that accumulates as a product moves from A to B. As more and more enterprises adopt Big Data and analytical tools, supply chains are turning away from studying the past and instead, forecasting the future.
Hunter LoweWhat is Supply Chain Analytics? Ultimate Guide
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-analytics/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
If you’re still manually managing orders, counting inventory by hand and sending faxes to process shipments, you’re probably suffering. These archaic methods are on their way out and the time of manual [supply chain management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/) is fading.
Mobile supply chain management is on the rise with tools and technologies that take the blood, sweat and tears out of your mundane processes in favor of faster, more accurate and efficient practices.
Hunter LoweMobile Supply Chain: A Comprehensive Guide
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/mobile-supply-chain/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Cloud-based applications and platforms are revolutionizing [supply chain management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/) today, scaling operations from small businesses to complex enterprises. Cloud [supply chain software solutions](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/) are showing significant increases in implementation – so much so that not having one in place makes you an outlier.
Riddhiman RoyHow Cloud Supply Chain Software Revolutionizes Operations
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/10-ways-cloud-computing-revolutionizing-supply-chain-management/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Have you ever considered expanding your supply chain to broaden your vendor horizons? A global supply chain allows manufacturers to expand into international markets, encouraging businesses to boost sales, lower overhead costs, improve threat and risk management, and more. Likewise, [supply chain management software](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/) (SCM) ensures the timely delivery of services and goods to multiple distribution centers.
Sylvia MarakWhat Is A Global Supply Chain? A Comprehensive Guide
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/global-supply-chain/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Supply chains are the lifelines of businesses across the globe. They connect all of the processes required between the manufacture and the final delivery of a product to a consumer. So, in a nutshell, they are vital to nearly every economic system out there. However, these complicated business organisms need constant management and attention to stay healthy and competitive. Luckily for us, the benefits of [supply chain management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/) and the software suites designed to convey these advantages are widely available.
Hunter Lowe5 Key Benefits of Supply Chain Management
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/5-core-benefits-supply-chain-management-software/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Building an effective supply chain strategy is tough. With supply chains undergoing digital transformation, many companies are grappling with new ways to improve overall operations and performance, especially in a post-pandemic world. They’ve started emphasizing strategic [supply chain management tools](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/) to overcome these challenges.
Sylvia MarakSupply Chain Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-strategy/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
High-performance supply chains are the lifeblood of any company’s operations, and the cornerstone of strong customer relationships. Supply chains that excel at execution successfully orchestrate [supply chain management](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/) (SCM), [inventory management](https://www.selecthub.com/inventory-management-software/) and [warehouse management](https://www.selecthub.com/warehouse-management-software/) (WMS) systems to fulfill strategic goals. Both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) customers now expect real-time responsiveness through any of the selling channels they choose to purchase through. By using SCM systems as the foundation to unify inventory management and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), more companies can deliver real-time responsiveness and excellent experiences to their customers, through any channel, any time.
Louis Columbus5 Factors Driving Supply Chain, Inventory Management and Warehouse Management Convergence
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/factors-driving-supply-chain-convergence/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
The progression from a series of integrated applications that support relatively simple supply chain processes and workflows to technology stacks designed to scale across global operations is accelerating. Application and infrastructure middleware and platform providers now have software designed just for streamlining the creation and fine-tuning of supply chain technology stacks. IoT spending is predicted to accelerate mainly as a result of supply chain technology stacks, as is the proliferation of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
Louis ColumbusExploring Supply Chain Technology Stack’s Inflection Point
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/exploring-supply-chain-technology-stack-inflection-point/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
In the world of [supply chain management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/), speed and accuracy are everything. The slightest disruption can throw a well-oiled SCM operation into disarray. But never fear. The right combination of supply chain modules can keep your operation agile.
Before you jump into the [SCM software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/) market, you’ll need a list of must-have requirements your business needs to succeed. Our comprehensive list of the most popular modules can jumpstart your selection process.
Sylvia MarakSupply Chain Management Modules: A Comprehensive Guide
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/scm-modules/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Supply chain disruptions happen, and optimizing your [supply chain management](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/) systems and processes to deal with them requires rigorous analysis. The ideal way to deal with unexpected disruptions is by utilizing supply chain analysis methodologies.
Sylvia MarakWhat Is Supply Chain Analysis? A Comprehensive Guide
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-analysis/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
You can’t procure goods and services without vendors, so maintaining quality relationships is the lifeblood of the [procurement](https://www.selecthub.com/category/eprocurement/) process. Vendor management systems aid contract, interaction and purchase management to simplify maintaining buyer-supplier relationships.
With that in mind, we’ll take you through our top five analyst-picked vendor management systems.
Pooja VermaThe 5 Best Vendor Management Systems of 2026
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/vendor-management-software/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
We all know the feeling of finding a product on Amazon (or at your favorite brick-and-mortar) only to see it’s unavailable or out of stock. It’s a common problem for consumers but an even more significant issue regarding [supply chain management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/). The answer? Demand planning software.
Pooja VermaThe Best Demand Planning Software: Our Top 7 Picks
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/demand-planning-tools/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Wouldn’t [supply chain management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/) be easier if you could just use a magnifying glass to view everything you needed? As we’re sure you’re aware, however, that’s not exactly the case. Without the proper systems in place, achieving full visibility into each supply chain process is difficult, if not impossible.
Luckily, supply chain visibility software can free you from tedious manual data entry and reporting while giving you actionable insights to guide your business better.
Pooja VermaThe 5 Best Supply Chain Visibility Software Solutions in 2026
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/gaining-supply-chain-visibility-software-tools/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
When the term automation comes up, most people experience a brief sci-fi laden slideshow in their heads. It’s the year 2021, humanoid robots take to the streets disrupting life as we know it and clashing with their old human masters. Lucky for us, when it comes to the world of supply chain automation, robots are more about increasing efficiency and less the whole enslaving humanity angle.
Hunter LoweHow Supply Chain Automation is Changing the Landscape
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-automation/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
The logistics and [SCM software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/) landscape is transforming to meet the evolving needs of businesses, with agility, resiliency and intelligent operations as the new buzzwords.
From comprehensive suite providers to niche players, the logistics software options are vast. Innovative providers are introducing cutting-edge features like advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI).
Urnesha BhattacharjeeThe Best Logistics Software Of 2026
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/use-choose-logistics-management-software/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Supply chains are awesome. At least, they are when they’re running efficiently. Managing your supply chain well reaps plenty of rewards, but it can also be one of the more complex aspects of your business to oversee. Enter [SCM software](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/) integration.
Zachary TotahSCM Integration: Your Business Will Thank You
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/scm-software-integration/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
A myriad of things can go wrong in the time between a customer’s purchase and delivery. Even the slightest human error, like the wrong letter or number on an order, could disrupt the entire process and put the company’s reputation at stake. Thankfully, with technological advances and [supply chain management solutions](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/), businesses no longer have to rely on outdated methods. They can leverage order fulfillment software to track their inventory, invoicing, billing and shipments.
Riddhiman RoyThe Best Order Fulfillment Software Solutions Of 2026
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/top-5-order-fulfillment-software-solutions/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Supply chains, much like living organisms, need to evolve to survive. New technology, like robotic process automation (RPA), cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), replaces weak links and alters the [supply chain software](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/) market at large. We looked to the experts for their thoughts on the future of supply chain trends.
Sylvia MarakSupply Chain Trends For 2026 And Beyond
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-management-future-trends/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Supply chain management tools are indispensable in the digital era of volatile demand and evolving customer expectations. Businesses often struggle with a “one fits all” approach. In the age of circular supply chains, only the best solutions fit unique needs like agile processing and scalability.
However, cutting through the noise and vendor marketing is challenging. Our list of the best [SCM software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/), based on our extensive research and data from our software selection platform, will give you the analysis you need to make an informed decision.
Pooja VermaThe 5 Best Supply Chain Management (SCM) Tools of 2026
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/13-essential-supply-chain-management-tools/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Global supply chains are battling anxious economies, increased trade wars, environmental sustainability issues and an ongoing [shortage of truck drivers](https://www.ajot.com/news/the-truck-driver-shortage-in-the-us-continues). You need the right [supply chain management system](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/) to tackle these complexities and stay agile. However, picking the best fit for your business can be tricky.
Before choosing a solution, you must determine features of supply chain management your business needs most. That’s why we’ve created this SCM requirements checklist to help you make an informed decision.
Urnesha BhattacharjeeThe Top 10 Supply Chain Management (SCM) Features & Requirements
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-management-software-features-requirements/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
A good [SCM software](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/) solution is imperative to a smooth manufacturing and distribution process. This is especially true for mid-sized businesses trying to stay competitive in today’s market while also looking for chances to grow their supply chain.
[JDA’s Supply Chain Now](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/blue-yonder/) and [Infor Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management-software/infor-supply-chain-management/) are two solutions that are often considered by SMBs, but what makes them different? Where do their abilities overlap? As you surely know by now, it’s exceedingly important to make sure the system you choose fulfills your requirements. That’s why we created a detailed comparison of JDA vs Infor, so you can decide with confidence which system is best for you.
Kim O'ShaughnessyJDA vs Infor: Which is the Winner?
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/jda-and-infor/)
[Supply Chain Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/supply-chain-management/)
Business owners swear by co-creation. But they struggle with evolving customer expectations, disruptions, and hurdles brought on by opacity in supplier networks and lack of actionable data.
If you fall in this category, you probably want to diversify your list of reliable suppliers or mitigate stockouts with robust vendor management. The answer lies in supply chain collaboration software.
Read on to find out the top [supply chain management](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/) solutions, their collaborative prowess and their limitations.
Urnesha BhattacharjeeThe 5 Best Supply Chain Collaboration Software of 2026
[read more](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-collaboration-software/)
### SCM Sidebar
#### SCM Pricing Guide for 2026
See the **Price/User** for the top SCM... plus the most important considerations and questions to ask.
**Get Pricing Guide**
[**Compare Top Supply Chain Management Software Leaders**
Pricing, Ratings, and Reviews for each Vendor. PLUS… Access to our online selection platform for free.](https://pmo.selecthub.com/top-scm-software-site-vers/)
[**Requirements Template for Supply Chain Management Software**
Jump-start your selection project with a free, pre-built, customizable Supply Chain Management Tools requirements template.](https://pmo.selecthub.com/scm-requirements-site-vers/)
#### **See the SCM Leaders and Get:**
[SCM Demos](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/)
[Price Quotes on SCM Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/supply-chain-management-software/)
[SCM Trends](https://www.selecthub.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-management-future-trends/)
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