Find the best Supply Chain Management Software

Overview
ON THIS PAGE

Compare Products

Showing 1 - 20 of 2145 products

Netstock

Netstock is a cloud-based inventory management solution which helps businesses handle purchase orders, customers, suppliers, demand forecasting and more on a unified platform. It allows professionals to manage bills of materials (...Read more about Netstock

4.9 (51 reviews)

2 recommendations

Embrace ERP

If you are a medium to large enterprise (50 - 1 000+ users), look no further, you have found the right solution for your business. Embrace ERP is a proven, time-tested end-to-end enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution. Purpo...Read more about Embrace ERP

Precoro

Precoro is a cloud-based purchasing software that streamlines procurement processes for SMBs and Enterprises. Key features include purchase order creation and delivery, blanket PO, visual analytics on spends by departments, billin...Read more about Precoro

4.8 (211 reviews)

10 recommendations

Invent Analytics

Invent Analytics provides Demand Forecasting, Inventory & Price Optimization Solutions For Omni-Channel Retail. Invent Analytics’ Omni-AI delivers significant financial improvement by empowering retailers to profit-optimize their ...Read more about Invent Analytics

No reviews yet

Cosmic Frog

Cosmic Frog, offered by Optilogic, is a cloud-native supply chain design platform that allows users to compare multiple future-state supply chain scenarios and select the most resilient designs. With its intelligent greenfield ana...Read more about Cosmic Frog

4.7 (3 reviews)

Procurify

Procurify’s easy-to-use Intelligent Spend Management platform provides hundreds of organizations worldwide with real-time visibility and control over all business spend. By bringing more spend under management, our customers captu...Read more about Procurify

4.5 (145 reviews)

4 recommendations

INControl

INControl automates management decisions and workflows, enabling staff to work faster and error-free while implementing best practices. INControl enhances communication and present you with powerful business intelligence reports. ...Read more about INControl

Benchmark Gensuite Supply Chain Risk

Benchmark Gensuite Supply Chain Risk solution is designed to help businesses manage and mitigate risks in their global supply chains. The solution provides the transparency you need to track supplier performance, address complianc...Read more about Benchmark Gensuite Supply Chain Risk

No reviews yet

SupplierBase

SupplierBase is a supplier management software that provides organizations with a centralized hub to manage supplier relationships. SupplierBase is a modular supplier management software designed to help procurement, supply cha...Read more about SupplierBase

No reviews yet

PrestaShop

PrestaShop is a leading global ecommerce company serving customers in over 190 countries. We provide inclusive, customizable, scalable and well-supported solutions, to empower each entrepreneur to fully own, control and grow the...Read more about PrestaShop

Learn More

Slingshot Enterprise Business Suite

The Slingshot Enterprise Business Suite is a web-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software suite designed to serve mid-sized to large businesses. The system serves retail, distribution, manufacturing, financial services, p...Read more about Slingshot Enterprise Business Suite

4.3 (3 reviews)

Dynamics TMS

With over 30 years of domain expertise in the transportation industry, this application is a "Best-Of-Breed" solution intended for shippers that need easy access to carrier freight rates utilizing tariff based as well as real-time...Read more about Dynamics TMS

4.5 (2 reviews)

ProcureWare

ProcureWare by eBid Systems is a cloud-based platform that provides a suite of tools to manage supplier relationships. The solution supports the creation of a supplier self-registration process that allows access to a searchable s...Read more about ProcureWare

Transplace TMS

Transplace is a leading provider of logistics technology and services for shippers. We help manufacturers, retailers and distributors optimize their supply chain operations and increase their financial performance. The Transp...Read more about Transplace TMS

Blue Yonder Supply Planning

Product Overview Blue Yonder’s solution capabilities can accelerate any supply chain with dynamic and event-based production planning and help ensure that your planners’ attention is focused on issues that are critical for the p...Read more about Blue Yonder Supply Planning

Fishbowl

Fishbowl is the #1 manufacturing and warehouse inventory management software! Its powerful inventory control system gives your small or midsize business the exact tools needed to transform your inventory management and scale your ...Read more about Fishbowl

Learn More

Sphere WMS

SphereWMS warehouse management software optimizes workflow, direction, and processes at an operational level to increase efficiency and drive down costs for 3PL's, distribution, fulfillment, e-commerce, and retail operations. ...Read more about Sphere WMS

4.3 (9 reviews)

1 recommendations

Tensoft SemiOps

Tensoft SemiOps is a cloud-based product for technology companies with outsourced manufacturing operations. It supports the unique manufacturing, supply chain and financial needs of semiconductor and high tech businesses. Some ...Read more about Tensoft SemiOps

4.4 (9 reviews)

Aravo

Aravo is an industry leader that enables global brands to accelerate their third-party risk management programs to respond to business disruptions, meet sustainability goals, and comply with regulations. Aravo’s platform and its b...Read more about Aravo

No reviews yet

Coupa

Point solutions are pointless: spend smarter with the leading spend management platform built for companies like you. The Coupa platform allows you to take control of your spend and position your business for resilience and growth...Read more about Coupa

4.1 (88 reviews)

2 recommendations

Learn More

Buyers Guide

Last Updated: March 16, 2023

While the supply chain management software market is relatively small (compared to many other markets), the vast disparity in functionality between different SCM programs makes buying decisions much more complicated. Some programs concentrate on business intelligence, others focus on inventory control or transportation management and there are full-suite systems that do all of the above and more. This buyer’s guide is designed to identify the features associated with supply chain management systems to help navigate the selection process.

Here's what we'll cover:

What Is SCM Software?

Common Features of SCM Software

What Type of Buyer Are You?

Market Trends to Understand

Benefits of SCM Software

What Is SCM Supply Chain Management Software?

Supply chain software is a software program or module designed to control end-to-end business processes across the supply chain, perform demand planning and forecasting, and manage supplier relationships. While functionality in these systems varies tremendously, common features include:

Many supply chain management systems include forecasting, which helps companies manage the fluctuations in supply and demand by using sophisticated algorithms and consumption analysis to evaluate buyer histories. Supply chain optimization software can be an invaluable tool in maximizing production efficiency and planning for the future.

Screenshot-of-Freightview-shipment-overview-dashboard

Screenshot of Freightview shipment overview dashboard

Common Features of SCM Software

Supply chain planning

Planning systems are used to forecast customer demand and adjust the speed and flow of production accordingly. Simulated demand estimates are run using historical trend data and planned promotion schedules to determine how changes in market awareness will affect your organization's inventory requirements in the future. Example vendors include InStyle ERP, SCP 4.0, VISION SCM and Clever.

Demand planning

Demand planning software improves the accuracy of potential demand forecasts by reducing biases in the data and providing that data to your organization in real-time. Multi-dimensional forecasting allows users to view information through a variety of different filters—by market, time or customer—and run a series of "what if" simulations to project future demand. Example vendors include Microsoft Dynamics, Geneva BMS, Fishbowl Inventory and SAP.

Vendor managed inventory

Vendor managed inventory (VMI) systems give suppliers the ability to monitor and replenish the buyer's inventory themselves. Various communication options—such as XML, Web portals and email—help multiple business partners increase visibility. Buyers can automate sold inventory reports, and suppliers respond with new shipment notifications and invoices. Example vendors include Datalliance VMI, RedPrairie, SAP and Aravo.

Supplier management

Buyers use supplier relationship solutions to monitor the performance of their suppliers. Users can assess supplier risk through user-defined risk categories. Performance analyses utilize key performance indicators (KPI) and audit trails to monitor spend and supplier performance. The software also helps users keep track of their suppliers' regulatory compliance. Example vendors include R.Portal, Geneva BMS, Fishbowl Inventory and S2K.  Businesses likely to scale might also be looking for a system with more complexity such as vendor management systems.

Procurement

Procurement software carries out purchase orders and maintains the financial side of supplier/customer relationships. Purchasing terms are distributed electronically throughout the organization for instant approval, and expenses are logged for future reference in the next sourcing cycle. As the accounting segment of SCM systems, procurement also handles reporting and compliance issues. Example vendors include Coupa, SphereWMS, Microsoft Dynamics and WISE.

Strategic sourcing

Sourcing software is used before the procurement process to establish cost-cutting goals and to pre-screen potential vendors. Spend analysis pinpoints unnecessary costly supplier relationships by comparing current spend to other market options. Buyers can submit e-RFx, electronic requests for x (quotes, proposals and other information), to potential vendors to gather data for making informed purchases. Example vendors include ShippersEdge, Aravo, Epicor and Lawson.

Warehouse management

WMS systems monitor and control the movement of materials within the warehouse. Shipping and receiving events are controlled with advanced shipment notifications, and picking and putaway are tracked using tools like auto ID data capture (AIDC) and radio-frequency identification (RFID). WMS software also assists with the design of warehouse infrastructure. Third party logistics companies should review our 3PL software guide for a list of systems tailored for 3PL. Example vendors include SphereWMS, WISE, HighJump Warehouse Advantage, Manhattan Associates and RedPrairie.

Transportation management

TMS software guides the movement of materials to and from the warehouse. Logistics software can suggest the most efficient delivery modalities (air, land, sea) and manages multiple delivery variations like heterogenous vehicle fleets and load splitting constraints. Deliveries are monitored using satcomm and other communication devices. Land-based fleets should review our fleet management software guide for the top trucking, dispatch and routing software as well as systems to manage overall operations.

Order fulfillment

This software helps supply chain managers decrease lead times on production orders, resulting in smooth quote to cash processes. The system can determine whether build-to-order (BTO) or engineer-to-order (ETO) is the best solution for each product. After order completion, order fulfillment software keeps track of unpaid orders through revenue recognition processes.Order fulfillment applications are often bundled in to broader order management systems. Example vendors include SphereWMS, ShipppersEdge and ShipSoft. 

What Type of Buyer Are You?

Third party logistics. Companies that manage the ordering, warehousing and transportation of supplies for another business need a robust solution that can handle the data and processes for lots of different companies. These supply chain management tools will include lot tracking, customer profiling, supply management and order fulfillment.

Manufacturing. Manufacturing software needs to be able to track suppliers, costs and customers. This is where features like collaboration, demand planning and strategic sourcing are most likely to be used.

Distribution. Distributors sit in the middle, connecting manufacturers to retailers and/or consumers. Distributors need to track products and terms for multiple suppliers and customers, and have robust inventory and transportation capabilities in order to ensure the products get to the right person at the right time. Freight brokers and forwarders also fit into this category, and they typically rely on specialized software that facilitates daily freight operations.

Retailers. Brick and mortar retailers will want to consider dedicated retail software, but phone—and Internet—order retailers function more like distributors. These buyers will need warehouse and transportation solutions, inventory control and possibly additional strategic/planning modules, particularly for the larger/volume-based retailers.

Market Trends to Understand

Online purchases. Over the last decade, online retail sales have exploded, and with them the need for effective warehousing, inventory and transportation control. Suppliers, more often than not, are taking a product from manufacturing not to a store, but to a warehouse where it is stored and ultimately sent directly to the consumer. Ensuring an effective inventory control path is absolutely critical throughout this process.

Software as a service (SaaS). Cloud-based software—that is, software that’s hosted by the vendor and accessed through a Web browser rather than being installed on a local computer—has been adopted by most industries to a large extent. SCM technology has been a little slower to adopt this trend, with major players like Microsoft, Geneva Systems, WISE and Fishbowl yet to develop Web-based systems. But as the technology improves, more and more supply chain management software providers will offer Web-based applications, with its benefits of collaborative networks and online purchasing integration. Currently, S2K and SAP are the biggest SaaS contenders.

Eco-friendly logistics. With environmental consciousness at an all-time high, consumers are beginning to think about logistics when it comes to purchasing their products. This trend is most noticeable in the food industry, where grocery stores and restaurants are beginning to brand and market products under a banner of being “locally sourced.” As transportation from suppliers is the easiest place for a manufacturer to cut its carbon footprint, buyers may want to look out for a program’s ability to identify suppliers based on proximity or other green factors.

Improving business intelligence. More and more companies want to know how their business spends money, so sophistication of planning, demand planning and strategic sourcing capabilities will only grow in an effort to meet the demand.

Increased demand for labor management. Companies using SCM software to track their inventory are now turning their attention toward labor optimization and the ability to manage each worker more efficiently. These systems can create a list of tasks for a worker so he can complete multiple types of work in one trip.

Benefits of SCM Software

The benefits of supply management software are considerable:

Increased efficiency. First and foremost, SCM software is designed to improve the efficiency of your operation, from inventory check-in and storage to distribution and transportation. By making the processes electronic and/or automated, the time spent on these tasks drops considerably, which allows you to send more products out faster.

Reduced costs. The resulting efficiency reduces labor costs. In addition, many of the intelligence features are specifically designed to identify cost waste and eliminate it—for example, where commodities can be procured at lower rates, how to combine shipping to reduce to transportation costs or where to reduce inventory to maximize storage capacity.

Trend analysis and business intelligence. The intelligence features, in addition to helping control costs, can help improve revenues by identifying strongly performing products and guiding the user toward meeting market demand.

While these supply chain solutions do come at a price, proper implementation will usually lead to a calculable return on investment within a year.