As shifting consumer preferences dovetail with global policy changes and ever-increasing innovation, a nimble supply chain is crucial for companies to continue to thrive. A cloud-based infrastructure, managed by the right team of IT experts, can help businesses make sound decisions and enhance supply chain speed and strength to meet consumer demands.

Between the pandemic, fluctuating consumer demand, increased online ordering, and global policy shifts, current supply chain dynamics are a far cry from their previous state of stability. Companies face lengthy shipping delays while terminals struggle to unload backlogged freight, slowing production and further delaying the arrival of products that customers urgently need.

Businesses need to renovate their supply chain to improve flexibility, intelligence, and resiliency — and a cloud-based infrastructure can help them do it. When a company moves its supply chain management (SCM) strategies to the cloud, it sees a number of benefits, gaining insights into current strain spots, communicating better across all channels, and anticipating problems before they arise.

With Global IP Networks, you get affordable cloud services that our team of experts manages. Our cloud-based infrastructure helps you manage your supply chain and make it stronger.

1. Intelligence and Analytics

Knowledge is profit in business, and adopting a cloud-based infrastructure can help companies become both more intelligent and profitable. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are continuously being implemented into IT stacks to identify areas for improvement, locate new revenue channels, boost productivity, and increase conversions. Penetrating analytics also give insights into where companies can optimize their business processes, making them smarter and leaner than ever.

But they need a platform to do it. Cloud-based infrastructures provide this platform, facilitating edge computing and giving companies access to big data processing capabilities, both of which make deep dive AI and analytics possible. This helps supply chains by enabling the use of cutting-edge AI algorithms and predictive analytics, so companies can work with their outsourced managed IT team to see where the supply chain is failing and how to respond accordingly. For instance, predictive analytics can forecast future arrival dates for components based on previous wait times or identify suppliers that appear to be struggling to keep up.

With this knowledge, companies can decide if it is best to continue with just-in-time manufacturing practices, or if it would be better to keep a surplus in stock. Whether for logistics, coordination, or product location through the IoT, cloud computing makes it possible to use AI and analytics that make your supply chains smarter and your business better.

2. Communication and Collaboration

From offshore manufacturers to regional suppliers to local retailers, supply chains are lengthy and have many moving parts. That means that, from start to finish, companies must be able to collaborate across departments to coordinate product allocation and profile their goods along the supply chain.

By consolidating their network into one solution, cloud-based infrastructures remove the granularity from supply chain team members, making communication and collaboration much easier. Cloud service providers offer a single hub across which data can be shared, enabling supply chain tasks such as:

• Forecasting
• Planning
• Sourcing
• Procurement
• Logistics
• Supply tracking

Migrating to a cloud-based infrastructure also speeds the pace of innovation by removing the burden of data management and network security from IT teams. No longer weighed down by legacy systems and IT troubles, companies with managed IT support are free to focus on big-picture goals, like product development and business growth.

3. Anticipation and Adaptation 

Today's consumer demands are very different from pre-pandemic expectations, which has forced companies to pivot what products they offer as well as how they supply them. While some variables just can’t be accounted for, companies must be able to anticipate the evolving needs of consumers and rapidly adapt both their product offerings and supply mechanisms.

The intelligence and communication gains that companies get from migrating to a cloud-based infrastructure enables them to better prepare for disruptions and shift their strategies accordingly. For example, economic conditions and fluctuating demand may cause businesses to scale their networks and inventories up or down, and after expecting constraints from one supplier, easily pivot to a "plus one" model, improving their agility at the same time. Cloud-based infrastructures provide your outsourced team of IT experts with the tools to help your company adjust to changing tides.

Strengthen Your Supply Chain With Global IP Networks

With so many complexities shaping the way products move from A to Z, the only certainty in current supply chains is uncertainty. Companies must be able to adapt to evolving consumer demands and a host of other factors that can cause supply chain disruptions.

A cloud-based infrastructure can help. Global IP Networks offers end-to-end managed IT support and excels at furnishing companies with a cloud-based network that helps them keep up with the breakneck speed of innovation. A cloud-based infrastructure is only one managed IT solution we offer to help businesses supply their customers with what they need, when they need it. If you want to bolster your supply chain and migrate to a cloud-based infrastructure, contact us for help.