4 ways to improve the supply chain – and how myZones can help

Manufacturers and distributors of just about everything, all over the world, have struggled to meet customer expectations amid labor shortages and other disruptions, and that’s led to all sorts of breakdowns in processes that we once took for granted.

So what can be done about this? The best answer is: You should take active steps to strengthen the supply chain for your business. When you do, it will have a positive ripple effect that should make every aspect of your business run more smoothly.

Why the supply chain? Because for many businesses today, that’s the weak link. It’s where a significant amount of loss and waste occur, often due to communication breakdowns and process bottlenecks. If you can get those hangups out of the process, you’ll be on your way to a business that’s more process-driven and ultimately more profitable.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at four strategies in particular that can make a real difference.

• Invest in better equipment. When you have better tools to work with, you can bring newfound efficiency to every aspect of what you do – warehousing, inventory, production, packing, shipping, and more. Even if there’s an initial expense involved, you’ll find before long that this outlay pays for itself. Better supplies lead to a better business.
• Integrate systems for better visibility. Often, there are issues in the supply chain process simply because the people tasked with overseeing and managing that process aren’t able to. For whatever reason, they don’t have the visibility that they need to. When you pursue integrated systems for managing the supply chain from end to end, you can do away with this issue, and your teams can move forward with confidence.
• Digitize processes with modern technology. Digital transformation is a priority for just about every business these days, and it’s a key source of competitive advantage. The companies that can digitize processes faster will usually be the ones that get ahead. In the case of the supply chain, digitalization can lead to better visibility, more efficient processes, and fewer breakdowns for everyone involved.
• Invest in emerging technologies. We’re not far off from a future in which countless new technologies will upend the supply chain game as we know it. Big data analytics. Artificial intelligence. Machine learning. These concepts aren’t futuristic anymore – they’re becoming our new reality, and quickly. Undertaking these projects now will put your business in a position to succeed down the road.

For all of the above strategies, it pays to have a business partner that can help make IT procurement quick and easy. That’s where Zones comes in. With myZones, you have a self-service IT order management solution at your fingertips. This means you can streamline inventory, ordering, and reporting with ease, and it’s all driven by intelligent analytics. myZones gives you access to comprehensive reporting, easy inventory management, and even a new digital assistant, Zodi. With all these tools available to you, you’ll be well on your way to a smoother supply chain and a more successful business. Connect with us today to explore this opportunity in depth.