Supply Chain 360: Data and Analytics Powering Modern Logistics with James Lumb

08/14/19 • 16 min

On this episode of Data in Depth, we dig into how sophisticated data and analytics are transforming logistics and changing the way companies manage their supply chains. We talk with James Lumb, CEO of Zenkraft, who offers cutting-edge examples of how logistics data can be used to avoid waste, improve customer experience, and even improve your product line.
Chapter markers:
4:48 - Supply Chain 360
6:05 - Internet of Things
6:54 - Product Improvement Feedback Loops
8:55 - The Power of Data Integration
9:57 - 10x ROI
12:03 - Customer Engagement Opportunities
13:10 - Artificial Intelligence and Data Sharing in Logistics
14:01 - Quoting Shipments in CPQ
15:34 - Win a Pair of Bose Headphones
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Previous Episode

Cloud ERP: Avoiding 'FrankenCloud' and Moving from Transactional to Strategic Systems with Tom Brennan

In this episode, we talk with Tom Brennan from Rootstock. Tom discusses the pitfalls of 'FrankenCloud' (multiple cloud systems roughly connected). He also digs into the role of the data-driven CFO and shares how companies can move from a transactional to a strategic approach.
FrankenCloud - 3:45
Tom: People are adding more clouds, and we're in a 'FrankenCloud' stage where you've got multiple clouds and on-premise. You try to draw inferences about that customer and it's very difficult to do.
Andrew: I agree. I'd argue it's probably the number one problem that we see.
Managing Acquisitions and Mergers - 6:32
Andrew: These disparate systems are often the results of acquisitions. I often feel like there's not enough time, energy, or money that's being spent to think about that as a part of the acquisition strategy.
Tom: Yeah. You know, some companies will replace their ERP system wholesale and move everything to one cloud to solve the problem... [Or] they can put in another ERP system such as ours alongside Salesforce pretty easily. Because if they have Salesforce in place, they've already got a cloud stack, and they already know how to administer users, they know how to write reports, do workflow, use chatter... So adding another piece-system is not as intrusive as it would be otherwise, where you'd have to put in a brand new stack, new skillset, new everything. So if people want to get there incrementally, they can, they can add on an app like ours into their Salesforce environment.
Artificial Intelligence in ERP - 9:06
Tom: ... I think AI, in particular, provides the ability to triangulate all this information that we have about a customer and to predict what's going to go on. And so you'll be able to look easily — and especially when it's all in one platform — across maybe outstanding opportunities for the customer, across quotes... And then look at service cases and activities in your call center. Then maybe look at shipments made or returns that have happened... things under warranty, uh, credits that have happened, where they are in their payment cycle, how good of a payer they are...
Early Warning Signs - 10:37
Tom: This is one way to get an early warning sign as to what's really going on. The customer may be ordering a lot of things, but returning a lot. There's a lot of credits on it after rebates and things like that. And they're not profitable. So you really need all of what's in ERP and all of what's in CRM to get that view.
The Data-Driven CFO - 12:18
Tom: [We've] been looking at how finance pros can move beyond doing the day-to-day transactional things and into a more strategic role. One of the critical underpinnings to making that move is data. These CFOs are "data masters." They're able to provide more insight as to what's going on as opposed to just saying, here's your P and L.
Links:

Next Episode

Boosting the Bottom Line: 3 Ways Data Can Drive Profit for Manufacturers with Mike Wertheim

In this episode, we talk with Mike Wertheim from Hayward Industries. Mike shares how Hayward is using data to boost the company's bottom line and outlines his team's top priorities for 2020.
3:41: 3 Ways Data Can Drive Profits
Mike: Data is important to everybody. For Hayward, we are a manufacturing company and it comes down to the bottom line. So, I'll give you 3 ideas of some things that make data very important to [us].

We are a big company in a mature market. The way to grow in that market is through acquisition. When you acquire a company and there's a different set of data, there's a lot of problems.
The other thing is we have traditionally been a B2B company. And we're trying to compete in this age of online purchasing and there are so many channels that people buy their products from. To do that, we've really got to go deeper and reach out to the actual consumers when possible.
The last thing is technology. IoT is a big thing, but we're trying to do more than just make the next great product. We're trying to gather the data that's going to help us make business decisions, grow business, and use those smart devices for our business intelligence.

6:13: Mergers, Acquisitions, and Master Data Management
Mike: I've been with the company 5 years and [during that time] we have acquired 5 different companies. That gives us a major focus on things like master data management, where we've got to all be talking the same language.

9:47: B2B2C
Mike: We're so blind when it comes to selling our products through a distribution channel. So now in conjunction with our distributors, we are actually collecting data about the products that they sell to their customers. That data is so valuable. It's probably the number one thing that our executives are looking for.
15:16: How IoT is Driving Service and Product Development
Mike: We have a chemical monitoring system, a floating connected device. The consumers have an app where they can see what's going on and they can share that information with servicers. So servicers can see... "oh, you're having problems. Maybe I should come out and help you."
The other thing we do is we sell chemicals in what you would think of as pods, like Tide pods. They're color-coded. So your connected device tells you, "Oh, you've got an issue. Please drop in 2 blue, 3 green and a red into your pool." So, we're connecting on the service side, and we're connecting on the consumable side.
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This season, we're giving away a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones!

How to enter: To be eligible to win, you must complete ALL of the following steps by 11/11/19.

Subscribe on ANY of the following:
Review us on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher;
Follow us on Twitter @DataInDepth; and
Tweet us letting us know when you’ve completed all the steps. Be sure to mention @DatainDepth.